The Walkers reflect on a semester of growth in transition
All photos by Shay MacLean.
Stepping into the shoes of a 34-year presidential legacy from his predecessor, President Dr. Mark Walker has spent months preparing for his new role at Lee in the middle of a global pandemic. Now, Dr. Walker is nearing the end of his first semester as president, where he has walked through the transition in harmony with his wife, Udella Walker.
“This is what God’s called us to do,” said Dr. Walker. “This isn’t ‘I’m called here. She’s following.’ This is ‘we’re called here,’ and we both see that.”
Although Dr. Walker’s presidency is new, the Walkers have deep ties to the university.
“My grandfather — my dad’s dad — was a part of the 1919 class,” said Dr. Walker. “[Lee] was called the Bible training school … and my grandfather was 19 years old from North Dakota. He came all the way down here to attend this school, so my roots run really deep.”
The Walkers met during Christmas of 1982 while she was a senior at Lee.
The two sparked a connection from the start and were married after 13 months of dating. January will mark 37 years of marriage.
“My first impression — and this is going to sound corny, and nobody is going to believe me — but honestly when I met her … and saw her, I said to myself, ‘I’m going to marry her,’” said Dr. Walker.
Udella Walker, who graduated from Lee with a degree in accounting, initially vowed she would never marry a pastor, which Dr. Walker declared as his vocation. Despite these declarations, the Walkers quickly realized the path they first envisioned for their marriage would be redirected.
“Just four months into our marriage, the Lord really confirmed his call on us for full-time pastoral ministry,” said Udella Walker. “We were not expecting that because it wasn’t at all what either one of us really wanted.”
Jumping into full-time ministry together, the Walkers pastored Mount Paran North Church of God in Marietta, Georgia for 25 years until a conversation with Chancellor Dr. Paul Conn led the Walkers back to Lee.
“[Conn spoke to me about] taking this role to basically be a part of helping Lee strengthen its ministerial development initiative here,” said Dr. Walker. “Lee started as a Bible training school. That was its heart. And so, Dr. Conn just asked if I would be interested in coming up to help recenter that, if you will.”
After serving as the Vice President for Ministerial Development and Chair of the Christian Ministries Department, Dr. Walker was appointed as president of Lee in early 2020. Although the Walker’s return to Lee came unexpectedly, the two have prioritized their relationship while maintaining their commitment to serving Lee.
“All these almost 37 years of marriage together, our mantra has been we are 50/50,” said Dr. Walker. “When we first came here, it was tough. It was tough because we left what we knew so well and the people who loved us so much … We didn’t know anybody [in Cleveland.] The point I’m saying with all of this is, she’s a partner … I told her, ‘I need you as much as I needed you at Mount Paran.’”
As their first semester in a new position is coming to a close, the two have continued to learn from one another while still pulling from lessons they learned early on in their relationship.
“Earlier on [in our relationship], I wanted all these things in life,” said Udella Walker. “And he really taught me how to be content with what we had. I think one of the greatest things he has ever taught me was … grounding me in the Word of God through his teaching. He didn’t just preach and teach, but he modeled it in our home. He’s consistent. He’s the same.”
For Dr. Walker, Udella Walker has used her gifts of natural leadership to help him create a balance between work and personal relationships.
“I think I’ve learned the importance of that quiet strength in contentment,” said Dr. Walker. “I can get very caught up in the task … and the personal side of people kind of gets lost in that. I think I’ve learned from her the need to have to always keep in mind that you’re dealing with people, you’re not dealing with numbers. She truly is the more natural, better leader than me.”
Looking to Lee’s future and their role in the presidency, the Walkers emphasize the resilience they have seen from the Lee community in a few short months.
“Lee is made up of an amazing team of people,” said Dr. Walker. “What we have been able to accomplish [despite COVID-19] through this semester, we have not only been able to survive it but thrive in it. This is a place of people [who are] truly dedicated to what they believe God’s called them to do.”
As the Walkers continue to adjust and adapt to the unexpected moments of the new role, they are eager to share their heart for the campus as the year progresses.
“I want students to know that they are our heart and our joy,” said Mrs. Walker. “They are why we are here. Students are our heart.”
