David Walker has been appointed interim executive director of the School of Policy Studies and associate dean, effective July 1.

“As a leading Canadian university, Queen’s believes it is important to have a school that informs and shapes public policy,” Principal Daniel Woolf says. “Dr. Walker’s public policy experience and leadership skills will be invaluable as we move forward with plans to determine how this historically strong area can be reinvigorated both within the School itself and in concert with other externally-facing academic units at Queen’s.”

Queen’s has built deep connections with government going back more than 50 years, with several principals and professors advising Canadian policymakers. Graduates from the master of public administration program go on to hold leadership positions in the public service as well as the private and not-for-profit sectors.

“I am honoured to serve the university in this capacity,” says Dr. Walker, who is a professor in the departments of Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine at Queen’s and is cross-appointed in the School of Policy Studies. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on this important initiative.

“There exists within the school and across the university very significant expertise in a wide range of policy areas that are of great importance to society,” he adds. “It is my goal to ensure that our assets are deployed as effectively as possible in providing sound academic policy advice to governments and others while we ensure that our students, faculty, adjuncts and fellows thrive in an atmosphere of support and collegiality.”

In addition to Dr. Walker’s appointment, Principal Woolf will establish a commission to study and develop recommendations for revitalizing Queen’s presence in the arena of public policy and as a source of advice to governments, including but not limited to School of Policy Studies. The commission will have a mix of internal and external members and will submit a report to Principal Woolf by the spring of 2017. More information about the principal’s commission, including its membership, will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Visit the School of Policy Studies website to learn more about Dr. Walker.