Walker Promoted to VP of Athletics
Bluefield College athletics director (AD) Tonia Walker was promoted in October to vice president for intercollegiate athletics.
Walker came to Bluefield in May of 2019 to serve as the athletics director — BC’s first female AD in history. Before Bluefield, she served 18 years as the athletics director at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina, and in one short year at BC, she has made a huge impact on athletics and the campus community.
“I am indeed honored and humbled by this opportunity,” said Walker about becoming BC’s latest VP, “and I want to thank the Board of Trustees and President (David) Olive for their continued trust in me and what we are doing.”
Walker said that in this new role she will be even more committed to the college and its student-athletes and alumni. She said she will work “tenaciously” to build a successful, competitive, and respected athletic program.
“While I am excited for myself,” she added, “in this era of racial unjust and anxiety I am even more proud that our student-athletes of color have the opportunity to see leadership, success and reward for such among those who look like them.”
As the VP for intercollegiate athletics, Walker said she will have an even better opportunity to help meet the athletic needs of the college while still being involved in the daily operations of the program.
“Having a seat at the executive leadership table and being a part of the decision-making process is key,” she said. “I now have the platform for advocacy, influence, and can directly address how decisions impact athletics.”
Walker added that she believes the college’s merger with the Via College of Osteopathcic Medicine (VCOM), the Moving the Needle Project, and the creation of new institutional and athletic strategic plans have all culminated at an ideal time that “should reap great dividends with the direction for the college and athletics.”
Walker’s passion is grounded in providing opportunities to student-athletes through athletics and in assisting them in earning a degree and preparing for life beyond Bluefield College.
“Our athletics vision for the future is to be a model program that builds champions,” Walker said, “and instills pride through excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community.”
Bluefield College president Dr. David Olive spoke about what he called “an impressive trajectory” for Walker from collegiate student-athlete, to coach, to compliance officer, to assistant athletic director, to now a two-time athletics director with a recent title change to vice president for intercollegiate athletics. He said her passion for excellence spans beyond just competition on the court or field to performance in the classroom and equity in athletics.
“She is a visionary with high expectations and accountability of coaches, staff, and student-athletes,” Dr. Olive said. “She is an inspiring leader.”
Within a span of a year, Walker has led an effort to positively impact student-athletes’ performance in the classroom by moving the collective grade point average from mid 2.0 to just more than 3.0. Additionally, she has worked coaches and college leaders in building strategies that will further strengthen athletics.
“I believe we have a phenomenal leader at the helm of the Rams Athletics,” Dr. Olive said. “We are not where we want to be, but having someone like Vice President Walker who is making our athletics programs stronger and building a culture of excellence is a huge step in the right direction. While what we have is good, Vice President Walker is leading us to great!”
“One thing exciting about AD Walker becoming Vice President is that it gives us a voice in Athletics with all the Presidents”
Head football coach Dewey Lusk spoke about how hard Walker has been working since she came to BC. He said she is making every effort to improve athletics..
“With this promotion, she will have more of a voice to get the things we need,” Lusk said. “We (the football team) are ready for the season because we have more upperclassman than ever, and with her (Walker’s) voice, the executive leadership team should help us be better.”