Born in
Long Eaton, England, Dr. Walker earned a
Bachelor's degree from
Harvard University in
Electrical Engineering, a
master's degree in
business administration, and
doctorate in general science and engineering from Harvard. Dr. Walker subsequently served as a professor and department head in the Electrical Engineering Departments at
Tufts University and the
University of Connecticut. In 1942, during
World War II, Walker returned to Harvard as associate director of the Underwater Sound Laboratory, initially located at Harvard, but relocated to the campus of Penn State University in 1945. Dr. Walker remained at Penn State, becoming head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, then
Dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture in 1951. Next Dr. Walker became vice president for research at Penn State in 1956, and President of the University, also in 1956. Penn State experienced changes and growth during the Presidency of Dr. Walker. The post-war student population at the university increased from 13,000 to 40,000, becoming one of the largest universities in the
United States. Dr. Walker also oversaw the creation of the
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and research expenditures for the university grew from $8,000,000 in 1956-57 to $36,000,000 in 1969-70. Dr. Walker served as Vice-Chair of President Eisenhower's
Committee on Scientists and Engineers from 1956-1958. ==Legacy==