Carol K. Walker

Carol K. Walker joined the Purchase College faculty as professor of dance in 1984. She served as dean of dance for 20 years (1984–2002 and 2005–07), and as dean of the newly formed School of the Arts and director of dance from 2002 to 2005. The many highlights of her distinguished tenure include:

• Artistic director of the Purchase Dance Corps
• Produced Purchase Dance Corps concerts at the Purchase College Performing Arts Center and tours to Kennedy Center, Hong Kong,Taiwan, Holland, France, China, and Germany
• Initiated and implemented international student exchange programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing, Australia, Holland, and England
• Established a unique degree completion program with NAFA in Singapore
• Founded the Friends of Dance and Adopt-a-Dancer
• Sponsored and hosted summer programs with the José Limón Dance Company and Doug Varone and Dancers

Walker trained professionally in Chicago with Phyllis Sabold and Eric Braun; in Colorado with Hanya Holm and Harriett Ann Grey; and in New York with Alwin Nikolais and at the Graham Studio. She was a former director of the Performing Arts Center, director of dance at Barat College, and founding director of the Carol Walker Dance Studio Ltd. in Illinois (1971–1984). Before founding her studio, she enjoyed a career as a modern dancer, teacher, and performer in musical theatre and video.

She has served as a NYSCA dance panelist and member of the Council of Dance Administrators, and as a consultant on validation panels for colleges and universities in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. She has been a member of the board of directors at Doug Varone and Dancers since 2007 and is currently serving as the board chair. In 2013, she founded Carol K. Walker Global Dance, and in 2014 became international artistic advisor for the Shanghai Dlab Dance Studio Production “Invisible City.”