Bessie Walker Celebrates 50 Years at Empire State University

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY -- January 17, 2024) Of the 53 years that SUNY Empire has been serving students, Bessie Walker has been present for 50 of them. Walker started her career in 1974, just a few years after SUNY Empire was founded. From location changes and six presidencies to the shift to online learning and the change to university status, Walker has been with Empire State University through it all.

“I want to be able to sit at the front desk and be the first person people see when they come in,” Walker said. “It’s a joy being with others. It’s been a resilient and loving journey.”

Walker is currently an office assistant with the Veteran and Military Resource Center, but over the years she’s also held roles in enrollment management, within the Office of Academic Affairs, and in her early days, at SUNY Empire’s location at Rockland Community College. She worked as the only office manager for the Rockland locations before relocating to the university’s Hartsdale location in Westchester, NY.

“Students still stop me on the streets of Rockland, Nanuet, and Hartsdale to learn more about Empire State University,” Walker said.

Walker started her journey at SUNY Empire in her early 20s, and has two children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She’s heavily involved in her church community and the NAACP, working with both groups to provide community services involving veterans’ affairs, education, voter registration, civic engagement, and youth development. She spreads Empire State University’s mission wherever she goes.

“My passion in life is to be connected to the church, home, and schools, and right now we're connecting to schools where our youth are involved and giving them leadership roles,” she said. “I'm an advocate for women's leadership, adult and youth leadership, and community.”

She’s seen firsthand the value of a SUNY Empire education, having graduated with her bachelor’s degree in business management and economics in 1993. Throughout her time at Empire State University, Walker has seen the institution expand to serve more and different populations of students.

“I've seen the university grow in many ways,” Walker said.

She is excited to see learners in younger generations choosing SUNY Empire.

“See the knowledge these youth can bring to the table? They have a story to tell, and they want someone with an education background to help lead them and guide them up the ladder,” she said. “I like to see the university being open with the next generation of learners.”

As for the future of Empire State University, Walker would like to see it continue to grow and expand while focusing on its strengths.

“What made me stay with Empire State University is the connection of university learning and community learning,” Walker said. “I'm an advocate of learning and passing to the next generation.”

Walker has worked with countless deans, supervisors, mentors, and more on everything from financial aid to student accounts to ensure the success of SUNY Empire students – and ensuring personal growth in the process.

“Through it all, the training and development of the person I am today over the last 50 years has been the greatest learning experience,” she said.