Tonia Walker, a Newberry, S.C. native began her collegiate athletic career at Hampton University playing softball and basketball on athletic scholarships.
She has worked within the CIAA, been in administration, and was the former associate director.
Walker is now the interim athletic director, after the Feb. 9 dismissal of former director, Dr. Percy “Chico” Caldwell.
The News Argus interviewed her earlier this month.
The News Argus: Talk about your transition to interim athletic director. What has the process been like?
Walker: The process has been extremely fast, but I have enjoyed every minute of it. The first thing that I had to do was make sure I was able to delegate those responsibilities that I held in the current role. The staff has been very receptive and very supportive in taking on some of my responsibilities, so that I could walk in my role as athletic director.
The News Argus: What’s the most positive thing associated with your position? What’s the most negative thing associated with your position?
Walker: The most positive would be the impact that I can provide for our student-athletes and the change I think that I can bring to the department, for our student-athletes and our students, in respect to providing a great experience for the students and the student-athletes.
On down the road, when our student-athletes graduate, I want them to be able to look back, and I hope I’m one of the people that they say impacted them while they were here at Winston-Salem State.
The negative would probably be funding at this point. There are many opportunities for us at this level, such great potential, but we are hindered in so many ways by the lack of funding, and the current state of the economy, and so those things certainly don’t work to our advantage, especially as we try to transition to Division I status.
The News Argus: One of Chancellor Reaves’ biggest demands with this position is that money be generated in the Athletic Department. What type of progress has been made? What type of plans are being implemented to raise funds?
Walker: Right now, we are working along with the Advancement Team, and it will definitely be a team effort in identifying some creative means for fundraising. Whether we transition forward or we move back, that decision has not been made, but right now we are transitioning forward.
It’s going to take support from our alumni, from our staff, and from local and community supporters, and we think that can be done.
The News Argus: How did you feel about the 31.3 percent athletic fee increase request by Chancellor Reaves being denied by the state Board of Governors in February?
Walker: I was disappointed that there would be no fee increase for athletics, certainly as we are trying to transition to Division I, but on the other hand, I’m very pleased at the fact that there will be an increase to support the academic advancement for our students.
The News Argus: How did the MEAC Tournament help WSSU Athletics financially?
Walker: Not necessarily for athletics, I can speak for the community; I think it was a great event. We are a great city to grow this tournament.
There is so much opportunity and potential for the MEAC Tournament to grow and expose the great qualities of the MEAC.
Certainly having the tournament in the city in which one of the member institutions is, definitely makes an impact. In speaking with the MEAC officials, they were very pleased with attendance.
They were pleased with the support that the University provided for the MEAC, even though our only role in participating was with that bonus game. One of the things I think that hurt us, was that we were on Spring Break during the MEAC Tournament, so attendance from our University was hindered just a little bit, but overall, I think it was a great event. I think that we’ll see it enhance in the years to come.
The News Argus: If you do retain the position, when will the interim label be removed from your title?
Walker: The position has been posted, and I would have to apply, interview, if given that opportunity, amongst all others who apply for the position. In my conversations with the Chancellor, he says that he wishes to have the position finalized by July 1.
Note: Walker’s former position of Associate Director and Senior Women’s Administrator has not yet been filled. If a new athletic director is named, it is possible that she would assume her former title.