Uncrowned Community Builders

Shirley Johnson Walker, youngest of nine children, was born in Alabama to James A. and Georgia Johnson. She was among the first to integrate the local junior high and county high school, thus bussing became the norm for her. Shirley went on to graduate from the Randolph County High School and graduated cum laude from LaGrange College with a B.S. in Business Administration/Accounting. Shirley is also a graduate of the Cornell University Administrative Management Institute. In May 1999, Shirley completed her Masters degree in Higher Education from the University at Buffalo.

Upon completing her bachelor's degree, Shirley worked in various public and private organizations as an accountant and accounting supervisor. Shirley and her young family came to Buffalo in 1988. She worked for a short while as the Chief Accountant with the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers before taking a position with the University at Buffalo in the Accounting Department. She worked her way through the ranks and within five years became the Director of Student Accounts, supervising a staff of twenty-eight. In a subsequent reorganization of several offices, including financial aid, Shirley served as the Director of Student Financial Services. She currently holds the position of Assistant Vice Provost, Director of Funds Management and Compliance.

In her career with the University, Shirley has served as vice-president, president and past president for the New York State Organization of Bursars and Business Administrators (NYSOBBA). She has also represented the University at Buffalo with the SUNY Bursars, Association of American Universities (AAU) Bursars, SUNY Financial Aid Professionals, New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association, and National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. She also served on the board of the Higher Education Service Corporation (HESC). Shirley is currently the treasurer for the Minority Faculty and Staff Association (MFSA) at the University at Buffalo. As a member of the MFSA executive board, she also works to award scholarships to deserving students and bring speakers to the University as part of the annual Distinguished Speaker Series / Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration.

In her administrative capacity at the university, Shirley has been recognized for her role in various campus initiatives with the Service Excellence Award for Electronic Payment Project (ePayment) and Federal Direct Lending. Shirley served for many years on the University College Review Panel on Professional Promotions and is frequently asked to serve on search committees for professional vacancies across the campus.

Shirley is a member of the Mount Olive Baptist Church where she has served in various auxiliaries, including Brownie Girl Scout Leader, Scholarship committee and Church Picnic Committee.

To unwind, Shirley is an avid gardener which she credits to her mother. She is a member of two book clubs and pursues family history research with other members of her family.