Dr. Cherilee Walker serves as Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS) at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Under her leadership, the division partners with PrepKC and USD 500 in presenting “College Career Day,” enabling high school students to not only experience an interactive classroom but also discuss how talents and interests can be honed through education to produce sustainable income. In 2014, she was awarded the John and Suanne Roueche Award for Excellence through the League for Innovations in the Community College.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Walker was a respected music educator in Illinois and Oklahoma. Her research has been presented and published through the American Choral Directors Association, College Music Society, International Association for Jazz Education, and Music Educators National Conference. Among her performing credits are appearances with Opera Illinois, Montreux Jazz Festival, and opening for artists such as The Four Lads, The Mills Brothers, John Hammond, Jr., and Willie Nelson. Her compositions are available through Cimarron Press, Really Good Music, and UNC Vocal Jazz Press.
A former military musician, Dr. Walker has sung in more than 35 countries throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Her stateside credits include performing for the Chicago Cubs in 2012, at the national WW II memorial for VJ Day in 2010, and the Medal of Honor recipients.