Jael Walker
On behalf of University of Arizona Office of the Secretary, Friends & Colleagues
Jael Walker started her career at The University of Arizona in December 1986, in the Dean of Students Office to support its new Faculty Fellows Program. As the scope of her work increased, her resilience in the face of challenges, professionalism, compassion and the trust she gained across the faculty, staff, students and parents did not go unnoticed.
She was recruited by the Honors Center in 1987 and invited back to the Dean of Students Office in 1989 where progressive development, endless pools of energy and huge resourcefulness paved the way for her to transition into management in 1993. Highlighting her versatility and adaptability, she was no stranger to an environment where no two workdays were the same and she wore many hats. This made her a valued employee and highly respected among her colleagues and peers. In 2006 she was promoted to work in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and by 2011 she was managing the central office of the Senior Vice President for Students Affairs/Enrollment Management & Senior Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives and Student Success. One of her best memories was being able to make a difference serving as staff assistant for the Campus Emergency Response Team. Due to her strong commitment to the safety of the campus community, she worked tirelessly for hours on end when campus crisis called for all hands on deck. Her proactive, calm, and selfless approach inspired confidence in others and just made her an amazing person to work with in the most stressful situations.
In 2015, Jael transitioned to the President’s Office, to assist the Senior Vice President, Senior Associate to the President and Chief of Staff -- the primary liaison for the Arizona Board of Regents and its committees. She was most recognized for her mentorship and generosity to share knowledge and resources during the transitional reorganization of the President’s Office in 2018. While in the Division of the Office of the Secretary, Jael’s career portfolio expanded during the next nine years working on many urgent and immediate tasks, such as those necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, while also being at the center of many initial pandemic organizational responses. A proactive thinker and while navigating thru UA policies and politics that come with it, she was always the go to person when a new challenge or project required immediate effectiveness when other Divisions were unable to step up to new challenges. Jael was known as a hard worker who accomplished a lot to advance the University and the Division. In response to the tragic death of Prof. Meixner in 2022, Jael with no hesitation carried a double load to effectively meet critical needs for the safety and security of our university community. Jael has proven to be a tremendous asset to the Division, the University and her colleagues.
For all the above reasons, it is an honor to place Jael’s name and story in the UA Women's Plaza of Honor for her service to our university community and partners. Although a quiet, soft-spoken woman, she has been described among her colleagues as one of those magic people who make the University of Arizona a great institution. The paver represents her commitment to student success and love for her husband, Wayne, and her family who supported her unconditionally over the years. While her retirement will mark the end of her 38-year career at the U of A, her energy, determination to Bear Down will remain in those whose life’s she touched professionally, personally and spiritually.
Happy Retirement Jael!