Dr. Wanda White-Walker is a lifelong educator, administrator, and thought leader dedicated to advancing student success, equity, and innovation in higher education. Her career spans years of experience in collegiate teaching, academic leadership, faculty development, and institutional transformation, and she has a deep commitment to access, excellence, and inclusive learning environments, particularly within community colleges and Minority-Serving Institutions.
Dr. White-Walker most recently served as the director of teaching and learning in the Center for Innovative Teaching and Instruction (CITI) at Winston-Salem State University, where she led campus-wide initiatives in faculty development, digital literacy, instructional innovation, and emerging generative AI technologies. Her leadership included securing funding and leading the construction planning for a state-of-the-art digital media lab, expanding interdisciplinary grant partnerships, and launching the university’s inaugural AI Summit. She has been instrumental in helping faculty and staff reimagine teaching and learning through culturally responsive pedagogy, humanities-centered approaches, digital tool integration, and ethical uses of generative AI.
In February 2026, Dr. White-Walker joins Achieving the Dream as the director of humanities education initiatives, where she will support colleges nationwide in integrating the humanities into student success frameworks for workforce development and teaching and learning.
Education:
Doctor of Education (Educational Leadership) | University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Master of Arts (English | University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Bachelor of Arts (English) |Winston-Salem State University
Past Experience:
Director of Teaching and Learning | Winston-Salem State University
Dean of Academic Support Services and University Writing Programs/Associate Professor | Winston-Salem State University
Senior Faculty Development Specialist | Winston-Salem State University
Associate Professor of English | Central Piedmont Community College
English Instructor | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
How has education changed your life/your family?
Education has shaped every chapter of my life and defined my career purpose. As a first-generation college student, what began as my own pathway to opportunity became my lifelong commitment to access, equity, and student success. From my early years as a middle school teacher to later serving as a university administrator, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education at every level. Each role in which I have served has deepened my understanding of how systems can either limit or liberate the potential of learners. My personal journey fuels my passion to create inclusive learning environments with opportunities for all students so they can see possibility and a future shaped by their own dreams of success.