The University of Nebraska–Lincoln mathematics department underwent a leadership change when Judy L. Walker assumed the chair position in 2012, serving in that capacity until 2016. A specialist in applied mathematics, she currently contributes to the institution as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs while maintaining her academic rank as the Aaron Douglas Professor of Mathematics.
Academic Foundation
Born in 1969, Walker began her formal mathematics education at the University of Michigan, where she earned her undergraduate degree in 1990. She continued her graduate studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Working under the supervision of Nigel Boston, she completed her Ph.D. in 1996. During her final year of doctoral studies, she received the Irving Reiner Memorial Award from the University of Illinois Department of Mathematics.
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Walker joined the faculty at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1996. She rose to the rank of full professor by 2006 and was appointed the Aaron Douglas Professor of Mathematics in 2012. Her research primarily concerns algebraic coding theory, focusing specifically on error-correcting codes, algebraic geometry codes, and low-density parity check codes. In the autumn of 2011, she served as a visiting professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
Advocacy and Mentoring
Throughout her tenure, Walker has focused on supporting women in mathematical fields. She co-founded the All Girls/All Math program for high school students and the Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics. In 1998, she represented the University of Nebraska at the White House to receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. Her commitment to education is further evidenced by her receipt of the Deborah and Franklin Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics in 2006 and the Louise Hay Award in 2016.
Professional Recognition
The mathematical community has recognized Walker through numerous fellowships. In 2013, she was named an inaugural Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. She became a Fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics in 2019 and was elected to the 2021 class of Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Her extensive list of publications includes the book Codes and Curves, published in 2000 as part of the Student Mathematical Library.
Fast facts
- Born: 1969
- Current Role: Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- Ph.D. Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1996)
- Primary Research Interest: Algebraic coding theory
- Fellowship: American Mathematical Society (2013)
- Fellowship: Association for Women in Mathematics (2019)
- Fellowship: American Association for the Advancement of Science (2021)
Questions readers ask
What is Judy L. Walker's area of research?
She specializes in applied mathematics, specifically in algebraic coding theory and the study of error-correcting codes.
Where did she complete her doctoral studies?
She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1996 under the supervision of Nigel Boston.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Nebraska–Lincoln
