Former School of International Service professor Mark Walker died Sept. 16 of a heart attack at age 38, according to an e-mail sent by Dean of Academic Affairs Haig Mardirosian to university faculty.
Walker came to AU in 1997 as a scholar-in-residence. He became an instructor in 1998 and assistant professor beginning in 1999. He was a specialist in the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia, Mardirosian said.
Walker was a well-liked member of the SIS community, Mardirosian said.
"The thing that made him so beloved was how concerned he was about his colleagues and especially his students," he said.
Walker was kind, gentle and highly intelligent, said SIS Dean Louis Goodman. Although his expertise was in Russia and leadership, Walker was an excellent statistics teacher, Goodman said.
"Mark was the very best teacher of statistics that we've had at this school in recent memory," he said.
Walker served as the SIS Honors faculty coordinator and taught an honors colloquium on leadership, Michael Mass, director of the University Honors Program, said in an e-mail to honors students.
"Mark was just the consummate member of this community," Mardirosian said.
Walker also worked to improve the teaching profession and once gave a memorable presentation about the importance of professors not revealing their political preferences when teaching politically sensitive issues, according to Mardirosian.
Walker is survived by a wife and two elementary school-aged sons.
The viewing and funeral for Walker will be at Pumphrey Funeral Home, 7557 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Md. The viewing will be today from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral will be tomorrow at 10 a.m.
