Pictured: Jim Walker (center) with two participants of the AFS Comparative Religion Program to Turkey, Summer, 2013.
February 8, 2019 | New York, NY — In December of 2018, the AFS-USA Board of Directors announced the appointment of Jim Walker to the Board. Mr. Walker is an economist based in Washington, D.C. with a deep resume of involvement with AFS-USA that spans several decades, beginning with his own experience as an AFS Exchange Student. His appointment expands the Board of Directors to 19 members.
Walker’s first encounter with the organization came in 1987-88 during his yearlong AFS exchange to Indonesia, where appreciation of cross-cultural understanding first blossomed. His lifelong connection to a global community has continued throughout his life, career, and travels. Walker served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Costa Rica for two years, and later became an AFS Returnee again after completing a short summer program to Turkey in 2013.
As a current volunteer with AFS-USA, Walker has held several key roles at the local and national level. With the AFS Capital Area Team located in the Washington, DC, area, he has served as Area Team Chair, Sending Coordinator, Liaison, and Sending Orientation Coordinator. Nationally, he is the Vice Chair of the AFS National Council.
“We are very excited for Jim to join AFS-USA’s Board of Directors,” said Board Chair Joan B. Siegel. “Jim understands our organization from a variety of perspectives, and has a commitment to international education and volunteerism that spans several decades. We are eager to add Jim’s perspective to our Board and we will all benefit by his deep commitment to being a volunteer leader for many years with AFS-USA.”
In recent years, Jim has also served as an AFS Host Family for AFS Exchange Students from Brazil, China, Germany, and Thailand.
Mr. Walker received his B.A. degree from Albion College and his M.A. from American University.