Ginger Walker receives the C. F. McElhinney Award for Distinguished Service at the President’s Staff Excellence Awards Ceremony

In September, Ginger Walker, Director of Emergency Management, was recognized with the Charles F. McElhinney Award for Distinguished Service at the President’s Staff Excellence Awards Ceremony. She was joined by her family, her OEM team, her supervisor, and Senior Vice Chancellor for A&F, Raymond Bartlett, to celebrate her recognition. Receiving the Charles F. McElhinney Award for Distinguished Service is the highest honor a staff member receives for exemplary contributions to the University of Houston. Walker has served the University for 26 years and was recognized for her dedication, leadership, lasting impact on the university, and collaborative spirit. During her tenure, Walker has served UH in various roles, including those at the University of Houston Police Department and, most recently, spending the last 11 years working in the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). At OEM, Ginger has been instrumental in building the university’s preparedness programs to where they are today. She has made exemplary contributions to the university’s resilience and demonstrated her skills as a gifted coordinator, collaborator, program manager, and leader. In Houston, we are no stranger to disaster. The city has experienced six federally declared disasters in the last eight years. Walker’s work every day focuses on how to make the campus community more prepared and resilient for the next disaster. Walker works to ensure that the University is better prepared than the day before. She achieves this not by herself but by building partnerships and collaborating with departments across campus. Emergency preparedness is not done in a silo. Like a symphony, it takes all key players to perform their roles and do their part at the right time to prepare, respond, and recover from such incidents. As a result, Walker collaborates with every division on campus to ensure our community is prepared for the next disaster or crisis. She works with key departments to ensure that they have plans/procedures, are trained in their role, and are prepared to coordinate with the University’s Emergency Operations Center in a campus-wide emergency. Walker is a trusted partner across campus and is often called on by various departments to come provide training and or speak to their team about emergency preparedness and response. Whether it is working with Student Housing for annual emergency preparedness training, coordinating with Athletics regarding preparations for the upcoming Game Day, or briefing the President’s Cabinet regarding an approaching hurricane (or other weather threat), Walker has demonstrated reliability, leadership and earns the trust of each department she coordinates with. We are grateful for Walker’s relentless commitment to safety and preparedness, which will continue to impact the University for years to come.

In September, Ginger Walker, Director of Emergency Management, was recognized with the Charles F. McElhinney Award for Distinguished Service at the President’s Staff Excellence Awards Ceremony. She was joined by her family, her OEM team, her supervisor, and Senior Vice Chancellor for A&F, Raymond Bartlett, to celebrate her recognition.

Receiving the Charles F. McElhinney Award for Distinguished Service is the highest honor a staff member receives for exemplary contributions to the University of Houston. Walker has served the University for 26 years and was recognized for her dedication, leadership, lasting impact on the university, and collaborative spirit.

During her tenure, Walker has served UH in various roles, including those at the University of Houston Police Department and, most recently, spending the last 11 years working in the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). At OEM, Ginger has been instrumental in building the university’s preparedness programs to where they are today. She has made exemplary contributions to the university’s resilience and demonstrated her skills as a gifted coordinator, collaborator, program manager, and leader.

In Houston, we are no stranger to disaster. The city has experienced six federally declared disasters in the last eight years. Walker’s work every day focuses on how to make the campus community more prepared and resilient for the next disaster. Walker works to ensure that the University is better prepared than the day before. She achieves this not by herself but by building partnerships and collaborating with departments across campus.

Emergency preparedness is not done in a silo. Like a symphony, it takes all key players to perform their roles and do their part at the right time to prepare, respond, and recover from such incidents. As a result, Walker collaborates with every division on campus to ensure our community is prepared for the next disaster or crisis. She works with key departments to ensure that they have plans/procedures, are trained in their role, and are prepared to coordinate with the University’s Emergency Operations Center in a campus-wide emergency.

Walker is a trusted partner across campus and is often called on by various departments to come provide training and or speak to their team about emergency preparedness and response. Whether it is working with Student Housing for annual emergency preparedness training, coordinating with Athletics regarding preparations for the upcoming Game Day, or briefing the President’s Cabinet regarding an approaching hurricane (or other weather threat), Walker has demonstrated reliability, leadership and earns the trust of each department she coordinates with.

We are grateful for Walker’s relentless commitment to safety and preparedness, which will continue to impact the University for years to come.