About Walsh

When the Board of Trustees asked if I would consider the permanent position as president of Walsh College, I answered “yes” without hesitation. It was a decision made easily on several levels.

Visiting Walsh employees at all three campuses, I’ve noticed a natural focus and determination to serve our students. When you’re amid a genuine atmosphere where the question is “how can we help our students?” you want to be part of the greater good.

On January 27 at winter Commencement, Board Chair Bill Roney read the words installing me as president and placed a gold presidential medallion around my neck. On the reverse of the medallion, I saw inscribed the names of the five previous Walsh presidents – Mervyn Walsh, William Stewart, Jeffery Barry, David Spencer, and Keith Pretty – and the years they served the College.

I realized what a great honor it is to be part of nearly nine decades of distinguished Walsh history. I realize that the honor carries a responsibility to grow Walsh wisely while remaining true to the educational legacy in accounting established by Mervyn Walsh.

We made our name with our accounting programs; we made our mark with professional degrees such as the MBA and BBA; and I am confident that we’re going to make a difference with leadership degrees such as the Master of Science in Strategic Leadership and the Doctor of Management in Executive Leadership.

The direction we’ve traveled and the Walsh degrees we’re announcing this year are the result of a strategic plan initiated during the last several years. Since arriving, I’ve been privileged to continue this direction through a 2012 visioning process.

Our students’ jobs and work environment become more complex and uncertain each day. Walsh provides the technical, analytical, and communication skills, as well as strategic vision and leadership ability they will need, to become successful business leaders. Walsh has prominent billboards and radio advertising, but our best advertising is the fact that our students return for a second and often a third Walsh degree. With the doctoral degree coming this fall, there’s now the possibility to earn another quality Walsh degree.

I recently returned from a memorable first trip to China’s Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE) to sign a memorandum of understanding between our two schools whereby we’ll exchange students and faculty and jointly develop academic programs. We look forward to offering our students a real look at the world, as well as an opportunity to share in the best of both educational worlds.

Stephanie W. Bergeron
President