Russell E. Walker

Background

About Russell E. Walker

To help my 4th-grade classmates understand the solar system, I turned my mother’s mixer into a spinning model of the sun and planets. Mom was unhappy, but I was on the path to becoming an educator. I love sharing my enthusiasm for science and technology and helping others build fulfilling careers. As a professor at DeVry University for over 20 years, I taught online, in-person and hybrid classes in analytics, information systems, and business, winning multiple awards for teaching and university service. A few highlights: • Developed labs, tutorials, and course templates used systemwide. • Co-founded DVU’s business analytics concentration. • Served as National Program Chair for the Colleges of Engineering & Information Systems and Media Arts & Technology. • Spearheaded the use of learning analytics in curriculum development. • Led initiatives to streamline coursework, update learning technologies and improve student outcomes. My teaching is grounded in experience. Through my consulting practice, Walker Associates, I've done analytics and software projects for startups, nonprofits, and Fortune 100 firms, including: • Scaled up bone density testing capacity to support exponential growth for a major pharmaceutical firm. • Built a bone fracture risk calculator featured in national osteoporosis prevention campaigns. • Designed algorithms and software for a gamma probe used in cancer surgery. • Improved quality control for a maker of nuclear reactor parts. Earlier, I worked for CompuMed, a medical systems company that specialized in computer interpretation of ECGs (an early use of AI in medicine). I held a series of roles including software specialist, engineering manager, VP of operations and R&D, and board member. Before that, I was a developer, technical lead, and manager for several aerospace contractors, working on air traffic control, satellite, and nuclear missile systems. I believe in lifelong learning. I have a BS in physics and computer science, MS in applied physics, MBA, and PhD in business with a specialty in applied computer science. I’m retired from full-time employment but continue to work part-time on projects that interest me in data science education and healthcare analytics.