Rate My Professor Matt Walker

Dr. Matt Walker serves as Professor and Chair of the School of Communication and Mass Media at Northwest Missouri State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Missouri-Columbia (2001), an M.A. in Communication from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (1996), and a B.A. in Communication Arts from Grove City College (1994). Walker joined Northwest Missouri State University in 2001 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication, Theatre & Languages, where he has progressed to full Professor and Chair. Prior to this, he was Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Huntington College (1999-2001), Adjunct Professor of Business at William Woods University (1999-2000), and Graduate Assistant in Communication at the University of Missouri-Columbia (1996-1999). He is recognized as graduate faculty and was appointed chair for the 2025-26 academic year. Additionally, Walker served as an assistant football coach at Northwest from 2019 to 2021.

Walker teaches a range of courses including Fundamentals of Oral Communication, Organizational Communication, Principles of Leadership (real-time and online), Small Group Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Principles of Interviewing (real-time and online), University Seminar, and Senior Seminar. He acts as faculty advisor to the Organizational Communication Student Organization at Northwest, having advised 41 students in Fall 2004. His leadership roles include Organizational Communication/Speech Communication Team Leader, co-chair of the Curriculum Committee, and member of the Athletics Committee (2001-2003). Walker is a member of the National Communication Association (NCA). His scholarly contributions include a competitive paper, 'Effects of informational types on transferees and newcomers,' presented at the NCA convention in Chicago, IL; a pedagogical activity presentation, 'Label jars, not people: a stereotype activity,' at the NCA Convention in Chicago, IL; and a panel presentation, 'Uncertainty reduction theory and its application in the classroom,' at the Central States Communication Association Convention in Omaha, NE. Walker maintains an office in 101 Wells Hall and can be reached at 660.562.1173.