Rate My Professor Melinda Walker

Dr. Melinda Walker is Professor of Biology and Chair of the Biology Department in the College of Science and Mathematics at Charleston Southern University. A dedicated educator, she joined the CSU faculty in 1995 after earning her B.S. in Biology from Charleston Southern College in 1981 and her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Pathobiology from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1993. Walker's teaching portfolio encompasses a broad spectrum of undergraduate courses, including Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Nutrition, Epidemiology, Human Genetics, Cell Biology, Immunology, and General Biology. Her pedagogical excellence was honored with the 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award from the South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (SCICU), recognizing her as CSU's outstanding faculty member in teaching.

In addition to her instructional responsibilities, Dr. Walker actively mentors students in research endeavors, guiding projects on the development of biofuel-producing algae and bacterial degradation of plastic bags. She has co-directed three South Carolina Commission on Higher Education grants to enhance science education resources for teachers and provide faculty development opportunities at CSU and partnering local elementary schools in Innovation Zones. As faculty advisor for the Tri Beta Biological Honor Society chapter at CSU, she has spearheaded community service activities such as Habitat for Humanity builds, participation in science competitions and debates, and organization of science and leadership seminars. Walker has also enriched students' experiential learning through leading international study trips, including a medical mission to India and a global education journey to Israel, as well as domestic visits to zoos and aquariums. Her multifaceted contributions underscore her profound impact on biology education and student development at Charleston Southern University.