| Beverly Walker-Griffea | |
| Office: | 1st Director of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential |
| Predecessor: | Michelle Richard (interim) |
| Term Start: | June 24, 2024 |
| Governor: | Gretchen Whitmer |
| Education: | Oklahoma State University Virginia State University Texas Woman's University |
| Birth Place: | Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
Beverly Walker-Griffea is an American public official and academic administrator serving as the director of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential since 2024. She is the president emeritus of Mott Community College.
Walker-Griffea was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and raised in North Tulsa.[1] Her mother was a teacher and her father a pastor. She earned a B.S. degree in radio, television, and film and public affairs at Oklahoma State University.[2] [3] She completed a M.Ed. in guidance and counseling at Virginia State University. Walker-Griffea received a Ph.D. in child development from Texas Woman's University.
Walker-Griffea was an academic counselor at Old Dominion University. She worked as the interim dean of health and environmental sciences at Spokane Community College.[4] She was dean of student development at Houston Community College. In 2006, she became vice president for student affairs at Thomas Nelson Community College. She worked as the senior vice president for student services at Montgomery College from 2011 to 2014.[5] On August 27, 2014, Walker-Griffea became seventh president of Mott Community College, succeeding Richard Shaink. She was the first woman and African American to serve in the role.[6] In 2023, she was named the chief executive officer of the year by the American Association of Community Colleges.[7] She retired on May 24, 2014, and was named president emeritus.[8] In May 2024, Walker-Griffea was named by governor Gretchen Whitmer as the inaugural director of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), succeeding interim director Michelle Richard. Her appointment begins on June 24, 2024.