Esther Biswas-Fiss, professor and chair of the Department of  Medical and Molecular Sciences, said, “I considered Dr. Kimberly Walker to be a distinguished scholar in microbiology and health policy, as well as a gifted communicator and passionate advocate for educational access. She was not only a deeply beloved colleague and teacher, but also a dear friend whose warmth, generosity, and dedication touched countless lives. I will always treasure our informal chats about science, our shared commitment to promoting the laboratory-based professions and our mutual love of gardening, hot sauce and the mischievous cats we each called family. Kimberly’s presence brightened every interaction, and she will be profoundly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time.”

An accomplished scholar and educator in both microbiology and health policy,  Dr. Walker joined the University of Delaware in 2022 as an assistant professor and program director for Medical Diagnostics, a role she held with distinction until her passing. More than a scientist, she was a gifted communicator with a rare talent for making complex concepts accessible and meaningful. She was also a passionate advocate for equal access to education and was deeply beloved by her students and colleagues alike.

Dr. Walker will be remembered for her wit, warmth and easygoing nature—qualities that brightened every interaction and left a lasting mark on all who knew her. She was not only a respected colleague but also a dear friend, and her loss will be profoundly felt. 

With research interests in infectious disease and health policy research, Dr. Walker taught courses in Clinical Physiological Chemistry, Regulatory and Fiscal Issues in Laboratory Management, Body Fluid Analysis and Diagnostic Bacteriology and Medical Mycology. She was in the process of developing a new course for the spring on Healthcare and Clinical Laboratory Policy.

In the department, she served on several committees, including the Health Professions Evaluations Committee, the undergraduate program committee, the graduate affairs committee, the awards committee and the advisory board.

A dedicated advocate for her profession, Dr. Walker was committed to educating the public about the pivotal role medical laboratory scientists play in the clinical setting. Her recent advocacy activities included serving on the AAUW’s International Fellowships and Grants Review Panel, participating in a virtual U.N.I.T.Y. Panel presentation for Black In Microbiology Week in October 2023 and being featured on the Matters Microbial podcast, where she discussed her career and educating others about medical diagnostics.

Colleagues recall

Some of Dr. Walker's colleagues and friends shared their reflections.

Jill Trabulsi, interim dean of the College of Health Sciences: “Dr. Walker was a remarkable scholar, educator and advocate who left an indelible mark on our college and the many students she mentored. Her expertise in microbiology and health policy, paired with her passion for expanding educational access, strengthened our community in meaningful ways. On behalf of the College of Health Sciences, I extend my deepest condolences to Dr. Walker’s family, friends, colleagues and students. Her legacy will continue through the lives she touched and the future health professionals she inspired.”

Leslie Allshouse, retired instructor and vice chair of MMSC: “While I had the privilege of working with Dr. Kimberly Walker for just a few years, she made a lasting impression, and I am fortunate to be able to call her my colleague and friend. Chairing the search committee which interviewed and recommended Kimberly for employment at UD allowed me to have multiple opportunities to interact with Kimberly and to reach out to her former colleagues in the education and health policy arenas. Kimberly described herself as a hermit in her interviews, laughingly stating that she would not be asking about our grandchildren and she worked best when left to her own devices. The reality of working with Kimberly and getting to know her during early morning and late evening hours revealed a different ‘hermit’ than she described:

Humorous – Kimberly had a great sense of humor and sported the most extensive collection of funny science and clinical laboratory themed T-shirts I have ever seen;

Engaged – Kimberly was often the go-to person for distressed students and offered a nonjudgmental listening ear when needed;

Role Model and Mentor – Kimberly always attended hooding ceremonies and other celebrations of success, supporting all students and especially under-represented students, encouraging them to reach their full potential;

Involved – During Kimberly’s career, she was very involved in healthcare policy to affect change where needed, and her colleagues who provided her references attested to her intelligence, dedication and her “ability to work with scientists at the highest level of the CDC”;

Teacher – Kimberly loved to teach and was thrilled to be a member of the team at UD, and my life was enriched by having been her colleague and friend.

“Kimberly will be greatly missed; she has made a huge impact on the students she served and the colleagues who were fortunate to work with her throughout her career.”

About Kimberly Walker

Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Kimberly Walker earned her bachelor’s degree in medical technology at the University of Maryland and went on to complete her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University. She maintained her American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) board certification throughout her career, a testament to her enduring dedication to clinical excellence.

Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Walker pursued advanced training through fellowships at the Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Maryland at Baltimore, the Center of Marine Biotechnology at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, and a joint fellowship with the University of Maryland Dental School and Morgan State University. 

Her passion for science also extended into public service when she served as a Congressional Science Fellow to U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone from 2000 to 2001—an experience that highlighted her deep belief in using science to inform and shape public policy.

To read her complete obituary or leave online condolences, please visit Jesse Johnson Funeral Home.