Give to the UW

A powerful pair

The Walkers, recipients of the 2024 Gates Volunteer Service Award, bring their unique blend of joy, advocacy and engagement.

By Hannelore Sudermann

To understand why Clyde and Sherrelle Walker have invested so much of themselves across the 糖心原创, it might help to know that when Clyde left the UW with his business degree in 1977, he thought he鈥檇 never come back.

Sherrelle and Clyde Walker

Sherrelle and Clyde Walker

As a student, when he wasn鈥檛 in class, he was working, and he鈥檇 been frustrated by the school鈥檚 administrative bureaucracy. So in 2007, when a friend urged him to accept a seat on the UW Alumni Association Board of Trustees, he was reluctant at first 鈥 until he began to see just how much he鈥檇 missed as a student. 鈥淎ll these services and resources were available, and I never knew,鈥 he says.

Clyde and Sherrelle jumped into opportunities for service at the UW, recognizing the potential to help the institution live out its values. Deeply inspired to 鈥減ay it forward,鈥 the Walkers saw that at the UW they could pursue their goals of furthering equity, supporting education and nurturing community.

鈥淒oing good, hard, impactful work with people you enjoy 鈥 it鈥檚 a lot of fun.鈥

鈥 Clyde Walker

By reconnecting with the UW, Clyde says, 鈥渕y personal drive was to make the information I wish I鈥檇 had as an undergrad more available, accessible and visible to students today.鈥 Besides, 鈥淒oing good, hard, impactful work with people you enjoy 鈥 it鈥檚 a lot of fun.鈥

How a one-year stint turned into lifelong connection

What Clyde thought would be just a year on the alumni board turned into 11, including a stint as president. Meanwhile, Sherrelle found the College of Education an ideal place to help young people of color reach their full potential. And that was just the start for the powerful pair.

Illustration of the GVSA recipients

Clyde joined the Board, where he chaired the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. Sherrelle has been president of the guild for the UW-affiliated Odessa Brown Children鈥檚 Clinic. Clyde serves on the dean鈥檚 advisory board at the Foster School of Business. Sherrelle is the College of Education鈥檚 Ambassador Board chair. Clyde served on the Chancellor鈥檚 Philanthropy Leadership Council at UW Bothell. Sherrelle is on the steering committees of the UW鈥檚 Brotherhood and Sisterhood initiatives. And the list goes on.

鈥淪herrelle and Clyde are servant leaders who are visionary, kind and compassionate,鈥 says Associate Professor Joe Lott, who created the for men of color from underrepresented communities, providing a network of learning and support to improve the students鈥 college experience and graduation rates. The Walkers champion the program and bring in support. Seeing the program鈥檚 successes, Sherrelle catalyzed a similar Sisterhood Initiative, sharing her insights as an education leader with Lott and College of Education Dean Mia Tuan, and helping raise private support to create it. The welcomed its first cohort in 2022.

鈥淪herrelle and Clyde are servant leaders who are visionary, kind and compassionate.鈥
鈥 Joe Lott, Associate Professor of Education

At the same time, Clyde deepened his engagement with the Foster School of Business, attending student events and sharing his expertise in panel discussions and as a guest speaker in classes. He also serves on the advisory board of the school鈥檚 .

鈥淭he Walkers provide a great model for others trying to figure out how to serve the University in impactful ways,鈥 Lott says. 鈥淲hat’s most amazing is that they are down-to-earth people.鈥

For their lifetime of philanthropic giving, volunteerism and impact, the 糖心原创 Foundation is honoring Clyde and Sherrelle Walker with the 2024 Gates Volunteer Service Award. The award is given annually to those who shape the University鈥檚 trajectory with their philanthropy and service, and encourage others to do the same.

The two met in 1978, when Sherrelle Jiggitts was visiting friends in 糖心原创. She鈥檇 been teaching and working on her doctorate in Connecticut while innovating ways to engage children in learning. 鈥淏ut it was time to move on,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 saw Mount Rainier and I said, 鈥楢h, this is where I need to be.鈥欌 Finding a life partner in Clyde cemented her plans.

Big returns from community engagement

The Walkers quickly settled into jobs and started their family. Clyde parlayed his UW business degree and a multiyear internship at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab into a 22-year career at the Rocket Research Company, eventually becoming vice president of human resources. He went on to lead HR for Continental Mills (now the Krusteaz Company). Sherrelle continued her leadership work in public education; as assistant superintendent for Federal Way Public Schools, she developed programs such as the Internet Academy, which was featured on CNN. After 30 years in public schooling, she joined a private brain research company focusing on software to improve student learning and achievement. Meanwhile, the couple raised daughters Tiffani, Allison and Adrienne.

Throughout and beyond their professional careers, both Walkers have given their energies and leadership to organizations around the region, including as board chairs for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, United Way of King County and First Choice Health. But the UW hit the sweet spot, suiting their interests, expertise and personal missions.

In 2020, the pair established in the names of their mothers, Beulah Shaw-Walker and Lula Hines-Jiggitts. Both mothers held the strong conviction that education brought opportunities, and they were powerful advocates for it in their families and communities. 鈥淎s Sherrelle and I were thinking of paying it forward, we gravitated toward Bothell,鈥 Clyde says, noting that campus鈥 smaller size and natural beauty, and appreciating its emphasis on supporting students of color. 鈥淲e named it after our moms as an homage to their continued emphasis on the value of education.鈥

That homage is threaded throughout the Walkers鈥 deep engagement with the University. They come to campus for advisory board meetings, research symposia, building dedications, class visits and simply to show up for students. They鈥檙e also at alumni socials, football games and even Husky Marching Band celebrations.

鈥淭here鈥檚 so much to do, we could come every week,鈥 Clyde notes. 鈥淎s Sherrelle says, at the end of the day, you may come for the work, but you stay for the people.鈥


The Gates Volunteer Service Award honors those who shape the University鈥檚 trajectory with their philanthropy and service, and who encourage others to do the same.