Chokmah - May 2023 | A Sit Down With Our Leadership - SGLLR Shelly L. Walker Ph.D.

STATE GRAND LOYAL LADY RULER

SHELLY L. WALKER, PH.D.

Tell us about yourself:

I am a native of Pittsburgh, PA who is the youngest of a blended family of five boys and five girls, and I am married with two sons. I was educated in the public schools of Pittsburgh, PA, have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Political Science and Sociology from Troy State University. I also have a Master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage Family Therapy from Chapman University, and a Doctorate’s degree in Educational Psychology from Capella University. My published thesis is entitled: The Lived Experiences of Teachers as They Describe Their Values and Ethics Within the Educational School System. Author of Mental Thoughts Life’s Thoughtful Thoughts to Think About, and co-author of Her Story is My Story Her Truth, My Healing, and Earned Not Given.

I am an active member in several community organizations, including the Order of the Eastern Stars, the Daughters, which is an Auxiliary of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine, the Order of the Golden Circle, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Before getting married and following my husband’s military service career, I began my professional career as a Sexual Assaults Counselor in Pittsburgh. I worked as a Counselor helping girls who were physically and sexually abused, and as Instructional Aid for the School for the Deaf and Blind.

I serve as a Navy Transition Program Analyst and I am the CEO of Theories of Life Counseling Services as a Marriage Family Therapist, providing counseling and mentoring services, serving as a motivational speaker to all ages, to include being an advocate for Domestic Violence at Fear2Freedom Alliance. I am a person committed to serving others.

What year were you initiated in your Chapter? Tell us when and how you joined the Assembly.

My Masonic journey started, in 1998, in Morning Star Chapter No. 47, the Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA), Bethlehem Grand Chapter of Florida where I became a second-generation Eastern Star (three of the heroines; daughter/wife/mother).

My husband Grand Inspector General, Leslie P. Walker, Sr., 33°, is a Past Commander-in-Chief, and my two sons Leslie Walker, Jr., and Julian A. Walker are both Master Masons. My parents are Brother Nathaniel Thomas, Sister Helena Thomas, Father-in-law, the late Grand Inspector General and Past Master Henry L. Walker, III, and mother-in-law the late Past Matron Annie Walker. Prior to serving as Past Matron (2017), Ruth C. Smith Chapter No. 8, I demitted from Florida, into Audrey Robinson-Underwood Military Chapter No. 15, Georgiana Thomas Grand Chapter, O.E.S. of District of Columbia, (2005-2016). I was initiated into the Order of the Golden Circle in 2005. I served as Loyal Lady Ruler (2014), Henry A. Dove No. 15, and is currently serving as State Grand Loyal Lady Ruler (2021-Present) of Matthew Ellis Jr. State Grand Assembly, Valley of Washington, Auxiliary of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Freemasonry, P.H.A., Louis W. Roy, Sr. Council of Deliberation, Orient of the District of Columbia, Southern Jurisdiction.

What have you done to become better in the last year?

While serving within the past two years, the members of the State Grand Assembly have helped me collect and raise over $5,000 in baby supplies for children in the House of Ruth Domestic Violence Kid Space Center located in Southeast, Washington, D.C. I also assisted with collecting $3,000 in funds for the McCall, Smith, Anderson Scholarship.

Describe your leadership style and state whether you think it is effective.

I try my best to lead with a balance of compassion, respect, flexibility, transparency, and accountability. I lean heavily on the accountability attribute of people, which sometimes is faced with a lot of pushback. It is very hard for me to go against my nature, and as a therapist, I refuse to be an enabler of disrespect and misconduct.

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