SALEM, Ore. – The State Land Board today voted to make Vicki Walker the permanent director of the Oregon Department of State Lands. The action appointed Walker to a four-year term, retroactively effective from March 1, 2018. In March 2018, the Land Board appointed Walker as interim director of the agency for a term of 18 months, a term that expires this month. “Vicki’s leadership of the Department of State of Lands is a key part of Oregon’s commitment to responsible stewardship of state lands and to our schools,” said Governor Kate Brown. “I look forward to her continued service and DSL’s continued work on behalf of our most valuable natural resources.” Walker’s career includes serving as Oregon State Director for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (2009 to 2017). While at USDA, Walker oversaw the investment of $4.8 billion into more than 24,000 projects helping rural Oregonians. Before her work at USDA, Walker served for 10 years in the Oregon Legislature in both the House and the Senate (1999 to 2009), where she was a leader on the Joint Ways and Means Committee, overseeing budgets for natural resource and public safety agencies. Among other committee assignments, she also served as chair of the Senate Education Committee. Walker was chair and later administrator of the Oregon Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision in 2009, and for 25 years she operated her own court reporting firm. She received a B.S. from the University of Oregon. “I am so proud to lead this agency, which is responsible for one of the most important trusts in Oregon government – the Common School Fund,” said Walker.” The professionalism and dedication of this agency’s employees is humbling and motivating to me. I look forward to continuing the good work we do.”
