The Sheldon Arts Foundation is pleased to announce the election of Cheryl D.S. Walker as the new chair of its board of directors. Walker succeeds Jim Watson, who has served as the Sheldon Arts Foundation board chair since 2020.

“I am looking forward to working with board members and staff at The Sheldon to continue and extend the impact of this venerable arts organization,” says Walker. “I have a lifelong devotion to the arts, and I am eager to work with The Sheldon as it continues to innovate and evolve.”

Sheldon Executive Director Peter Palermo says, “We are deeply grateful for Jim Watson’s leadership over the past three years, and we are thrilled to have Cheryl Walker ascend to the board chair position. With Jim’s partnership, we successfully navigated the challenges of the pandemic and engaged in a forward-thinking strategic planning process. While Jim will step down from his role as chair, he will continue to serve as a leader on the Board of Directors.”

Walker is a transactions attorney focusing on commercial contracts and construction transactions. She is also a published poet, with musical scores having been composed for two of her poems: “Love Supreme” and “My Daddy Was a Horn Playa,” both of which she has performed and recorded.

In addition to Walker’s legal practice, she is an active and avid community volunteer providing time, talent and expertise to an extensive list of organizations, including the Saint Louis Regional Health Commission; the St. Louis Business Empowerment Center; and the Whitaker Foundation.

Walker attended the Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla, Missouri, where she received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. She later received her J.D. from Washington University.

Walker has been honored with numerous awards including Women of Achievement, the St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Women, and National Society of Black Engineers’ Excellence in the Legal Profession.