Francine F. (Fran) Walker, director of student life at the University of Pennsylvania for more than 35 years, died July 7. She was 76.

Dr. Walker grew up in northern New Jersey. After receiving her doctorate in English at Tufts University, she spent seven years teaching at Tufts, SUNY, Buffalo, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Dr. Walker came to Penn in 1974 as the assistant director of Student Activities in the department of student life. She became associate director of student life two years later. In 1987, she was made director of student activities and student life facilities, a newly created position by then-President Sheldon Hackney (Almanac July 14, 1987). In 1996, she became the director of Student Life in Faculty and Activities. In 1998, she became director of Student Services and Student Affairs in VPUL. She remained in that position until her retirement in 2010, after which she stayed on for a year in VPUL in a temporary position.

During her tenure at Penn, Dr. Walker served on a variety of committees, including serving as the A-1 Assembly chair, on the University Council, Campus Center Advisory Committee, the Task Force on Smoking, and the Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force. She won a Models of Excellence Award in 2004 (Almanac February 17, 2004) and served as a Commencement Marshall (Almanac May 25, 2010).

After retiring, she volunteered at the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees, New Jersey, for several years, caring for the cats at the shelter.

According to Adam Sherr of the Division of Finance’s Student Registration and Financial Services, “She single-handedly built the Office of Student Life into the comprehensive support system for Penn students that it is now (as the Office of Student Affairs). Out of the OSL, many other campus support offices were developed, most notably the LGBT Center which is now a model for campuses country- (and, dare I say world-) wide. She helped develop Penn’s Leadership Weekend and much of the curriculum is still being used today to impact the lives and skills of student leaders (and leaders to be) at Penn. And she cared. So much. About students, about Penn, about the colleagues with whom she worked.”

She is survived by her brother, Richard. Details for a memorial service will be announced at a later date.