Bio

Dr. Walter Collins began his career at USC Lancaster in August 2002 as an Instructor of French and English. Rising quickly through the ranks to Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs (2008), Dr. Collins began serving as Regional Palmetto Campus Dean of USC Lancaster on April 15, 2013. He earned tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2009 and promotion to Full Professor in 2015. Since January 2024, Dr. Collins has served as Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs and Associate Provost for the University of South Carolina Palmetto College.

Collins earned his BA in French Literature from Wake Forest University, his Master of Arts in French Literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of South Carolina Columbia. 

Collins has authored one book and edited two additional volumes; he has a wide variety of article and chapter publications and scholarly presentations to his credit as well as several grant awards in support of teaching, research, and scholarship. Service to the profession includes numerous workshops, committees, panels, and conferences he has chaired. He has been recognized with several awards:  2023 Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year, 2018 YMCA of South Carolina Community Ambassador Award, 2006 and 2011 TRiO Professor of the Year, the 2008 Student Government Association Servant’s Heart Award, and 1999 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant in a Doctoral Program. 

            Dr. Collins has been affiliated with several professional organizations including the National Association of Branch Campus Administrators and the Regional and Branch Campus Administrators organization to name a couple. In the community, he is or has been a member of the Board of Directors for Communities in Schools, Partners for Youth, the Economic Development Advisory Group, MUSC Health: Lancaster Medical Center, Lancaster Promise Neighborhood Advisory Group, and the Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Lancaster Breakfast Rotary Club from 2008 to 2023 and is currently a member of the Columbia Rotary Club. He was named a Paul Harris fellow in 2012. Dr. Collins and his wife, Ashley, have four children.