Daniel E. Walker

About Daniel E. Walker

Dr. Daniel E. Walker is a master storyteller and social entrepreneur. The founding director of the Long Beach Indie International Film and Entertainment Festival, hosted in conjunction with the U. S. Department of Commerce, his board experience includes the Heritage Music Foundation, the SDSU Foundation, The California Endowment, and the BLU Educational Foundation where he continues as Chair. He is the author of the critically acclaimed book No More, No More: Slavery and Cultural Resistance in Havana and New Orleans (University of Minnesota Press), writer/director of the documentary films When Roosters Crow, Sol Brothers, and The Path (post-production), and an award-winning television producer. Walker is a former project manager at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Executive Director of the Tijuana-San Diego affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, and economic development consultant to the late San Diego City Councilman George Stevens. He is also a recipient of the New York City Urban Fellowship, Coro Leadership Fellowship (declined), and a three-year W.K. Kellogg Foundation National Leadership Fellowship focused on inclusive community development in the U.S, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Dr. Walker has been awarded the Los Angeles Press Club\'s SoCal Journalism Award and the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California\'s Golden Mic Award, both for Best Entertainment Reporting. He is also a member of the Board of Councilors at the USC Thornton School of Music, providing mentorship to the next wave of music industry and film scoring professionals.A proud product of Head Start, public schools, and the Inland Empire, Dr. Walker earned a B.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University while also being elected president of the Student Government Association. He obtained an M.A. in Latin American History (with distinction) from the University of California, Riverside, and a Ph.D.(with distinction) in Latin American and African American History from the University of Houston.In 2018 Walker was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Claremont Graduate University for his global contributions to art, innovation, and design.

Experience

1. President

   Perfect Works

   Jun 2009 — Present

   Perfect Works is a multimedia holding company. Its major assets include the Long Beach Indie International Film and Entertainment Festival, the speaking, publishing, consulting, and licensing interests of Dr. Daniel E. Walker, and the majority stake in Perfect Works Entertainment (PWE) and the Huff Creek Development Corporation. PWE produces film, television, theatre, and major museum installations. HCDC develops mixed-use properties centered around entertainment, recreation, and wellness.

Education

• San Diego State University

  Bachelors, Psychology

  1985 — 1989

• University of Houston

  PhD, Latin American and African American History (with distinction)

  1996 — 2000

• University of California, Riverside

  MA, Latin American and African American History (with distinction)

  1994 — 1996

Skills

• Higher Education
• Nonprofits
• Program Evaluation
• Television
• Community Outreach
• Qualitative Research
• Fundraising
• Grant Writing
• Leadership Development
• Research
• Grants
• Program Management
• Volunteer Management
• Curriculum Development
• Event Planning
• Public Speaking
• Editing
• Program Development
• Teaching
• Social Networking
• History
• Entertainment