Dr. Cecelia Ann Walker serves as the Executive Director of Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education for Brookwood Baptist Health System in Birmingham, Alabama, and as an Associate Minister at Birmingham’s Greater Shiloh Baptist Church.

Dr. Walker earned the Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources Management from Birmingham Southern College, the Master of Divinity from Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School, and the Doctorate of Ministry from the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, Georgia.

A fourth-generation Baptist, Dr. Walker is the first woman in her family ordained to the Gospel Ministry. She is an endorsed chaplain of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Dr. Walker currently serves on the Samford University Board of Trustees and is Chair of the Board of Directors for the Association for Clinical Pastoral Educators. She was selected as the 2024 Alumna of the Year of Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School and is the recipient of the 2025 Carl Hart Award for Excellence in Chaplaincy Ministry by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Dr. Walker uses the gifts and opportunities God has given her to serve as a mentor and innovative Baptist woman in ministry. She was the first female Associate Minister at Greater Shiloh Baptist Church, the second woman Associate Minister, and the first Associate Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL.

A native of Birmingham and a graduate of A. H. Parker High School, Dr. Walker is known as one who loves God and serving the people of God as they journey through the successes and challenges, joys and sorrows of life. She is the mother of Jeffery and Gabrielle (Gabby went to be with the Lord February 25, 2006; Jeffery went to be with the Lord March 2, 2019) and is married to Roy Ambrose, Jr.