Pinkowski Files

VIVIAN A. WALKOSZ, Ed.D.
Dr. Vivian A. Walkosz is the fifth child of Joseph and Catherine Walkosz. Her father, Joseph, left the secondary school in Nowy Targ, Poland at the age of sixteen to seek his fortune in America, in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother, Catherine, was born of Polish parents in Chicago. Dr. Walkosz and her siblings were raised in a predominantly Polish neighborhood and attended the Polish parish grade school. In addition to the curriculum in the public schools the Felician nuns taught religion in English and Polish, Polish history, reading and grammer. During her elementary school years she was a member of the Polish scouts of the Polish Roman Catholic Union.
Dr. Walkosz's undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Science awarded by Mundelein College. Chemistry was her major with mathematics and physics as her minors. She graduated with college and chemistry honors.
Her graduate degree was a Master of Education from De Paul University with a major study in mathematics. Her post graduate education in the field of mathematics included a National Science Foundation Grant at Colgate University. While studying for her Doctorate in Education at Northern Illinois University she was awarded a Fellowship. Her thesis was in environmental education.
Upon receiving her undergraduate degree, Dr. Walkosz worked in the Cancer Research Laboratory of Billings Hospital at the University of Chicago. Fate intervened and she entered the field of education. Her teaching career began as a chemistry and mathematics teacher at St. Mary's High School. At the Burbank School District in Illinois she taught the elementary grades, junior high school science and became the Mathematics and Science Consultant for the entire district.
As an educational consultant for Harcourt, Brace and Jovanovich Publishers she conducted workshops and demonstrations for approximately 5000 teachers and administrators in seventeen Midwestern states and the American DOD schools in Japan. Areas considered were mathematics, science and linguistics. Her responsibilities included editorial work, writing educational material for workshops, coordinator of work sessions for consultants and sales representatives, as well as, guest instructor at the University of Wichita.
As an Assistant Professor at Illinois State University, Dr. Walkosz began her university teaching experience supervising student teachers and conducting seminars. As Professor in the Department of Curriculum or Northeastern Illinois University she taught courses in mathematics, mathematics methods and science methods at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She authored new courses of study and was the Elementary Coordinator responsible for the elementary education curriculum and State Certification. Upon retirement she was awarded by the university the honor of Professor Emeritus. Throughout her academic life she participated actively in international, national and state organizations concerned with curriculum, mathematics and science. Her educational expertise was utilized as a School Board Member at Sacred Heart Elementary School. She was appointed by Mayors Daley and Byrne to the Chicago Manpower Planning Council.
Dr. Walkosz's involvement in Polish activities and groups began in grade school. In her teens she was a member of the Donna Welfare League, a philanthropic group of women of Polish descent whose objective was to help the blind. As an undergraduate she became active in the Women's Auxiliary of St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital as a volunteer.
After completing her academic studies she joined the Polish Arts Club of Chicago. She has served as a Director and Chairperson of various committees, such as, membership, constitution and nominating. Her participation in committees include Literary Competition, Art Fair, Christmas luncheon, installation, and various programs throughout the year. Presently she serves as Treasurer and is involved in all committee functions.
Dr. Walkosz's first encounter with the American Council for Polish Culture was at the Council's Convention in Chicago in 1982 when she was selected to introduce two keynote speakers. As a first-time delegate to the Council's Convention in Washington, DC in 1984 she was appointed Chairperson of the Resolution Committee. Since that time she has been a delegate to most of the conventions. She has been elected a Director and Chairperson of the Nominating Committee. For several years she was appointed Chairperson of the Awards Committee and Parliamentarian. In recent years she has served on the Pulaski Scholarship committee. At the Council's first convention in Pultusk, Poland she was panelist at the Art and Culture Symposium presenting "Publishing for the American Schools." In 1991 she co-chaired the Council's convention in Chicago.
Dr. Walkosz's love for her Polish heritage and for Poland began early in her home and intensified through the years. She has traveled to many European countries as a participant in educational conferences and for pleasure. However, she has had the most delight in her nine trips to Poland. Her visits included an invitation by the Polish Academy of Science to participate in the Congress of Scholars of Polish Descent, a sabbatical leave to study the school system in Poland, a member of a fact-finding ACPC delegation (an invitation extended by Poland's Minister of Culture), and the Council's conventions in Pultusk and Krakow. She looks forward to the Council's next convention in Gdansk, Poland in 2006.
From: Resume (2005)