---

Kentucky State University recently announced Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, the senior leader of the historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Nashville, will deliver the keynote address at the 2019 Fall Commencement Convocation Friday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. in the Carl H. Smith Auditorium of David H. Bradford Hall.

Walker currently serves on the board of directors for Meharry Medical College and Citizens Savings Bank & Trust. In 2016, he was appointed to serve as the chairman of the Board of Trustees for Tennessee State University. Walker unanimously re-elected as chair in 2019. Walker is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity.

Walker currently serves as the International Presiding Bishop in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. In 2013, Walker was chosen to succeed the founding International Presiding Bishop, Paul S. Morton, Sr.

In 1992, at the age of 24, Walker began his pastorate at Mt. Zion with 175 members. The ministry has grown to over 30,000 members and continues to grow by 1,000 members per year. Under his leadership, Mt. Zion expanded beyond its original location on historic Jefferson Street to eight weekly services in three physical locations and includes a virtual church location, www.mtzionanywhere.tv, and a weekly broadcast that reaches 15 million viewers worldwide.

Walker is a regular guest on the Rickey Smiley Radio Show and has been a guest on CNN, Politics Nation with Al Sharpton on MSNBC, CBS Morning News, CBN, the 700 Club, Sister Circle and The Roland Martin Show. Walker authors a monthly op-ed in the Tennessee Tribune entitled Rest.

Walker is the best-selling author of 12 books. Walker’s latest book, Restored at the Root, shows how to deal with life’s issues from a spiritual and practical perspective. Walker and his wife, Dr. Stephaine M. Hale, co-authored a book entitled Becoming A Couple of Destiny.

Walker received a Bachelor of Arts from Southern University; a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University; and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. Walker holds two honorary doctorates from Meharry Medical College and Southern University, respectively.