ARVADA, Colo. — The American Association of Special Districts (AASD) has announced the appointment of Dr. Edward Walton as the Association’s Director representing special district members in the Mid-America Region.
Dr. Walton leads the Springfield-Greene County Library District in Greene County, Mo., where he has served as Executive Director for the last year of his 44 years in public library services and records management. His time at the Library District has included the oversight of more than $24 million in infrastructure projects and expansions, engagement and collaboration with fellow library districts across Missouri, and successful education of local and state officials on the importance of special district services.
For more than two decades prior, Dr. Walton oversaw university library operations as the Director of Library Services Operations at Northwest Missouri State University and as Dean of Library Services at Southwest Baptist University.
(Pictured at Left: Dr. Edward Walton)
AASD Regional Directors have a drive for collaboration, network development, and guiding activities to bring district stakeholders together with needed resources, and more. Dr. Walton represents AASD Region III, which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
“It has become very important for public libraries in Missouri to navigating some challenging legislative initiatives,” stated Dr. Edward Walton, AASD Region III (Mid-America) Director, and Springfield-Greene County Library District Executive Director. “Many of those challenges are not unique to libraries but impact all types of special districts. It has become increasingly apparent that special districts need to cross traditional boundaries and work together to resolve some of these challenges. I look forward to being a catalyst for collaboration and mutual support.”
The AASD Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Walton during its quarterly meeting on Wednesday, June 25, and he will serve the remainder of the term through December 2027.
“We are honored to have Dr. Edward Walton join as the tenth member of the AASD Board of Directors, bringing with him decades of strong leadership, a vision for the advancement of America’s special districts, and a collaborative mindset to address issues head-on,” said Cole Arreola-Karr, AASD Executive Director. “Dr. Walton is a well-seasoned advocate for libraries and has a passion to unite and advance special districts across the spectrum. America’s special districts will all benefit from Dr. Walton’s passion and perspective as a leading voice to unite, strengthen, and advance district services.”
Dr. Walton received his Doctor of Education Degree in Higher Education Leadership in 2012 from Union University. He holds a Master’s of Library Science from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Art’s degree in Religion from Dallas Baptist University.
Learn more about AASD’s three core concepts, Board of Directors, and more at www.americasdistricts.org. For questions on this and ways to get involved with America’s special districts, contact Cole Arreola-Karr, AASD Executive Director, at contact@americasdistricts.org.
A group of special district managers, board members, and professional stakeholders founded AASD in August 2024 to fulfill the need for a strong national association to identify and address special districts’ common challenges. AASD’s mission is rooted in “strengthening special districts with governance resources; advancing special districts’ ability to serve their communities, and uniting the nation’s special districts through building advocacy coalitions and organizations in states and across the nation.