Donna Walker

Donna Walker

Distinguished Alumni Award

2022

Following in the footsteps of her parents, Donna J. Walker graduated from the University of South Carolina, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and her master’s in business administration.  Donna began her career working with her dad as a pharmacist at Cedar Terrace Pharmacy in Columbia, S.C. Subsequently, she moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the American Pharmacists Association, the national professional society for pharmacists. After receiving her MBA, she joined 3M Pharmaceuticals in Minneapolis. She held various leadership positions within the pharmaceutical division, including sales, marketing, and international management. Later, she served as the North American Sales and Marketing Director for the 3M Telecom Division in Austin, Texas.

In 1997, Donna and her husband, Mark Pulido, founded the Pulido Walker Foundation, which is focused on youth development. In addition to her activities with Pulido Walker Foundation, Donna has been involved with numerous other community and professional organizations including American Pharmacists Association, Austin Diagnostic Medical Center, Alliance Healthcare Foundation, Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, Rancho Santa Fe Community Center, San Diego Social Venture Partners, and San Diego Grantmakers. She is past Chair of the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco, past Chair of the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund and past President of The Bishop’s School Parent Association. Currently, Donna chairs the Grant Review Committee of the Napa Valley Vintners.

In 2013, Donna and Mark agreed to create and endow the Walker Pharmacy Leadership Scholars launching a student leadership initiative to identify, educate, and recognize top pharmacy student leaders at the University of South Carolina.

Donna and Mark are the proprietors of Pulido~Walker Estate Vineyards and Winery –a Napa Valley limited production family winery specializing in extraordinary single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. They live in Yountville, California and have one son, Chas.