ODU professor who stepped down after backlash over controversial interview hired by Johns Hopkins
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NORFOLK, Va. – Dr. Allyn Walker, the former Old Dominion University assistant professor who stepped down after coming under fire following a controversial interview where they defended non-offending pedophiles, was hired by Johns Hopkins University’s Moore Center for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse.
The Moore Center announced the news Thursday afternoon.
We are excited to share that Allyn Walker, PhD, will be joining the Moore Center as a postdoctoral fellow on May 25.
— Moore Center for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (@MooreCenter_JHU) May 12, 2022
Allyn Walker is a leader in the field of perpetration prevention research, which is essential for developing a comprehensive public health approach to addressing child sexual abuse and effective prevention programs. We are delighted to have Allyn Walker join our team. https://t.co/IuFQj7FVIL
— Moore Center for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (@MooreCenter_JHU) May 13, 2022
Walker, who will join the Moore Center as a postdoctoral fellow, will “support multiple, large-scale, ongoing research projects and help identify new projects.”
The Moore Center recognized Walker as “a leader in the field of perpetration prevention research” and said they are “excited” to have Walker join their team.
Walker, who uses “they/them” pronouns, announced in November 2021 they would step down from their position when their contract expired in May 2022. They were on leave until that time.
The backlash started after their controversial comments they made in an interview with the Prostasia Foundation regarding their book, “A Long Dark Shadow: Minor-Attracted People and Their Pursuit of Dignity,” gained traction on social media and gained national attention. In the interview, Walker concluded that it is “never OK to abuse a child,” but argued that there is no morality attached to attraction towards children as long as it isn’t acted on.
ODU released the following statement after the interview:
An academic community plays a valuable role in the quest for knowledge. A vital part of this is being willing to consider scientific and other empirical data that may involve controversial issues and perspectives. Following a recent interview that gained national attention, Dr. Allyn Walker has released the following statement.
“I want to be clear: child sexual abuse is an inexcusable crime. As an assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice, the goal of my research is to prevent crime. My work is informed by my past experience and advocacy as a social worker counseling victims. I embarked on this research in hopes of gaining understanding of a group that, previously, has not been studied in order to identify ways to protect children.”
Following recent social media activity and direct outreach to the institution, it is important to share that Old Dominion, as a caring and inclusive community, does not endorse or promote crimes against children or any form of criminal activity.
Old Dominion University
Students at ODU had mixed feelings about Walker’s comments. Some described the comments as “gross” and “weird,” while others said they didn’t believe Walker’s beliefs outside of work should interfere with their role as a professor.
Walker had been a professor at ODU since 2019.
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