Walter Masuda graduated from PVHS with a lifetime membership in the California Scholarship Federation. He attended UC, Davis and earned a B.S. in Biochemistry (1983) and an M.A. in English (1987). He worked as an independent contractor for the CA Dept. of Ed from 1987-1991, working in curriculum and test development. After that, Walter pursued a Ph.D. in the Language and Literacy Program at UC, Berkeley (1991). While at Berkeley, Walter held a UC Regents fellowship and was nominated Holmes Scholar of Education. He became a tenured Professor of English at Contra Costa College in San Pablo in 2004. With professor Robert Calfee of Stanford University, Walter co-published a book chapter on classroom assessment for the Handbook of Classroom Assessment. For two years, Walter was also the director of the PACE Program. Walter has also been published in the book, Reading for Understanding. He became the Dean of Arts, Humanities and Education at Yuba College in 2011. He volunteered to serve as an Interim Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. He became the first Executive Dean of the new Sutter County Campus in Yuba City. His advocacy for literacy development has been published in the book, Leading for Literacy. He retired in 2016, but continues to teach part-time at Yuba College.

In 2024, he won the Teacher of the Year Award among adjunct faculty. He is currently a union steward for the Yuba College – American Federation of Teachers, Local 4952. He volunteers for a number of non-profit groups: treasurer for the Marysville Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, grant writer for the Butte Environmental Council, member of the Chico Guild of the North State Symphony, member of the Chico Elks, and auxiliary board member for the Pleasant Valley High School Foundation.