Kalamazoo Times

Navia Walker is seeing her academic journey come full circle as she prepares to take on a new role with the Kalamazoo Promise after graduating with her master's degree in counselor education. The Kalamazoo Promise did not just cover Navia Walker's undergraduate college tuition; it ended up laying the foundation for a fulfilling career that aligns her professional skills with her passion for helping others.

Walker is graduating from Western Michigan University on Saturday, June 29, with a master's in counselor education and a job as a Promise guide for the Kalamazoo Promise.

"I saw the job posted and it felt like the role had literally been written for me. I'll be working with students who've stopped out and trying to help them get back on track, essentially walking alongside them, helping them create success plans and being an avenue to access resources," says Walker, who has worked for the past two years in Multicultural Affairs for Students at Western as a graduate assistant for the Kalamazoo Promise.

"It's really an awesome opportunity to be able to continue the work that I was already doing at Western but also implement everything I've been working on in my master's degree for the last three years. I'm really excited to pull from all of my skills that I've been chiseling."

Walker attends a Kalamazoo Promise event with Shashanta James, director of student financial aid; Dr. Mark Orbe, Kalamazoo Promise faculty lead; and Ashley Bravo, director of the College Assistance Migrant Program. Walker's grandfather, Moses Walker, B.A.'66, MBA'90, was a pillar of the Kalamazoo community. He was instrumental in founding the Family Health Center and held leadership roles over several decades with various organizations. He was also one of the most important people in Walker's life.

"He was a huge driving force in why I went to college," she says. "When I chose Western, my grandpa brought me to orientation and helped me pick my classes."

Walker wasn't settled on a major until she met with an exploratory advisor who shared her own career journey and mentioned her background in counseling.

"Counseling had always lived somewhere in my brain," she says. "I've always been that listening ear and the empathetic person in my friend group."

After perusing courses that piqued Walker's interest, her advisor recommended the family studies program. It focuses on strengthening individual and family well-being across lifespans with goals of improving quality of life within communities—a foundation suitable for a potential counseling career.

It also mirrored Moses Walker's impact on Kalamazoo. However, he would not see Navia put her own education into action as he died unexpectedly in January 2020. Still, she is happy to have carried on his legacy at his alma mater by earning her bachelor's degree and enrolling in Western's counselor education master's program.

"Doing this program has allowed me to grow personally and has challenged me to look inward at myself and figure out what kind of person I want to be, what kind of clinician I want to be," she says. "I've grown professionally; I feel so much more confident and I've had experiences that prepared me for my career."

Western's counselor education program is rigorous, creating close-knit cohorts as their studies progress.

"The counseling field can be really isolating... this is heavy stuff. So it's important to make sure you have community," says Walker who chose marriage, couple and family counseling concentration. "My professors have also been incredible... you really get to understand their teaching style."

In addition to learning theories and practices, master's students engage in internships through Western's Centers for Counseling and Psychological Services which offers no- or low-cost mental health services locally. Walker gained experience counseling Western students through these centers then expanded her skill set during an internship at Wicks Therapy PLCC dealing with diverse populations including court-appointed clients.

"The practicum and internship have completely opened my brain," she says. "With all these experiences I've gotten...I feel so much more confident walking the walk."

Alongside studies, Walker gained invaluable work experience as graduate assistant for Kalamazoo Promise researching data used in grant proposals securing funding.

"It was great experience doing behind-the-scenes work I'd never imagined."

Walker spent fall 2023 meeting incoming first-year/transfer students creating success plans ensuring support needed thriving academically.

"It helped me grow personally/professionally...grateful having had graduate assistant experience,"

Now guiding next-generation scholars grateful holistic education gained preparing next step knowing grandfather proud success.

"My grandpa reason pursued college; everything done college-wise was him."

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