Lee Walker

“There is an asymmetry between the tight time frames in which students operate—semesters, four years at most—and the length of time it takes to work out solutions to complex civic issues.”

Community

Fellows have a plethora of opportunities to build relationships with fellow students and faculty. We boast a resume of fellows from a wide range of majors, programs, and backgrounds.

Mentorship

After completing their first semester, each fellow is paired with a mentor based on their career interests. From medical school faculty to CEOs of local companies, mentoring relationships in the Fellowship are no joke.

The fellowship

We believe that the Fellowship enables persistent student impact during the undergraduate experience. Fellows maintain habits of service beyond graduation, wherever their life takes them.

Service

In addition to each cohort’s project, the Fellowship provides regular service opportunities in the local Austin community for fellows to be involved in at their own pace.

Leadership

Leadership is inherent in the Fellowship. Fellows assume different roles within their cohorts, lead during service events, and have the opportunity serve on the student board.

The Structure

Upon entry, fellows begin a journey that lasts their entire undergraduate career.

Phase I: Education - During their first semester, a cohort will have weekly meetings and will be taken through a crash course on Human-Centered Design Thinking. Each meeting includes a conversation with an advisory board member who shares their expertise. Interspersed throughout this phase are cohort field trips to local service organizations in Austin, including the Community First! Village, Casa Marianella, and the Mary Lee Foundation. Towards the end of the semester, cohorts begin brainstorming what initiative they want to collectively pursue. The big idea: learn about design thinking and get a taste of what community engagement looks like on campus and around Austin.

Phase II: Research - Beginning in their second semester, a cohort uses their knowledge of the design process to begin research on a given issue. Cognizant that sustainable solutions take time, fellows conduct online research, speak with advisory board members, UT faculty, and community leaders, and volunteer at local organizations to help define and understand their issue of interest. Learning, gaining experience, and building relationships are the core values of this phase.

Phase III: Implementation - In their third semester and beyond, a cohort begins prototyping and implementing solutions. What does a ‘solution’ look like? It could be a physical product, a community initiative, a partnership with a local organization, or even the creation of a new student organization at UT. The sky is the limit. Check out the ‘What We’ve Done’ page to learn more.

Each semester is concluded with a symposium where the progress of each cohort is presented for other cohorts, advisory board members, community members, family, and friends.

Enable

Through mentorship from community leaders and UT faculty, Fellows are empowered to develop into effective, empathetic leaders in order to facilitate positive change in their local communities.

Community

Fellows will engage in community outreach through close collaboration with each other and Fellowship community connections.

Impact

By inspiring Fellows through mentorship, education, and a strong community of partners to invest in their goals, the Walker Fellowship will continually provide committed students to the community projects it engages in.