Faces of 4D: Justin Walker Builds Community at DU
With a desire to help others find the same kinds of support that have helped him thrive, Justin is pursuing an education and career path filled with purpose.
Justin Walker (left) has built a lasting community of friends at DU.
This story was written by Tyla Panzera, graduate service assistant in Student Affairs, for Faces of 4D, a series that explores the diverse and complex ways in which the DU community lives the Four-Dimensional Experience on campus, in their careers, and around the globe.
Growing up in Fort Worth, Texas, third-year DU student Justin Walker always felt that college represented possibility. It was a chance to build something new and meaningful, something that could uplift not only his own life but the lives of those around him.
When the time came to choose a university, DU was not originally on his list, but a drive down University Boulevard changed everything. Justin said a small, private institution felt right—and when an Indigenous scholarship covered his full tuition, it opened the door to a future he had not yet imagined.
Academically, that future began with political science, a major Justin chose out of a desire to advocate, help, and create impact. Growing up with internal pressure to succeed but without much financial security, he wanted a career that could support his family and carry prestige. “Lawyer it is,” he remembers thinking.
But everything shifted during his first-year seminar (FSEM) on Exploring Higher Education Environments, taught by Michelle Tyson, clinical associate professor in the Morgridge School of Education. That class revealed an entirely new world: student affairs. “I fell in love with it,” Justin says. “I knew student affairs was what I wanted to go into.”
He decided to double major in psychology, which offered insight into human development and the complexities of how people think, grow, and make meaning. A minor in business ethics and legal studies tied everything together: the practicality of business, the structure of law, and the moral grounding that shapes who we become. “Ethics is in every part of your life. It really made me think about the person I wanted to be," Justin says.
His desire to support others shows up in his involvement on campus. From the moment Justin arrived, he immersed himself fully: Hall Council president, tour guide, resident assistant, speech and debate, group visits and college access intern, 4D Peer Mentor, and 4D Peer Mentor student coordinator. He has played flute in the Lamont Wind Ensemble, served as treasurer for the Native Student Alliance, competed in intramural volleyball, and joined the club e-sports team. His schedule is packed but intentional. “Classes in the mornings, extracurriculars in the evenings. I’ve made it all work,” he says.
Community has shaped Justin just as much as he has shaped it. As an Indigenous student, finding connection mattered. The Native Student Alliance became a grounding space where shared identity and experience create belonging. “Being around students who come from similar backgrounds really helped me build a community I didn’t have when I first came to college,” he says.
Mentorship has been equally transformative. Staff from New Student and Family Programs, like Taylor Menely, Allie Tookmanian, and Brie Jutte, have been constants, offering guidance, support, and care. Weekly mentorship meetings through NASPA, a student affairs association, and its Undergraduate Fellows Program—as well as relationships with faculty like Professor Tyson—have helped him grow academically, professionally, and personally. “At the end of the day, people just want to be cared about and be loved and valued,” he says.
That belief is at the heart of how Justin understands the Four-Dimensional Experience. College began as a straightforward goal: get a degree, get a job. But 4D expanded his vision. “It helps you grow in different aspects of your life outside of academics, helping your figure out who you are and who you want to become,” he says. He sees 4D in the clubs that build community, the quarter system that encourages exploration, the professors who know students by name, and the career resources that push students toward purpose.
Looking ahead, Justin is preparing to pursue a master’s degree in higher education and build a career in student affairs. First-year transition work—the chance to support students during one of the most pivotal moments of their college journey—is most appealing to him. Whether through admissions, housing, or first-year programs, he wants to be the person who helps students feel seen, supported, and capable. “It only takes one person to see your value, to make life worth living,” he adds.
His hopes are simple and profound: to make an impact, to create spaces where people feel valued, and to help institutions grow into places where students can thrive. “All we have is each other,” he says, and that belief guides everything he does.
When asked what advice he would give to incoming students, the answer comes without hesitation: “You’re never alone.” Everyone arrives scared, uncertain, and missing home, he says, but no one has to navigate college by themselves. Support is everywhere—in housing, in classrooms, in mental and physical health resources, and in the communities students build with one another. “There are so many people on campus who want to help you succeed,” Justin says.
Justin’s story is one of purpose, community, and care, a reminder that the heart of the 4D Experience is not just what students do but who they become and how they lift others along the way.
