By Kevin McCall During the Spring 2022 semester, a record seven Marist College students participated in the virtual Gumbo Coalition University Mentorship Program sponsored by Resorts World Casino New York City. Of all the institutions who had students in the program, Marist College had the highest number of participants with seven. In this series of blog posts, some of the Marist students will speak about their leadership experiences, key learnings in the program, and plans to become future leaders. In this post you will hear from Phyia Walker ’24, a Communications major with a concentration in Advertising. Resilience has defined Phyia Walker ’24 for the past few years on her journey from Brooklyn, New York, to Poughkeepsie, New York. Walker entered a new high school her senior year after her previous school, Bishop Carney High School, closed down. She transferred further west from the all-girls school in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn into the co-ed Xaverian High School in Bay Ridge. Walker had been re-elected president of her class three times at Bishop Carney, but she was going into Xaverian not knowing anyone. Nevertheless, Walker found her niche when she followed her passion for broadcasting. She auditioned for WBXN, Xaverian’s broadcasting network, and eventually became the lead anchor of the school’s television station. Walker said her path to this role showed her the importance of equity. “At first it was hard to navigate a new school, but because I was persistent I was able to get this opportunity that I never had (at Xaverian) before,” Walker said. “Getting the position showed me I could pursue something regardless of my previous experience.” The Gumbo Coalition program appealed to Walker because she wanted to help people around her realize their potential to be leaders in addition to develop her own leadership skills. She said she most enjoyed speaking with Marc Morial, the author of the book she read as part of the program, because she could relate to his personal experiences. “Marc Morial is a strong person that is adamant about what he believes in,” Walker said. “He talked about growing up in a poor neighborhood in New Orleans and taught me that it doesn’t matter where you come from. At the end of the day, it’s about where you’re going.” In her first two years at Marist College Walker has been expanding her talents and abilities. She was a member of the varsity rowing team her first semester at Marist and currently works as a Research Interviewer at the Marist Poll. At the Marist Poll, Walker interviews people to gather public opinion at the local, state, and national levels on topics such as politics and the economy. Walker said the role she is most proud of is being a Resident Advisor (RA) to students in Marian Hall. “I want to be a resource for the Marist community and try to help out everyone that I can because the transition to college can be hard, ” Walker said. “(Marc Morial) talked about growing up in a poor neighborhood in New Orleans and taught me that it doesn’t matter where you come from. At the end of the day, it’s about where you’re going.” Walker is majoring in Communications with a concentration in Advertising at Marist College. She has attended career services’ employer information sessions and met with representatives from organizations like Ogilvy and the Association of National Advertisers (ANA). Walker said she is focused on expanding her network with like-minded individuals and learning from every experience that she earns.
“Right now I’m trying to get involved as much as I can and build my skills so that when I do pursue a particular opportunity outside of Marist I have all the confidence I need behind me,” she said. About the Gumbo Coalition University Mentorship Program: The Gumbo Coalition University Mentorship Program is a 12-week virtual mentorship program sponsored by Resorts World Casino New York City. The program brings students face to face with recognized leaders across business, media, and the non-profit world. Over the course of the program, students learn the attributes of a transformative leader, how to build consensus, and how to make decisions under pressure through immersive discussions and exercises. Upon completion of the program students receive a $500 scholarship. The program is inspired by renowned civic leader Marc Morial, President & CEO of the National Urban League, and the leadership lessons from his first book, The Gumbo Coalition: 10 Leadership Lessons that Help You Inspire, Unite, and Achieve.
2 Comments
Ariel Abrams
5/25/2022 08:10:26 am
Great keep up the good work
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Tracy Jones-Walker
5/25/2022 02:34:46 pm
Your dad and I are so proud of you. Keep up the good work. Always keep in mind what I thought you. It's nice to be important; but, important to be nice. Hold the door open.
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