Briana Walker

Briana Walker, ‘23 M.Ed. candidate
Mavericks who enroll in the College of Education are a diverse group of students. In this story, we feature Briana Walker, a student enrolled in one of our master’s degree programs. Responses have been lightly edited.

What program are you currently enrolled in, and what is your anticipated graduation semester/year?

I am currently in the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program, with an emphasis in Higher Ed Administration. Right now, it looks like I will graduate in the fall semester.

What do you love most about UTA?

What I love most about UTA is the commitment to engagement through diverse populations. Every day the campus is lively with events and programs that represent every identity on campus. Even the way the programs are set up where I have to pass these stands on the way to class is something that forces me to be engaged. I love being able to try food or hear experiences from populations or identities I may not have been familiar with before.

What do you love most about your program?

I love how tight knit we are and diverse in our program. We have some people who have been in higher ed for 10-15 years and are coming back for some more education, we have others who are just starting out in the field. I love to hear the stories of my classmates and the tips about our program in general and what needs to be done to best succeed. I love the faculty that teach the courses. Dr. Maria Delgado is one of the professors who has taught several of my classes so far, and you can see the passion she has for the class and the students every time you see her. This has been something that I have constantly observed about the faculty and make it a more pleasant place to be.

Why did you choose UTA for your M.Ed.?

I chose UTA for the degree because of strong recommendations I received from mentors. I had a lot of staff from my past institution transfer over to UTA so I knew there had to be a level of enticement there. I felt valued and heard through every interaction I had with the staff and faculty while applying for the program. I got assistance with every step from the application process to finding a job on campus. I knew that I could count on this trend to continue through my time at the university.

How will this degree help you in your ultimate career goals?

My professional goals are to work at a university in a position that allows me to work with first year and incoming students. I also have a true passion for event management and coordinating programs for the student population. Through this degree, it will allow me to keep up to date with the needs of students and to explore areas of student affairs that could be of interest to me. I also love exploring the development of students and how we as practitioners can enhance their experience.

Do you work? If so, what is your role?

I currently work in the new student courses department as a graduate assistant. I work with the Live on Peer Academic Leaders who are associated with living learning communities.

How does your current schoolwork help you in your work on campus or externally?

My current school work gives me more perspective on how to guide students I supervise. I learn about the history of higher ed and the barriers there are for different student demographics which motivates me to educate myself in areas where I can properly advocate for students.

How do you balance work, life, and school?

To ensure I have balance with all my responsibilities, I always make sure to get enough rest and I rarely compromise that. I also love having a physical planner to keep me on top of all my responsibilities along with setting multiple alarms as reminders throughout the day. I think having time to unwind as well is so important so if I have a spare minute, I may call a friend or stop by a campus event to put me in a better frame of mind.

What are the professors like? Have you been able to build relationships with other students/classmates?

I have had a very supportive cohort in my time here. We often get feedback from each other on assignments and confide in each other about struggles we are facing so I feel very equipped and supported in those areas.

The professors all have different ways of giving feedback and teaching but they all show the care they have for the students in this program. This gives me a greater sense of respect for them and makes me more likely to communicate my concerns and aspirations for the department.

What is your “why”?

The moment I realized I was passionate about higher education was when I became an orientation leader in undergrad. I got to hear from students of different backgrounds and many who were completely clueless about the inner workings of a university. I loved being able to help them through the transitional period just by sharing my experience and resources. I realized that whatever I ended up doing I know that I want to be interacting with students on a mentorship level to guide them through. Attending a university is a lot of moving parts, and it’s invaluable to have someone you know is in your corner, and I want to be that person for other students.

Any words of wisdom for others considering a UTA degree?

I always tell students that, with anything, “you get out of it what you put into it.” I hear a lot of students saying there’s nothing to do or they have never used resources on campus or they haven’t made many connections. All of those things can be taken into your own hands. Attending events, exploring the campus website and even just looking up from your phone every once in a while to notice a flyer for an organization you may be interested can all make your experience more memorable for you. Most of the campus resources are included in your tuition, so it’s worth checking out. Also put yourself out there. I have never been one to interact much with my professors, but now that I reach out to them to get help and tips on the program, I feel so much more connected to my classes and UTA as a whole. 

Any inspiring advice about your experience at UTA?

I will say I’ve been blessed to have a supportive family to help me as I pursue my masters but I think the main thing I’ve experienced is imposter syndrome.

I’ll be the first in several generations of my family to receive a master’s degree, and with that comes a lot of anxiety. I have had this overwhelming pressure at times to be perfect, and it often takes a toll on my body physically with all the stress. I have had insane migraine, hypertension level blood pressure, aches and pain throughout my body with no known cause, and problems navigating my appetite and often overeating. I have taken time to visit psychiatrists to navigate some of the symptoms but overall it can be a lot to handle. I know this is something many students often face, and I’ve always heard about it but it can be debilitating when you have projects and responsibilities and you never feel like you are doing enough. I think what encourages me is remembering the end goal and why I’m here. I also think about how I can motivate future students.

As a woman of color, I want students at the university I end up working at to see me and recognize they have the potential to achieve any goals they aspire to.