Sophomore finance and banking major Johnathan Smith is a Walker Fellow, and the first Walker Fellow to maintain the role of public relations (PR) liaison.
The Walker Fellows are the student ambassadorial group of the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University, and although every member of the group serves the college, the dean, and the business student body through a specific role in the organization, few new members join the group and suggest a previously unconsidered role for themselves. Smith, like many decision makers in the university, believe that innovation is a key to success. While Walker Fellows committees include functional and visionary themes such as social and service, peer mentoring, and marketing, Smith aims to help his fellows tell their story - to provide PR to a group that embodies positive public relations.
Pictured are members of the 2015-16 Walker Fellows.
The Walker Fellows liaise with the the administration of the Walker College in order to enhance the student experience and promote opportunities for academic and professional growth. A significant challenge for Smith will be keeping up with everything the fellows are doing. This year alone, the Walker Fellows will participate in campus initiatives like Stadium clean-up (alongside the college’s International Business Student Association in support of the university’s zero-waste sustainable initiative), service projects such as a humane society fundraiser, and the delivery of a high quality mentorship experience to upward of 20 business undergraduates. They will give countless tours to prospective students and their families, and provide assistance at signature university and college events such as University Scholars Day, the Boyles Distinguished Lecture, the Global Opportunities Conference, ASU Open House, the Beta Gamma Sigma Induction and the Yadkin Bank College of Business Honors Convocation.
In time, Smith also hopes to execute his own service to learners and the community. Inspired by his personal experience as a student at East Forsyth High School Finance Academy, Smith is reaching out to local schools in hopes to develop a partnership to provide professional development and leadership skills to young students. “Rarely do we get to share with others the knowledge we learn here at Appalachian,” he explained. “And the students, some may not have the opportunity to learn leadership and professional development.”
The Walker Fellows and the individuals who comprise the group help create the positive impact the Walker College has on Appalachian’s students and community. Learn more about the Walker Fellows.
