Kal Walker is a first-year student in the MIMS program at the I School. Prior to Berkeley, Kal received his bachelor’s in management information systems from the University of Maryland and has been serving as an intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy for over eight years.
What is your favorite thing about the I School?
It is hands down the people — the students, the faculty, everyone. They are some of the nicest and most knowledgeable people you will ever meet and will do anything to help you. It is energizing to be around people who are passionate about what they are studying and want to be there.
What is your favorite class?
My favorite class at the I School has been INFO 272: Qualitative Research Methods with Professor Laith Ulaby. You can speak with anyone else who has taken that class, and I promise they will agree that INFO 272 is the best course they have taken. It is an intense and open-ended class that teaches classic qualitative research methods like interviews and ethnography but gives you the freedom to apply those techniques to phenomena that you are interested in personally. The knowledgeableness of the professor paired with the great degree of freedom this class offers made it both informative and fun.
What does Black History Month mean to you? Do you recognize or celebrate it? If so, how?
Black History Month is an important time to remind ourselves that Black History is American History.
American science, technology, music, cuisine, fashion, literature, politics, etc., have all been profoundly influenced by Black Americans, and Black History Month is a special time of year that should reinvigorate our sense of justice for Black communities that are still being underrepresented in the country they helped create.
I believe that Black history should be celebrated year-round, and that begins with educating ourselves about the true stories of Black Americans. We celebrate the Black men and women who have gone before when we recall their stories, share their names, and speak their truths to the corrupt power systems that have made many of their stories particularly harrowing. We celebrate the Black Americans of today when we recognize their continued efforts in many facets that shape our culture and the quality of our everyday lives and we must keep with us that the struggle of Black Americans remains ever present and ongoing.
How have your prior experiences led you to this point in your life?
After having a pretty challenging childhood, I joined the military at the age of 17 and luckily landed a job as an intelligence analyst. It was there that I discovered I had a passion for learning about human history, culture, and behavior, but I often wrestled with the impact my work had on the people I learned about. I desperately wanted to learn how to use my skills and passion for understanding people in a way that generates more positive outcomes and luckily I discovered UX research, which in my opinion does just that.
What advice would you give an incoming or prospective MIMS student?
Keep an open mind! You’re probably convinced that you know what you want to do during or even after your time at the I School but being surrounded by such passionate professionals can be infectious and can inspire you to study down a brand new path!
