First Generation Story: Meet Professor Elizaveta (Liz) Walker
Meet Professor Elizaveta (Liz) Walker: Born to Russian immigrants who fled the former USSR, Professor Walker’s journey is marked by a commitment to blend her dual culture identity with the academic rigor of public health, challenging herself and her students to integrate personal and cultural narratives into the scholarly pursuit. Through teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, she has the opportunity to impact other first-generation students in her classroom who also grapple with the dual burden of community expectations and individual ambition, empowering them to weave their unique backgrounds into the pursuit of knowledge and service.
Professor Walker attributes her academic and professional accomplishments foremost to her parents, who left their home, country, cultural heritage, and aspirations in order to invest in the future of their children. In addition, one of her greatest academic mentors was and continues to be Dr. Sherril Gelmon. Dr. Gelmon demonstrated excellence in her field and held a high standard for her students’ education. Her passion and willingness to invest in Professor Walker was formative through her graduate and post-graduate studies.
Professor Walker is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment where bicultural experiences are celebrated as assets, rather than obstacles, to achieving health equity. Professor Walker shares her biggest hurdle during her academic journey was the knee-jerk reaction to bury her identity and personal interests to conform to research interests of funders and colleagues. In hindsight, she wished that she leaned into the intersections of Slavic populations and the impact of various public health policies. After she earned her PhD, she continues to volunteer at two local Slavic community centers, where she applies her Medicaid expertise to assist community members in navigating the often-convoluted paths of healthcare bureaucracy. In volunteering, she is not only able to apply her professional skillsets to serve her community, but it is also a reflection of her belief that health equity is not just a professional commitment but a personal one, demanding engagement with and service to one’s community in the most direct and impactful ways.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Professor Walker’s first-generation academic experience was her commitment to staying geographically rooted in her Portland, Oregon community. Professor Walker shares her intentional choice to attend Portland State University for all three of her degrees in deference to the cultural belief that one does not move away from extended family, which comprises the greatest source of social support. This decision underscores an essential truth often overlooked in the academy: that continuity and deep community engagement can be as enriching and valuable as the breadth of experience garnered through geographical diversity.
Professor Walker’s story is a vivid reminder that public health is not just a field of study or a career path—it is a calling that compels us to bring our whole selves to the work of transforming lives, advocating for policy change, and pursuing health equity with passion, dignity, and an unwavering commitment to your roots.