Earnest Walker has always lived his life with a service-oriented mindset. If there’s anything he can do to lend a hand, you can count on him. If there’s something someone needs to learn, he’ll teach them if he can.
It’s been that way since as far back as he can remember. Growing up in Columbus, Georgia, Earnest was obsessed with science and technology and learned early on that his skills could be used to help others.
“I became known as the neighborhood tech guy, which endeared me to the community because everyone would always come to me with their tech problems,” he recalls. “They would ask things like, ‘How do I set up this computer? What’s wrong with my internet?’”
Known to his close friends in the neighborhood as “Milk” (a shortened, tweaked version of his middle name, Milton), Earnest has built a “Mr. Fix-It” reputation in the community and the business world.
He understands that like his mindset, technology is meant to help people accomplish tasks faster and more efficiently. That explains why Earnest has always been drawn to the field, and today he applies his altruistic attitude toward helping the next generation of University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) graduates as a Student Success Assistant.
Earnest had already found success in the IT field before he enrolled in the University’s Bachelor of Science in Information Technology program, through consulting and support roles with Georgia-based American CyberSystems, and he’s been working independently as a web developer since 2019.
Though he held multiple tech credentials, including the coveted Google IT Support Professional Certificate, Earnest wanted a degree to broaden his perspective and opportunities in the future. He quickly realized he could be of service to his fellow students – many of whom are adult learners adapting to new technology as they return to school.
“Who you choose to be is who you are, right? I choose to be that person who wants to help people,” he explains. “It’s a choice. It may take some effort, but you always have a choice.
“I fit the requirements to become a mentor, and so I went through the [SSA] process.”
The Student Success Assistant is a remote, part-time role in the University’s Student Affairs Department. Student Success Assistants help students through mentoring, tutoring, and community involvement while also gaining leadership experience and career preparation.
“I want people to experience it and see it as I see it,” Earnest says. “From a technological standpoint, I saw people struggling, and I know that’s my strength.
“I’ve done classes in the community for kids to learn computer science, I work with community organizations even to this day – so this is a continuation of the same thing.”
A Foundation for the Future
A tech background has given Earnest the chance to work across multiple industries.
Earnest started in trade work, then he moved into electrical construction, followed by fire alarm systems and camera systems for the private and public sectors, including the United States Air Force.
He’s proud of the work that he’s done on behalf of major companies such as Dell, AT&T, and Google. But living in Atlanta, he’s become strongly committed to helping his local community.
A bachelor’s degree, Earnest explains, will give him the foundational knowledge he needs to help others in new ways. Recently he attended a conference organized by the state’s commission to combat domestic violence, and found that his tech experience could be a great asset.
Beyond Atlanta, Earnest sees himself competing for C-suite positions with his degree. He’ll graduate UAGC in 2026 with not only his degree but also a lengthy record of accomplishments that includes the aforementioned SSA role, as well as memberships in the University’s Golden Key Society, Alpha Sigma Lambda, and the CHAMPS Peer Mentoring Program. He’s also a Dean’s List student and president of the Distinguished Mentor’s Council. In addition, Earnest serves as a UAGC Student Ambassador for the University’s Facebook Groups, where he provides feedback, guidance, tips, and support to his peers.
Those accolades and experiences have given Earnest the confidence and ability to take on any challenge. Ultimately, his long-term goal is to “build a multi-billion-dollar technology firm” that helps people by solving problems with technology, and his degree is a key step toward achieving that vision.
Working for himself has been a positive experience, but Earnest insists he’s not opposed to running someone else’s company if given the opportunity.
“There’s a lot of things that I can do, and the possibilities are endless,” he explains.
“I’m very optimistic. I have done exactly as I have set out to do, and it has already helped me in my career by giving me more skills and tools to use to improve my business and myself.”
A Better Life for the Ones That Matter Most
Earnest’s work ethic was instilled early on in life, when his family had to move to his grandmother’s home after a house fire took everything they had. His father had to start over, and Earnest saw how hard he and his grandmother worked to rebuild and keep their family intact. Many of his childhood memories involve science and educational programming like “Mr. Wizard” and “Reading Rainbow.”
Curiosity, he says, is one of his greatest strengths.
“The community really just cultivated the curiosity,” he says. “I was just a curious kid and never lost it.”
With powerful role models at home and in his neighborhood, it was easy for Earnest to recognize the importance of learning and working hard, and that’s something he tries to instill in his 16-year-old daughter.
Though he loves Atlanta and Georgia is home, Earnest is considering a move to the West Coast to be closer to his oldest daughter. She’ll soon finish high school, and her academic success has played a big part in his decision to enroll at UAGC.
“Earning my degree has been a supportive, enlightening, and awesome experience. It has inspired my daughter, and I have more confidence in my readiness to tackle challenges that life throws at me.”
Earnest describes his older daughter as a “little techie” – a chip off the old block, as the saying goes.
“It’s the culmination of everything that we’ve been doing together,” he says.
“The seed is planted for her to go on her own journey of exploration in life and to find her own path.”