College to career: How Jasmine Walker applied anthropology to shape digital innovation

Almost seven years ago, I started working for a technology consulting firm in Dallas, just a few months after graduating from WSU’s business and organizational anthropology master’s program. At my firm, I have two primary roles. First, I am a lead user experience (UX) researcher, which involves facilitating human-centered research and design activities to help companies better understand customer and employee preferences and behaviors. 

I work closely with UX designers and together, we interview and observe users in the contexts where they would naturally interact with the technology we’re creating. Our goal is to uncover insights from users’ lived experiences to inform our designs, empowering companies to create digital tools that truly meet their users’ needs. There is no such thing as a typical day at the office, which is one of the reasons I love my job! I’ve visited power plants in Europe, neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), shipping distribution centers — the list goes on. 

Currently, I am leading research for an airline undergoing a massive technology modernization effort. My research directly informs digital solutions that increase employees’ operational efficiency, ultimately improving the customer experience as well. I facilitate research activities with pilots, flight attendants, gate agents and more. I have exclusive access to the airline’s training facilities, Network Operations Control Center (NOC) and I even get to ride on the tarmac in provisioning trucks used to supply planes with refreshments from time to time. The unique fieldwork and access I get as a UX Researcher is a perk of the job that I didn’t fully anticipate, but it has become a huge selling point when I speak to those interested in entering the industry.

In addition to facilitating UX research activities, I am also the account lead for the airline — my firm’s second-largest client account. This role involves managing the day-to-day operations of my team of nine UX designers and researchers. I oversee the quality of their deliverables, maintain and grow our client relationships and report to leadership on the overall health of the airline account. 

I had an idea of what a career as an applied anthropologist could look like, but WSU’s anthropology graduate program helped make that vision clearer. By chance, I was introduced to Dr. Yuson Jung, who truly changed the course of my life when she invited me to participate in the Chevrolet app practicum. Through that experience, I gained hands-on knowledge in designing research studies, recruiting participants, managing stakeholders and applying data collection and analysis methodologies — all skills I now use regularly as a lead UX researcher.

I also had the opportunity to work with a major corporation, learning the level of precision and professionalism required to confidently engage with C-suite executives when preparing research studies and reporting findings. The individual attention I received from my professors made me feel supported and valued. In fact, I landed my current job because I attended the First Annual Business and Organizational Anthropology Summit, hosted by WSU and created by Dr. Allen Batteau, a former professor in the department.

So when I say WSU gave me my shot, I truly mean it. Before starting the anthropology graduate program in my early thirties, I earned a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Michigan, but I struggled to find work that was both fulfilling and sustainable. I kept telling myself, “I can’t wait for my life to really start!”

Wayne State set me up for success and propelled me toward actualizing my full potential. Thanks to WSU, my life has truly taken off.