At Denison, community comes naturally. From living all four years on campus and getting involved in student organizations to preparing for future careers both in the classroom and through the Knowlton Center, students build relationships that last a lifetime. But after graduation, finding that same sense of belonging can be more challenging.
For Ray Walker ’22, community has always been the foundation of his success — first at Denison and now in one of the world’s busiest cities. A Columbus, Ohio, native with a passion for storytelling, Walker built the skills and connections on The Hill that helped him land his dream job as an associate producer at CBS News in New York. “I love Denison with everything in me,” said Walker.
During his time on campus, journalism was not yet an official major, so Walker relied on his own initiative and support from his mentors to pursue storytelling. “I’ve always had a passion for interviewing folks,” he said. “I told one of my professors, Jack Shuler, that I want to be a correspondent or work in TV news. And he was like, ‘Well, you’ve got to start doing it now.’”
Walker went to work right away, sharing glimpses of life at Denison. “I went around campus telling stories that I packaged together with my microphone, tripod, and camera,” he said. He covered everything from COVID-19 on campus to election season engagement. “I really took it upon myself to activate that spirit that I had for people and storytelling.”
After building these foundations of journalism, Walker landed an internship with NBC News, where he gained further insight into the world of national reporting. After graduation, he joined NBC full time before moving to CBS. “Who would have thought a kid from Columbus would end up in New York City?” he said.
Though he loves his career in broadcast journalism, Walker believes that balance is essential. “You need other things outside of work that can cement you and excite you,” he said. “You need to find those people and those communities outside of work.”
For Walker, that community took shape through running. “I got really involved in the New York City running community and I found joy outside of work,” he said. “Yes, your career is a big part of who you are, but we’re in a generation now where people are taking more care of their mental health, and people are realizing more about work-life balance.”
Fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), Walker soon found ways to make the New York running scene more inclusive. He realized there were Deaf runners who did not have access to the same experiences he did. “Because I know sign language, I wanted to be that connector, just like Denison taught me,” Walker said.
His commitment to connection has led to some remarkable moments. After running the New York City Marathon, Walker was asked by a prolific runner to interpret for him during his visit. “It just goes to show that I can connect with anybody and use skills that I have to shine a light in whatever space,” said Walker.
While running the Boston Marathon, Walker wore an old Denison hoodie — a small choice that sparked a big reminder of his alma mater’s reach. On the bus to the starting line, Walker noticed the familiar face of Anna Lindower ’23. “That was a special moment to me, seeing another fellow Denisonian,” he said.
A man standing nearby noticed Walker’s Denison hoodie and asked him about his Big Red connection. Walker shared that he was a recent alum, and the man shared that his son was a current first-year student. The Denison community had found its way onto a bus headed to the starting line of the Boston Marathon.
Through every chapter of his journey — from campus reporter to national producer to ASL interpreter to marathon runner — Walker has carried one theme forward: the power of connection and community in finding your people and your passions. “It sounds cliché, but Denisonians always say the thing that makes Denison special is the people,” he said.
