Julie Walker is a professor of communication studies and public relations a Southwest Minnesota State University, and she is the newly appointed director of the Women’s and LGBTQ+ Centers on the SMSU campus. Julie is also a leader in the Marshall Area Peace Seekers, a community group whose members stand for social justice and work to create a more equitable world. As a member of the queer community with a background in social justice training and education, Julie works to create spaces where difficult conversations can happen. She hopes to empower local grassroots organizers with resources and support to engage in projects and activism to create a more socially just world in Southwest Minnesota.