About

This journey has taught me how story, struggle, and strategy can help us rise – together – for the animals.

Ken with Lincoln the Turkey
Me with Lincoln, my BTF (Best Turkey Friend), at Shy 38 Farm Sanctuary.
Our rescue dogs, Lizzie (L) and Molly (R)

Our rescues and family: Lizzie (L) and Molly (R)

Ken Walker

I’m a lifelong learner and a proud father and grandfather who earned a PhD in Psychology with an Emphasis in Media Psychology in 2023 at the age of 69. My academic pursuit unfolded alongside a serious health challenge. During that time, in October of 2022, I also chose to become an ethical vegan, meaning that I recognize all animals deserve the same moral consideration as human beings. To the extent that is practical and possible, I avoid all animal-derived products, including for food, clothing, personal care, and entertainment. The determination to finish my degree while facing a debilitating illness, along with my decision to stop exploiting animals, reshaped my priorities and deepened my sense of purpose.

I live in Ohio, USA, with my wife Patsy and our two beloved dogs, Lizzie and Molly, genuine “rez dogs” rescued from beneath a mobile home on the Navajo Nation in the Arizona desert. Their resilience, loyalty, and spirit are a daily reminder of the value of every sentient life.

Over the last nine years, I’ve focused on the intersection of digital storytelling and psychology in service of social justice advocacy. Over time, that work evolved to include animal advocacy and the integration of AI.

My nearly five years of doctoral work explored how immersive narratives can reduce psychological defensiveness and foster meaningful ethical shifts on a large scale.

That research, combined with decades of experience in one-on-one communication and a deep personal shift, led to the creation of Vegan Rise One. VR1 is a platform designed to accelerate the rise of veganism by helping advocates communicate more effectively. Its purpose, and my purpose, is to move more vegans into advocacy, and more advocates into impact, helping build the momentum needed to reach the 3.5% Threshold of Transformation.

For more information on my educational and professional background, please see my Curriculum Vitae.

Whether you’re just beginning to think more deeply about animals and your relationship to them, or you’re already speaking out and want to increase your impact, you can learn more about this approach at https://veganrise1.org. You can also explore the Projects page on this site to see the work and experiences that led to its development.

To learn more about the personal journey that led to Vegan Rise One, read my blog post: From College to Cancer to Compassion: My Vegan Journey.