Alumnus Rocky Welker Paves the Path to Brighter Futures Through Nonprofit Leadership
“I struggled to find something that I could focus all of my energy on, so I chose a career in nonprofits that allowed me to do almost anything I want,” Welker said. “I’ve worked with at risk-youth, in health care, and now in homebuilding. Very few sectors allow that kind of variety. Every job has tough weeks, but I can go home on Friday knowing that everything from the previous five days made a difference in people’s lives.”
Welker earned his Bachelor of Science in sociology in 2011 and his Master of Public Administration in 2013 – both from USD. Currently, Welker, who grew up in the Sioux City, Iowa, area, serves as the executive director at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls. He has been in this role for five years, previously working with at-risk youth at an organization in Sioux City and a community health care organization.
In his role at Habitat for Humanity, no two days look the same. The organization helps meet a variety of community needs, serving as a construction company, a retail store and a mortgage lender. Welker’s role as executive director includes helping with strategic planning, human resources, financial oversight, fundraising and any other needs that arise on a day-to-day basis.
We asked the nonprofit leader about his time at USD, his work in the nonprofit sector and his passion for helping others, and this is what he had to say.
How did your time at USD help prepare you for the work you do today?
USD really opened my eyes to all the different options I had for a career path. I feel I grew up with a narrow scope of what was possible professionally, and USD helped me realize everything that I was able to do.
What are you most proud of in your work at Habitat for Humanity?
Two of the biggest issues facing South Dakota are affordable housing and workforce development, and I get to work toward helping tackle both of them. We are currently working with local high school and college trade programs to create affordable housing options in Sioux Falls while also providing hands-on job training to students.
Another great thing about working at Habitat for Humanity is that I get to be a part of providing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to families that are willing to work toward improving their future. There aren’t many things that can change the trajectory of a family quite like having safe and affordable housing
Why South Dakota? What makes our state so special?
The people that live here. I get the privilege daily to work with some of the most altruistic people that you will ever meet. The hunting and fishing are great, too.
How do you stay connected to USD?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have been invited back to campus on a couple occasions to talk about my educational and professional journey with current students. Getting to visit with students who are exactly where I was a decade ago has really helped me keep my career and goals in perspective as I continue to navigate this journey.
What advice would you give to current students who are interested in pursuing a career in the nonprofit sector?
The best advice I can give to someone who is interested in pursuing a career in the nonprofit sector is to reach out to someone in a similar role that you envision yourself in and have an honest conversation about what the path looked like to get there. I can’t think of anyone that I know in a nonprofit leadership role who wouldn’t carve out time to speak to someone who was interested in entering the nonprofit world.
What is your “why?”
I want to help provide life-changing opportunities that many of the kids and families I grew up around never had. There are a lot of people in this world who have the opportunity to accomplish some amazing things but are being held back by some barrier that is typically out of their control. I want to remove those barriers.
