Erika Dvorske, Douglas County United Way’s president and chief executive officer, says volunteering offers the opportunity to meet inspiring people.

“I believe things happen in life to lead us on a path,” says Erika Dvorske, 36, Douglas County United Way’s president and chief executive officer.

In her case, random encounters with two strangers confirmed her belief in the importance of community volunteering and influenced her life journey.

The first was a conversation with a middle-aged paraplegic while volunteering at the local mall’s angel tree during her senior year at Apollo High School in Glendale, Ariz.

“Another volunteer told me this man had been an All-American quarterback with a full college scholarship when his life nearly ended in a teenage car crash,” she says. “His positive attitude and enthusiasm for giving back to his community made a deep impression on me.”

The second happened in Sacramento, Calif., where she served one year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

“I was on the bus feeling sorry for myself because of the long journey to the homeless family center where I served,” she recalls.

“A mother with three young children, all carrying grocery bags, got on, smiled and greeted the bus driver by name. She chatted excitedly with her children about their adventure to the shop and the fun they’d have painting when they returned home. The mother was blind.”

Dvorske pauses, the memories still affecting her.

“Wow! If I hadn’t been volunteering, I wouldn’t have met any of these inspiring people,” she says.

In spite of these experiences, Dvorske decided to become an academic. After graduating from the University of Tulsa in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in Russian, she became a graduate teaching assistant at Kansas University, graduated with a master’s in Slavic languages in 1998 and earned another master’s in English in 2000.

“After five years working toward being an academic, I ruled that out,” she admits. “I knew my passion was community. I was still working that out, but I believed building community would strengthen our world.”

Dvorske obtained a temporary position at Wyandotte County’s United Way. She eventually became director of community investment, a position she held until getting the Lawrence job in 2008.

“At United Way, I’m able to live out my two passions: building community and intellectually grappling with issues on a personal, organizational and systemic level,” she says.

Dvorske relaxes by spending time talking with her husband, John, reading, playing with her two children.

“I’m privileged in that I’ve been educated, supported and encouraged by my family, friends, mentors and even strangers,” she reflects. “I want to give back and build community by sharing my gifts and encourage other to use theirs.”