In July 2020 five new members joined the School of Public and International Affairs’ (SPIA) Alumni Board, and we are taking some time to introduce them to fellow SPIA alumni and students.
Sean Walker (MPA ‘18) is a Master of Public Administration graduate who has a passion for service and giving back in both his professional and personal life. He is excited to be a part of this SPIA Alumni Board sharing, “this opportunity allows me to give back to this School (SPIA) so current students have a pathway to reach goals and foster relationships that will influence their career.”
Throughout Sean’s career, he has continued to be drawn to endeavors built around serving others, and that is no different than his desire to be on the Alumni Board.
In his current role as the Manager of Programs and Strategic Partnerships for the Home Depot Foundation he coordinates nonprofit accounts, grant processes, and volunteer strategies. In the past he has served in a variety of roles for Habitat for Humanity International, Alorica Inc., First Data Corporation and the United States Army.
After Sean’s service in the Army, he was drawn to the corporate sector, but soon realized his desire to give back to veteran communities. The Mission Continues, where Sean was the Atlanta Service Leader, provided him the opportunity to serve veterans in a role that further developed their skills and leadership. This led to his role with Habitat for Humanity International where he continued to work with veterans and their families on home preservation and rehab projects.
Now with the Home Depot Foundation, Sean continues to serve by managing accounts that assist with veteran smart home projects, disaster response, volunteer engagement, and smart home installation. Just this past grant season, his team served over 425 veteran families through home repair, pandemic related support, or hurricane relief efforts. Sean said, “working with this foundation has been incredibly rewarding.”
As a MPA student, Sean worked full-time and had a plethora of experience which meant he brought a unique perspective to class discussions and assignments. His background provided him opportunities to challenge others with the reality of issues he had faced in organizations when certain concepts were discussed. From DoubleDawg students to full-time workers, the classes were truly an opportunity to learn from each other as they enhanced the lessons with diverse perspectives and experiences.
Sean also recognized the importance that SPIA has on relevant public administration research and noted the impact on policy, service, and analytics.
Thanks to Sean for serving in his new role on the SPIA Alumni Board!
