Director Profile

Erika Volker is the Director for the Partnerships for Innovation, Nebraska’s statewide Carl D Perkins consortium. Her mission is to strengthen Career Education in the state to create a viable future workforce impacting regional economic growth and vitality. Her experience at Metropolitan Community College as a Tech Prep, Dual Credit and Career Academy Coordinator provided her with extensive knowledge regarding secondary-postsecondary transitions and the need for relevant, contextual learning. Erika was employed at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce as the Education and Workforce Manager; strengthening the partnerships between education and business throughout the Omaha community.

As a national consultant, she has worked with secondary and postsecondary agencies in New Jersey, Kansas, Missouri, Alabama, Alaska and Illinois; designing secondary programs of study which lead to postsecondary opportunities - cross walking academic content and Career & Technical Education curriculum. She was the coauthor of the CORD and the National State Directors for Career Technical Education Consortium Programs of Study professional development modules. Erika assisted the Nebraska Department of Education with the design of the Career Academy Rule 47 which provides structure to Career Academy programs offered in Nebraska’s high schools and acts as a liaison for business/industry and education in establishing partnerships.

Erika received her Masters of Science in Urban Studies from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Northern Iowa.