Dr. Lucas Welter

Dr. Lucas Welter has a diverse work experience that spans across multiple organizations. Dr. Lucas began their career at Deloitte as a Management Consultant from January 2005 to May 2006. Following that, Dr. Welter joined AFS Intercultural Programs in March 2005 as a Training Coordinator and Project Manager for Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, and Paraguay, a position they held until July 2009. Dr. Lucas then served as the Volunteer Services Manager at AFS Intercultural Programs from August 2010 to August 2012.

Dr. Welter's roles within AFS Intercultural Programs continued to progress as they became the Senior Manager of Organization Development from January 2007 to December 2013. Dr. Lucas further advanced to the position of Director of Organization Development from January 2014 to December 2015. Dr. Welter was then promoted to Chief Organization Development (OD) Officer at AFS Intercultural Programs, where they led a team of seven and focused on volunteer development and organizational management practices from January 2016 to October 2017.

In November 2017, Dr. Welter assumed the role of Chief Organization Development (OD) & Strategy Officer at AFS Intercultural Programs. In this position, they directed all aspects of global organization strategy, development, and network alignment for 60 AFS organizations worldwide. Dr. Lucas led a team of 12 staff and spearheaded various initiatives involving organization transformation, leadership training strategies, and change management processes to drive the organization's mission of developing active global citizens.

Currently, alongside their work at AFS Intercultural Programs, Dr. Welter is also involved with the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lucas serves as a Course Instructor for the Executive Program in Social Impact Strategy since January 2020, teaching a course on volunteer management. Additionally, they are a Leadership Practicum Mentor for the Master's in Nonprofit Leadership program, where they mentor students to enhance their understanding of leadership in nonprofits and social enterprises, advocating for the cultivation of transformative leaders.

Earlier in their career, Dr. Welter briefly served as the Country Director for AFS Intercultura República Dominicana, Inc. from March 2006 to October 2006.

Overall, Dr. Lucas Welter has extensive experience in organization development, leadership training, volunteer management, and strategy implementation, with a strong commitment to fostering social impact and cultivating the next generation of transformative leaders in the nonprofit sector.

Dr. Lucas Welter has a diverse educational background. Dr. Lucas started their education at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in 1997, where they studied Architecture and Urban Planning. In 2005, they pursued another architectural degree at Penn State University, specializing in Architecture and Community Development.

In 2007, Dr. Welter attended FGV - Fundação Getulio Vargas, where they earned their Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management. Dr. Lucas then expanded their knowledge by enrolling at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 2012, where they obtained their Master of Science degree in Organizational and Social Psychology.

Seeking further educational opportunities, Dr. Welter attended the University of Pennsylvania in 2018 to participate in an Executive Program focusing on Social Impact Strategy and Innovation. Building on their expertise in leadership and innovation, they pursued a Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Behavior and Learning at New York University, which they are expected to complete in 2023.

Through their educational journey, Dr. Lucas Welter has developed a strong foundation in architecture, business administration, management, organizational and social psychology, and organizational behavior and learning.