ChangeMakers: Dr. Sarah Petschonek

Dr. Sarah Petschonek is founder and CEO of Volunteer Odyssey. She founded Volunteer Odyssey based on two landmark projects. In 2012, Sarah began Mission Memphis: 30 consecutive days volunteering with 30 non-profits, chronicled on her blog, Confessions of a Volunteer. Afterwards, she launched Volunteer Bound – a cross-country volunteer tour researching volunteerism in 9 US cities spanning from Portland, Oregon to Jacksonville, Florida. Volunteer Odyssey has grown to include 40+ non-profit partners, the most comprehensive Calendar of Volunteer Opportunities in Memphis and the country’s first virtual volunteer fair called Volio. Dr. Petschonek earned her PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology, an MS and an MBA from the University of Memphis. Her academic research and work experienced focused on employee satisfaction, employee well-being, organizational culture. In the past she has worked for the US Navy and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dr. Petschonek also consults with local non-profits on how to improve their volunteer experience and teaches as an Adjunct Professor of Business in the MBA program at Christian Brothers University. Memphis Flyer named Sarah as one of the 20 Under 30 and in 2014 Sarah was honored as one of the 50 Under 40 Social Entrepreneurs in the US by American Express.