From Volunteer to Vice President: How Arika Wells Is Shaping the Future of Tucson

When Arika Wells, CNP, MPA, moved to Tucson, Arizona in 2002, she didn’t expect to stay long. She had just graduated from the University of San Diego, where she earned the nationally recognized Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential, married her college sweetheart, and left everything behind. Tucson felt unfamiliar and quiet.  

It would take years, but Arika would eventually become a central figure in Tucson’s community. Today, she serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. And it was her CNP credential, earned over twenty years ago, that helped get her there. 

“I never saw this path for me,” Arika said. “And I never imagined that something I did in college would come back around the way it did.” 

Early Lessons in Leadership 

Arika is a proud San Diego native – from birth to bachelor’s degree. Raised in a single parent household by a mom who worked as a high school teacher, and later an education administrator, just across the street from the University of San Diego.  

She majored in business management, but her heart was elsewhere. “Some of the quantitative subjects were challenging,” she said. “But I had this nonprofit leadership minor, and I just loved it.” That minor, and the CNP credential that came with it, exposed Arika to hands on service, fundraising, and nonprofit management strategies. Here she was introduced to a sector that aligned with her passions. 

One of her first defining moments came when her student group had to pitch to a donor about funding a trip to a national nonprofit leadership conference in St. Louis, Missouri. During the meeting, the room went quiet. “No one said anything. I thought, we’re blowing this. So I just jumped in and said what we’d planned.” The donor wrote a check on the spot. 

“That experience changed me. I saw just how powerful it could be to step up and speak, especially when it matters.” 

Years of Service, City to City

After graduation, Arika and her husband moved wherever their careers took them. First, Arika worked for a charter school in Tucson, then relocated to Nashville to join the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. Her experience helped her move between departments like human resources, fundraising, and programming, gaining valuable experience in all the areas that make a nonprofit successful.  

She eventually returned to California and worked at San Diego County’s Office of Education. “I started to notice how schools, even though they’re government-funded, always had to fundraise. It made me curious.” That curiosity led her to pursue a master’s in public administration from National University.  

In 2013, Arika and her husband made their way back to Tucson, Arizona. But this time, the transition was harder. “I couldn’t find a job in the nonprofit sector,” she said. “I worked for a defense contractor. I was paying the bills, but it wasn’t me.” 

Her reconnection to the nonprofit work came from a conversation with a friend, “She said, you’ve got to check out this group called Women United. It’s through United Way.” 

Arika immediately emailed the Tucson chapter, then later joined. And everything changed. 

From Volunteer to Vice President

Women United quickly became Arika’s community. She poured her ideas into the group and helped launch initiatives focused on early childhood education and literacy. “One of my favorite programs is our Literacy Champion Award. This award celebrates local teachers who are doing creative things to promote literacy in preschool through third grade.” She began volunteering more regularly and got to know the local staff at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, including longtime President and former CEO, Tony Penn. 

One day in 2023, Tony reached out on LinkedIn and asked her to call him. She was sick, battling allergies from her family’s new puppy, but decided to take the call anyways. “I figured he was going to ask if I knew someone for a role,” she said. “But then he said, I want to talk to you about a position. I think you’d be perfect for it.” 

Then, he asked her directly about the CNP credential listed proudly on her LinkedIn profile under licenses and certifications. 

“I said, wow, you noticed that? It had been so long since my CNP credential was earned during my undergraduate studies. But he said, I know what it means, and I know what it prepares people to do.” 

Following that conversation, Arika talked with her family and decided to apply. The role mirrored much of what she was already doing as Legal Administrator for the Pima County Attorney’s Office.  

To no surprise, Arika got the job. A year later, she was promoted to Executive Vice President. 

Serving Tucson’s Communities

Today, Arika oversees a wide range of programs, budgets, and teams.  

One of her favorite initiatives is the My Summer Library program, which puts twelve free books into the hands of every student in participating Title I schools. “These aren’t loaners. These are their books to keep,” she said. “Some of the kids even pick books for their little siblings. That’s how much they care.” 

United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona is also the largest free tax preparer in the state of Arizona. Through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, IRS-trained volunteers prepare taxes for households making under $79,000 per year. 

This year alone, they completed more than 11,770 returns and helped families receive over $20 million in refunds. 

“For some families, that refund is the biggest check they’ll see all year,” Arika said. “It can be the difference between keeping their home or not. We even fly volunteers into the Grand Canyon by helicopter to serve tribal communities. That’s how committed we are.” 

Lessons Learned

Arika’s advice to others? Start where you are. 

Now leading one of the most respected nonprofits in Southern Arizona, Arika reflects often on the role her CNP credential played in shaping her journey. “It taught me to see the big picture. To understand how nonprofits work. And it gave me a foundation I still use every day.” 

Whether you’re a college student or a working professional, the experience can open doors. “You don’t always realize what’s preparing you until later. I didn’t know back then how big of a deal it would be. But when the time came, that CNP mattered.” 

For those trying to find their way into meaningful work, her advice is simple. 

“Follow the things that light you up. Even if it’s not part of the plan. Just start somewhere. Volunteer. Say yes. You’ll be amazed where it leads.” 

Inspired by Arika’s story? Join the national movement of purpose-driven professionals with the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential!   

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