"I am pleased to announce that Josie Duckett has been appointed Director of Press Relations, effective immediately. Josie brings remarkable media and international affairs experience to the position. Since March 2007, Josie has been serving as the Deputy Director of Press Relations. Josie’s depth of expertise makes her an effective spokesperson for the Peace Corps. Prior to joining the Peace Corps staff, Josie was a Special Assistant to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, serving as her International Media Affairs Coordinator. As part of Secretary Rice’s permanent travel team, Josie was the press liaison with U.S. embassies around the world. From 2005-2007, Josie staffed media interviews and press events for Secretary Rice, leading her to over 60 countries."
Josie Duckett is new Peace Corps Press Director
October 6, 2008
TO: Peace Corps Global
FROM: Ron Tschetter, Director
SUBJECT: Staff Announcement – Josie Duckett
I am pleased to announce that Josie Duckett has been appointed Director of Press Relations, effective immediately.
Josie brings remarkable media and international affairs experience to the position. Since March 2007, Josie has been serving as the Deputy Director of Press Relations. Josie’s depth of expertise makes her an effective spokesperson for the Peace Corps.
Prior to joining the Peace Corps staff, Josie was a Special Assistant to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, serving as her International Media Affairs Coordinator. As part of Secretary Rice’s permanent travel team, Josie was the press liaison with U.S. embassies around the world. From 2005-2007, Josie staffed media interviews and press events for Secretary Rice, leading her to over 60 countries.
Prior to the State Department, Josie worked at the White House as the Deputy Director for Presidential Press Advance. In this capacity she helped facilitate press coverage of the President’s domestic and international trips from 2003-2005. Preceding the White House, Josie was a Public Affairs Specialist at the U.S. Justice Department where she organized press conferences and interviews for the Attorney General.
A Pittsburgh native, Josie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the Pennsylvania State University in 2000. Set to earn a Master’s degree in National Security from the U.S. Naval War College this spring, Josie has also started a Master’s degree in Journalism at Georgetown University.
Laura Lartigue will assume the role of Acting Deputy Director of Press Relations, effective immediately. A returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Mali and Mauritania, Laura has a Master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati in English and certificates in journalism and website management. Laura also has vast experience in developing countries overseas and is a member of the Peace Corps Leadership Development Academy.
Finally, I would like to also take this opportunity to thank Amanda Beck for her dedicated service to the Peace Corps since 2002, and for her leadership as the agency’s Press Director since 2006. Amanda has accepted a position as the Vice President for Public Affairs at the Human Resources Policy Association. We greatly appreciate the many contributions Amanda has made over the years to the Peace Corps, and I so am grateful for her exemplary service and friendship.
