Harvard's Kennedy School Academic Dean Mary Jo Bane, and former Peace Corps Directors, Hon. Elaine Chao (1991-92) Mark Gearan (1995-99), Gaddi Vasquez (2002-06), and current Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams (2009-present).Director Williams visited the Fletcher School of International Affairs at Tufts University to host a roundtable discussion with returned Peace Corps volunteers from Tufts University. He later participated in a panel discussion at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government: "50 Years of the Peace Corps: Answering President Kennedy's Call to Service."
Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams Visits Boston
Peace Corps Director Visits Boston: Attends Events at Harvard and Tufts University
Caption: Peace Corps Directors Elaine Chao, Mark Gearan, Gaddi Vasquez, and Aaron Williams at Harvard University.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 13, 2010 – Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams visited Tufts and Harvard University, participating in panel discussions at each of the institutions to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's speech, which led to the creation of the Peace Corps.
"Few people could have imagined 50 years ago, when then-Sen. Kennedy introduced the idea of the Peace Corps, that his idea for service would live on at college campuses around the country," said Director Aaron S. Williams (Dominican Republic, 1967-70). "The students from Tufts University and Harvard embody President Kennedy's call to service and both institutions are wonderful partners."
Harvard's Kennedy School Academic Dean Mary Jo Bane, and former Peace Corps Directors, Hon. Elaine Chao (1991-92) Mark Gearan (1995-99), Gaddi Vasquez (2002-06), and current Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams (2009-present).Director Williams visited the Fletcher School of International Affairs at Tufts University to host a roundtable discussion with returned Peace Corps volunteers from Tufts University. He later participated in a panel discussion at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government: "50 Years of the Peace Corps: Answering President Kennedy's Call to Service."
Thursday, October 14, 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of JFK's presidential campaign speech in Ann Arbor, Mich., that led to the creation of Peace Corps.
The Harvard panel also included former Peace Corps Directors Hon. Elaine Chao, Director 1991-92, Mark Gearan, Director 1995-99, and Gaddi Vasquez, Director 2002-06. The panel was moderated by Harvard's Kennedy School Academic Dean Mary Jo Bane, a returned Peace Corps volunteer, Liberia 1963-65.
Harvard's panel discussion is part of Harvard's John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum Series-a series that brings together academic scholars, government officials and other notable speakers. All participants in the Forum series must respond to questions posed by the moderator, and then participate in a question and answer session with members of the audience, comprised primarily of Harvard College students, Harvard Kennedy School students and members of the community.
Harvard and Tufts Universities have strong connections to the Peace Corps. Since 1961, there have been 1,205 Harvard graduates and 484 Tufts graduates to serve as Peace Corps volunteers. Currently there are 19 Harvard alumni serving in 16 countries and 16 Tufts alumni serving in 14 countries.
