Karen De Witt was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia in 1966-68, teaching English as a Second language in a rural town.



Karen De Witt was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia in 1966-68, teaching English as a Second language in a rural town.

Karen De Witt

Fee Range: Up to $5,000

Television and newspaper reporter, far-flung correspondent, producer, writer, editor, media campaign manger, web editor, and one-time host of "Karen's Kitchen" is a contemporary Renaissance woman who's resume is thick with media accomplishment and versatility.

As a speaker, she says "she's creative, funny, independent, passionate and inspiring."

These are qualities that run like a river through her biography and professional accomplishments.

Most recently, she's produced and basically created a voters' manual for the People for the American Way Foundation and ran the media strategy for it's "You Have a Right to Vote" campaign.

De Witt, a Miami University graduate, an R. M. Seaton fellow at Kansas State University, a New York Black Journalist Association award winner, and a one-time Peace Corps Volunteer, has stories to tell, stories that are dramatic and inspiring.

How could she not. She's been senior editor for ABC dotcom, producing Ann Compton's five-day-a-week webcast "On Background" and a senior producer for ABC's "Nightline". As a writer, editor and reporter she's been a star at the New York Times, USA Today and the Washington Post.

At USA Today, she was a member of the original startup team for the national newspaper which revolutionized publishing and covered foreign affairs in the Middle East, the Far East, the Sandanistas in Nicaragua and the last days of Apartheid as well as covering the second term of Ronald Reagan as a White House correspondent. She wrote for the Post style section, as, early in her career, had stints at the National Journal, the Beirut Daily Star, The New York Post, the National Geographic and other publications.

Let's not forget that she did two seasons on DC Public Television hosting "Karen's Kitchen. She was also, in 1966-68, a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia, teaching English as a Second language in a rural town.

She has stories to tell, and she can tell them in English, "good Spanish, passable French" and maybe a little Arabic and Amharic.

When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

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December 18, 2004: This Week's Top Stories RPCV remembers Deborah Gardner's murder in Tonga 17 Dec Maoist insurgents in Nepal release Swiss aid worker 17 Dec RPCV Alison Williams exhibits portraits of Malian people 16 Dec Former Brazil Medical Director convicted of drug charges 16 Dec RPCV Joseph Opala researched slave trade in RI 15 Dec Vasquez sees resurgent interest in PC 14 Dec Senator who wanted duel with RPCV joins Fox 14 Dec NPCA planning National Day of Action for PC funding 13 Dec RPCV "Harry" Chandler votes in Electoral College 13 Dec Critic says Moyers delivered neo-Marxist propaganda 13 Dec Micronesia RPCV Walter Cavanagh has 1,496 credit cards 13 Dec PC "Survivor" Julie Berry headed for California 11 Dec more top stories...

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Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

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