Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Elizabeth Sterns can be contacted at esternsanwlincolndorg
Country of Service: Togo
Training Group: Rural Development/Construction
Cities you served in: Sokode
Arrival Year: 1978
Departure Year: 1980
Work Description:
Supervised construction of primary schools
Other Countries you served in, Training Group Name Arrival Year, Departure Year, Work Description:
Training group: Construction Stage 1978
Bring us up to date on your life after the peace corps:
After returning to United States and Nebraska I worked as a draftsperson then entered the world of community development and housing rehabilitation. This began my professional focus in affordable housing and neighborhood/community revitalization. I was graduated from Law School (University of Nebrska) in 1990 and spent my first 2 years as an appellate defender in Topeka, Kansas. I continue to maintain a small private practice where a majority of my work is court appointment in County Court (criminial misdemeanors), District Court (criminal felonies) and juvenile court, primarily abuse and neglect cases. I also do a significant amount of work in Probate Court. However, my major income comes from my work with NeighborWorks Lincoln a not-for-profit organization dedicated to affordable first time homeownership, neighborhood revitalization, and good planning and development for our communities. I am married to John Turner, Professor of Religion and Classics,an internationally recognized scholar in the Nag Hammadi Library, a 3rd century early Christian papyrus. His specific area is Sethian Gnosticism and the Platonic Tradition. I have a daughter who is a 5th year senior at UNL and a step-daughter who works as a stage manager for opera.
Any thoughts you have now looking back on peace corps days?:
My Peace Corps years were very exciting for me and I continue to remember them fondly. In these times of unrest cultural and religious clashes and war I am grateful for the insights my experience has given me and providing me with the personal experience in which to better understand the present world events.
Anyone you are looking for or would like to hear from?:
I'd love to hear from any of my stagemates and others who served in Togo at the same time. I am in touch with a few but, alas, I don't believe we have kept up with each other very well.
Any message for returned volunteers?:
It's a special alumni and you find us everywhere. In this little midwestern town I have 2 RPCVs living on my block, I ran into another who was a professor of mine in law school and I worked with another for 3 years at the University. It's always fun and enlightening to have shared this experience with others one meets along the way.
Originally posted: August 30, 2005
