Jody Olsen to speak on "International volunteering and service in the 21st century"



"International volunteering is increasing in scope and significance around the world, yet it is the least studied form of civic service," says Amanda Moore McBride, Ph.D., CSD research director and assistant professor of social work. "Through our research, we are assessing the nature and scope of international service, helping develop effective practices for service programs and creating a global network of service providers and scholars." Jody Olsen, Deputy Director of the Peace Corps appointed by President George W. Bush, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tunisia.

Jody Olsen to speak on "International volunteering and service in the 21st century"

Peace Corps acting director to speak Feb. 19

By Jessica Martin

Feb. 10, 2009 -- Josephine Olsen, Ph.D., acting director of the Peace Corps, will present "International volunteering and service in the 21st century: Toward peace and development" at 4 p.m. on Feb. 19 in Brown Hall Lounge. Olsen's talk, the Benjamin E. Youngdahl Lecture in Social Policy, is free and open to the public.

Olsen has had a long and distinguished career with the Peace Corps, beginning as a volunteer in Tunisia. She has served as country director in Togo as well as regional director, chief of staff and deputy director for the agency.

President Barack Obama's transition team named Olsen acting director of the Peace Corps on Jan. 20, 2009.

The Benjamin E. Youngdahl Lecture in Social Policy, co-sponsored by the Center for Social Development (CSD) at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work and the Gephardt Institute for Public Service, honors Youngdahl, dean of the Brown School from 1945 to 1962.

CSD has a number of research initiatives on global civic service, which includes programs such as the Peace Corps.

"International volunteering is increasing in scope and significance around the world, yet it is the least studied form of civic service," says Amanda Moore McBride, Ph.D., CSD research director and assistant professor of social work.

"Through our research, we are assessing the nature and scope of international service, helping develop effective practices for service programs and creating a global network of service providers and scholars."

McBride also is the director of the Gephardt Institute.

For more information about the lecture contact Terri Behr at 935-6630. Visit http://gwbweb.wustl.edu/CSD/ for more information about the Brown School's Center for Social Development.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: February, 2009; RPCV Jody Olsen (Tunisia); Figures; Peace Corps Tunisia; Directory of Tunisia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Tunisia RPCVs; Staff; Missouri

When this story was posted in February 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director Honduras RPCV Jon Carson, 33, presided over thousands of workers as national field director for the Obama campaign and said the biggest challenge -- and surprise -- was the volume of volunteer help, including more than 15,000 "super volunteers," who were a big part of what made Obama's campaign so successful. PCOL endorses Jon Carson as the man who can revitalize the Peace Corps, bring it into the internet age, and meet Obama's goal of doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.

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Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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Jan 24, 2009: RPCVs March in Inauguration Peace Corps Community marches in Inaugural Parade 20 Jan Jane Albritton writes: Memories of Maury Albertson 18 Jan Sarah Chayes writes: Failing Afghanistan 15 Dec Volunteers in Guinea are Safe 23 Dec Jim Walsh reflects on 20 years of service 28 Dec Public service in Driehaus' blood 3 Jan An Interview with Kathleen Stephens 3 Jan Robert P. Cristo returns to Nigeria 4 Jan Sarah Holt makes 2,663-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail 5 Jan Zophia Kneiss is metal sculptor 11 Jan Harris Wofford is Godfather of National Service 12 Jan Melanie Edwards founds Mobile Metrix 14 Jan Jody Olsen Named PC Acting Director 16 Jan Lawrence Leamer writes: Obama betrays the Peace Corps? 18 Jan George Packer writes: Obama's Inaugural Address 20 Jan Obama going to do something great for Peace Corps 21 Jan John Bridgeland writes: Volunteer to Save the Economy 22 Jan Foy Spicer writes: Electricity as a scarcity 23 Jan Carl Pope to Step Down as Sierra Club Chief 23 Jan James Rupert writes: US Missile Attacks Kill 15 24 Jan Jeffrey Tayler writes "Murderers in Mausoleums" 25 Jan Read more stories from January 2009 and December 2008.

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Some PCVs return to Bolivia on their own Peace Corps has withdrawn all volunteers from Bolivia because of "growing instability" and the expulsion of US Ambassador Philip Goldberg after Bolivian President Evo Morales accused the American government of inciting violence in the country. This is not the first controversy surrounding Goldberg's tenure as US ambassador to Bolivia. Latest: Some volunteers have returned to Bolivia on their own to complete their projects.

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PCVs Evacuated from Georgia The Peace Corps has announced that all Volunteers and trainees serving in the Republic of Georgia are safe and they have been temporarily relocated to neighboring Armenia. Read the analysis by one RPCV on how Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili believed that he could launch a lightning assault on South Ossetia and reclaim the republic without substantial grief from Moscow and that Saakashvili's statements once the war began demonstrated that he expected real Western help in confronting Russia.

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