Deputy Director comes to honor Oregon State University's contribution, encourage enrollment in program



Sitting at a dinner in a sorority house over 40 years ago, Jody Olsen had no idea she was going to join the Peace Corps. "Someone came to our house to talk about the [Peace Corps]. I set down my fork and said 'Well, I think I'll do that.'" She spoke about her trip to Ukraine, one of the Peace Corps' largest programs, and how becoming part of the community is a natural occurrence for any volunteer in the field. "That's what happens during those two years," Olsen said. "You come back a different person - you become stronger." Jody Olsen, Deputy Director of the Peace Corps appointed by President George W. Bush, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tunisia.

Deputy Director comes to honor Oregon State University's contribution, encourage enrollment in program

Trading two years for a lifetime of knowledge

Deputy Director comes to honor OSU's contribution, encourage enrollment in program

Aleks Cherednichenko

Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: News

Sitting at a dinner in a sorority house over 40 years ago, Jody Olsen had no idea she was going to join the Peace Corps.

"Someone came to our house to talk about the [Peace Corps]. I set down my fork and said 'Well, I think I'll do that.'"

Today Olsen is the deputy director of the Peace Corps. She was at OSU on Tuesday to recognize the university for its legacy of service through the Peace Corps.

The organization was established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, who stated that life in the Peace Corps would not be easy. Olsen duly agreed.

"You cry, and you miss home, and you ask yourself 'Why am I here?'" Olsen said. "But you also gain patience, perspective, experience and career choices."

Olsen presented a plaque of appreciation to OSU President Ed Ray and shared a few personal stories from her and other volunteer's ventures around the world.

She spoke about her trip to Ukraine, one of the Peace Corps' largest programs, and how becoming part of the community is a natural occurrence for any volunteer in the field. "That's what happens during those two years," Olsen said. "You come back a different person - you become stronger."

The Peace Corps hopes to work more directly with colleges around the nation to set up courses for freshmen and sophomores to prepare them for careers with the organization.

"She wants to engage folks early," said Douglas Cochran, director of Career Services on campus. "Freshmen and sophomores start making career decisions earlier. This would allow folks a chance to understand the opportunities that are available to them."

The Peace Corps has 8,000 volunteers stationed in 75 countries around the world.

Since 1961, 5,159 volunteers from the state of Oregon served in the Peace Corps, with 1,110 coming from OSU.

"OSU has contributed the highest number of volunteers in the state," said Maria Lee, public affairs coordinator for the northwest region.

"There is a natural alignment between our mission and that of the Peace Corps," Ray said.

"People realize opportunities that they never thought imaginable through Peace Corps," Ray said. "It's a lot like OSU."

"We nominate 700 people from the northwest region per year," said Wayne Blackwater, regional director.

"A lot of students don't know what skills they bring to the table," said Morgan Courtney, assistant to the Peace Corp's deputy director.

"They may think that a career in the Peace Corps is an alternative to the corporate world, but that's not necessarily the case."

Courtney said that volunteering can go hand in hand with a corporate job, as many corporations are actively hiring people coming out of the Peace Corps.

A general information session about the Peace Corps will take place on Oct. 25 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Strand Agriculture Hall.

The regional recruiter for the northwest region will also be at the OSU Career Fair.

For more information about the Peace Corps, visit www.peacecorps.gov.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: October, 2007; RPCV Jody Olsen (Tunisia); Figures; Peace Corps Tunisia; Directory of Tunisia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Tunisia RPCVs; Staff; Oregon

When this story was posted in October 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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