Future of Peace Corps to be discussed

March 17, 2014
Contact:
  • umichnews@umich.edu

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

DATE: 4 p.m., March 26, 2014

EVENT: Carrie Hessler-Radelet, acting director of the Peace Corps, will talk about the future of the international service organization.

A Peace Corps badge. (stock image)She was appointed acting director in July 2013. Prior to that, Hessler-Radelet served as deputy director of the Peace Corps. She was volunteer for the organization (Western Samoa, 1981–83) and has more than two decades of experience in public health focused on HIV/AIDS and maternal and child health.

Since 2010, Hessler-Radelet has led a comprehensive assessment and reform effort to improve efficiency across the Peace Corps organization. During her tenure, she has worked to improve the health and safety of volunteers, reducing the risk of sexual assault and violent crime and to engage more volunteers in post-service public education activities.

Since the Peace Corps was created 53 years ago, 2,556 University of Michigan alums have served overseas, making U-M the No. 4 all-time producer of volunteers. Peace Corps members travel to the farthest corners of the world and work on sustainable development projects related to agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health and youth development.

The event will be live webstreamed at www.fordschool.umich.edu. Follow the conversation on Twitter: #policytalks

PLACE: U-M Ford School of Public Policy, Annenberg Auditorium, 1120 Weill Hall, 735 S. State St., Ann Arbor

SPONSOR: Ford School of Public Policy

CONTACT: Laura Lee, (734) 764-8593, lklee@umich.edu