The Louisiana Peace Corps Association

Graduate School Opportunity

As former Peace Corp Volunteers and friends, you know intimately the challenges of international and intercultural work. As we continue to foster understanding across the globe, I hope you will help by forwarding the link below to colleagues who are looking for ways to hone their skills more deeply and extend their reach more widely. 
 
The Master’s in Intercultural Relations program that we at Lesley University have developed is ideally suited for professionals currently working across cultures or in diverse settings who wish to increase their effectiveness, and it builds on the 25-year success of Lesley’s continuing on-campus program.   A number of former PCV’s have participated in the on-campus model.  This new model accommodates a working professional’s schedule, and combines a vibrant face-to-face community experience in three short residencies in Cambridge, Massachusetts with online interaction and collaboration, plus guided fieldwork in the participants’ home community.
 
Please check out this link for more information:  http://www.lesley.edu/info/globalcareers/.  

Sylvia Cowan, Ed. D.
Director and Professor
Intercultural Relations Master’s Degree Program
Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
scowan@lesley.edu <scowan@lesley.edu> 
617.349.8978

Job Opportunity

We are searching for another American Language Center director for ALC Rabat.  SEE ATTACHMENT.  The advertisement may also be accessed on line on our website:  http://www.aca.org.ma/jobs/

Lisa Beeson
Executive Secretary
American Cultural Association
Morocco
tel/fax:  +212.05.24.29.17.12
gsm:  +212.06.63.52.99.60 
when dialing from abroad, drop the first zero
http://www.aca.org.ma

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tulane Ranks on Peace Corps Top Colleges Rankings

Kyrgyzstan Volunteer Shares His Experience

DALLAS, January 25, 2012 – This year Tulane University ranks No. 3 on the 2012 top Peace Corps volunteer-producing colleges and universities in the graduate school category, and No. 18 in the undergraduate medium school category.

There are currently 16 graduate students and 25 undergraduate alumni serving overseas. Since 1961, nearly 450 alumni have served in the Peace Corps. Tulane was the only school in Louisiana to make the top list in both the undergraduate and graduate categories.

“Colleges and universities prepare thousands of talented undergraduate and graduate alumni for Peace Corps service every year,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams (Dominican Republic, 1967-1970). “These alumni go on to serve as Peace Corps volunteers, applying the skills and knowledge they acquired during their studies to promote world peace and friendship and improve the lives of people around the world. Every day, volunteers make countless contributions to projects in agriculture, education, the environment, health and HIV/AIDS education and prevention, small business development, and youth development. I would like to extend my gratitude to all colleges and universities for their continued support of the Peace Corps and public service.”

Tulane volunteers are serving in nearly 20 countries such as Belize, Cameroon, and Kyrgyzstan. Ryan Johnson, 2006 Bachelor of Arts in Russian Language graduate, is currently serving in Kyrgyzstan teaching English as a foreign language at four government ministries. His degree has been a great help in helping him as a TEFL volunteer and he says serving in the Peace Corps has been a lifetime goal.

“Ever since I was a child I have dreamed of joining the Peace Corps. I believe it was a combination of a sense of adventure and giving back,” said Johnson. “Naturally in the life of a volunteer there are ups and downs, successes and failures, but overall I have enjoyed and valued my work in Peace Corps.”

Johnson enjoys his service so much he recently applied and received an extension to serve a third year. “Peace Corps is probably the greatest thing I have ever done. It changed my life,” he added.

“Ryan is a great example of the strong network of Peace Corps volunteers and supporters from Tulane,” said Mike McKay, Southwest Regional Manager. “Our unique partnership with the School of Public Health has helped promote the Peace Corps mission and reaffirms our collaboration and commitment to providing highly educated and trained people to serve overseas.”

The Master’s International program allows students the opportunity to integrate graduate study with international development practice through Peace Corps field experience. Tulane MI students earn their Master in Public Health or Master of Science in Public Health while simultaneously serving in the Peace Corps. The program is designed for students to apply skills learned in an academic setting toward solving important health problems in developing countries during their service overseas.

Peace Corps’ nine regional recruiting offices across the United States work to recruit and provide information and guidance to prospective Peace Corps volunteers. The Southwest Regional Recruiting Office serves Louisiana and nine other states. Applicants are encouraged to plan ahead and apply for Peace Corps service one year in advance of their target departure date. Locate your local regional recruiting office by visiting the Peace Corps website here.

Americans with backgrounds in agriculture, environment, teaching English as a second language, and other technical or language skills related to Peace Corps assignment areas are encouraged to apply.“These applicants are the most competitive for our jobs in 2012 and 2013,” McKay added.

You can view the entire top 25 rankings for each school size category, as well as all-time and graduate school rankings here.

The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing schools annually according to the size of the student body. Small schools have less than 5,000 undergraduates, medium-sized schools have between 5,001 and 15,000 undergraduates and large schools have more than 15,000 undergraduates. The rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2011 data as of September 30, 2011 as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.

About the Peace Corps: Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive order on March 1, 1961, more than 200,000 Americans have served in 139 host countries. Today, 9,095 volunteers are working with local communities in 75 host countries. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment and the agency’s mission is to promote world peace and friendship and a better understanding between Americans and people of other countries. Visit www.peacecorps.govfor more information.