As part of the Washington state Apple Blossom Festival, Doug Head (1967-70) was honored as Grand Marshal of the 2013 Stemilt Growers Grand Parade in Wenatchee.

The honor recognizes Head’s nearly three decades of service to the community.  During that time, he has directed the Wenatchee Regional Office of the Children’s Home Society of Washington, which works to find loving homes for area children by connecting highly trained foster parents with emotionally and/or behaviorally troubled children.

An article in the Wenatchee World newspaper also cited the ongoing commitment of Head and his wife Lyn, in providing sponsorship and other support to children from Afghanistan.

CAMEROON:

Bradley University announced the awarding of a Fullbright Scholar Grant to Dr. Cecile Arquette (1987-89), Associate Professor of Teacher Education.  Dr. Arquette’s scholarship will take her to the Pontifical Catholic University in Valparaiso, Chile next year.  While at the university, she will be working with undergraduates studying to become English teachers.  Dr. Arquette also hopes to build stronger ties between the two universities.

CHAD:

The student government board of Delaware Valley College does not name individuals to its prestigious Hall of Fame on an annual basis.  Rather, the honor is bestowed only when someone meets the criteria of college loyalty, improving the student experience and improving the lives of others.  This year, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Jim Diamond (1971-73) received that honor.  A 1961 graduate, Diamond is former dean of agriculture. He also serves as an honorary trustee and national chair of the college’s planned giving committee.

In noting the honor, Diamond recognized his wife Betty Diamond, with whom he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Chad.  Speaking to phillyburbs.com, he said “I did not earn this honor alone. My wife, Betty, certainly played an important role in supporting me during my 47-year career that led to this award.”

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

The Hartford, Connecticut region of the YWCA appointed Monique Turner-Lopez (1991-93) as the organization’s new Chief Program Officer.

Turner-Lopez will be responsible for leading the implementation of a program vision that builds on the organization’s strengths, increases its capacity to address the emerging needs of women and families in greater Hartford and supports YWCA’s mission of empowering women and girls and eliminating racism.  She comes to the organization with more than 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the City Wide Youth Coalition in New Haven.

GUATEMALA:

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) named Brittany Sickler (2009-12) as an economic development specialist for the North Dakota District Office in Fargo.

A native of Bismarck, Sickler will conduct marketing and outreach for the SBA in southeastern North Dakota.  Prior to her Peace Corps service, she worked for ACCION USA in Miami as a marketing and outreach specialist.

MONGOLIA:

The University of Missouri named Mike Burden (2006-08) as one of the recipients of this year’s International Engagement Awards.  Burden, a senior information specialist in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), received the staff award.  He was honored for his work in developing multimedia content for CAFNR that will help promote research and teaching.  He has also taught journalism courses at MU and played an important role in coordinating the Third Goal International Film Festival held this past February.

NEPAL:

Dr. David Edds (1977-79) was honored by Emporia State University as the 2013 Roe R. Cross Distinguished Professor.  Dr. Edds is a Professor of Biological Sciences, serving on the faculty at Emporia State since 1989.

The Cross award honors faculty for their scholarship, teaching and mentoring of students. A native of Kansas, Dr. Edds is extremely active within his community.  He coaches youth soccer and baseball, organizes aquatic ecology summer camps for several organizations and supports the Emporia Area Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Among other recognition associated with the award, Dr. Edds will be the speaker at university commencement ceremonies in December.

NICARAGUA:

Sara Skiles (2010-12) has been hired to serve as a Community Outreach Coordinator for the non-profit organization, Mississippi Health Advocacy Program (MHAP).  MHAP strives to be a strong, effective voice for improved health care for all throughout the state of Mississippi, especially those whose health is threatened by poverty, racism, malnutrition and violence.  Working within the Health Help Mississippi division, Skiles is the outreach leader in 20 different Mississippi counties.  She will work on health care advocacy and education, serving as a resource to Mississippians for their health care questions and concerns, with a focus on at-risk populations and lower socio-economic communities.

NIGER:

Kimberly Arth (1999-2001) is the new Director of the Angels Camp Museum in Angels Camp, California. The museum focuses on the history of the California gold rush. Arth comes to California from Arizona, where she worked as Education Manager at the Bead Museum in Glendale. Prior to that, she worked as an assistant at the Arizona State University Museum of Anthropology.

PHILIPPINES:

At Yale University, Peter Crumlish (1996-98) has been named the new Executive Director of Dwight Hall, a non-profit organization that features more than 85 student groups, engaging more than two-thirds of Yale’s undergraduate population in service and social justice activities.  Crumlish recently served as Director of Resource Development for the Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven.  He also serves on the boards of the Calvin Hill Day Care Center and the Congo Leadership Initiative.

RUSSIA:

Melinda Reed (1995-97) is the new Executive Director of the Friendship Center in Helena, Montana. The center provides a safe haven and broad range of support services at no charge for anyone who has suffered domestic violence and sexual abuse. Reed’s past work with non-governmental organizations includes employment with Mercy Corps and the American Refugee Committee.

Among those lost to the Peace Corps community last month was a currently serving volunteer.

Nicholas Castle (1990 – 2013) was teaching university level English in Guizhou Province in the People’s Republic of China at the time of his death.  The Brentwood, California resident and graduate of University of California – Berkeley had been in China for more than seven months when he passed away after a short illness.  Education was clearly a passion for Nicholas.  Prior to his Peace Corps service, he spent six years working as a volunteer tutor of middle school students in math, science and reading, and tutored high school and college students in advanced math.

Managing public health threats was central to the life of Richard Heffernan (1964-2013), who served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali.  Richard worked for many years with the New York City Department of Health, eventually becoming Assistant Director of the Bureau of Communicable Diseases.  He is credited for setting up the first health alert system to enable the city health department to provide timely information to city healthcare providers on breaking health emergencies.  He returned to the department after 9/11, working to further improve public health responses to public health emergencies.  His career concluded in Madison, Wisconsin, where he served as Chief Research Scientist Supervisor for the Wisconsin Division of Public Health – Communicable Disease Epidemiology Section.

The environment and the elderly were focal points for Mariana Dowden Bornholdt (1924-2013), a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served her nation in Ghana.  Mariana was a long time faculty member of the California State College System, having attained master’s degrees in Counseling Psychology and Adult Education.  After Peace Corps, she returned to life in Oregon where she became an advocate at the local and state level for a number of organizations and commissions dealing with the needs of older citizens.  Her environmental activism centered around a love of plants and protection of natural resources.

For George Harrington (1943-2013), the focus of his life became the developmentally disabled.  A Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia, George served nearly a quarter-century as the Executive Director of the ARC of Harrison County (West Virginia).  Because of his many accomplishments – including growing the organization to more than 100 employees providing assistance and support to the developmentally disabled in four West Virginia counties – the organization named a new program in honor of George upon his retirement in 2005.

The Los Angeles Times recognized Michael Parrish (1945-2013) for his many contributions to the newspaper and the greater Los Angeles community.  Michael was the founder of the LA Times Magazine, and later worked as a staff writer for the Business Section.  His work included coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the Kuwait oil fires after the Gulf War.  He was the author of  the book “For the People: Inside the LA County District Attorney’s Office.”  Michael, who served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger, closed out his career as an adjunct lecturer teaching non-fiction writing at the University of Southern California School of Journalism.

Follow this link for news of other recent passings included on the National Peace Corps Association’s In Memoriam page.

The Peace Corps has a special way of touching all who surround it and opening their eyes to explore and create a broader, more cultured world. As excerpts from rememberances show, we lost some special Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and former staff in January, individuals who impacted their community for the better and lived their life to the fullest.

Mary Laird Silvia (1938-2013) was described as “historian and healer, genealogist and gardener, linguist, litterata and loyal friend.”  It was at Radcliffe College where Mary excelled in learning French.  After traveling the world, she obtained an advanced degree in international studies at the University of Geneva and worked as a interpreter/translator for the United Nations.  Soon after this, Mary was hired by the Peace Corps, working with for Sargeant Shriver in the early days of the agency.  She later became Director of American Studies at the French International Lycee in Washington.

Marilyn Anita Martin (1926-2013) was a lover of languages and her teaching in the Peace Corps was only part of her past. Beginning with her graduation from the University of Washington with a Masters Degree in Romance Languages, she then went on to teach English as a Foreign Language in Ecuador, Colombia, and for the U.S. State Department. Later, Marilyn assumed leadership of the Modern Language department of Cornell University and expanded it to nine times its original size.  She developed her own Master’s Degree program for Linguistic majors who desired to teach English as a Second Language. Marilyn was a beloved teacher and an inspiration to everyone she taught.

Olive “Jeanne” Brown (1922-2013) also served her community as an educator.  However, Jeanne did not stop there.  She served as a Red Cross Volunteer for 40 years, was a columnist for The Columbia (South Carolina) Record, docent at the State Museum and Hampton Preston House, amateur archeologist, painter, owner of The Cook’s Nook, and of course a Peace Corps volunteer.  Jeanne even had the opportunity to become a great-grandmother of three children.

Melba Jo Anderson (1935-2013) dedicated her entire life to giving back to her community. Melba taught English for much of her life and when the opportunity to join the Peace Corps presented itself, she did not hesitate and joined the first group that traveled to modern day Belize. After retiring with her husband, Melba spent the rest of her days hiking in the mountains, cross-country skiing, and working as a part of the crew for the Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club in Virginia.

Gerry Hirsch (1941-2013) worked in the Peace Corps as the Chief of the Program and Training Division for Latin America.  Additionally, Gerry dedicated much of his life to helping the less fortunate. Gerry became a staff assistant to Senator Robert F. Kennedy and worked primarily on anti-poverty programs in New York City. Later, he became the Director of the Graduate Degree Program in International Administration and was given the opportunity to live in Europe. Gerry lived the rest of his life as one big adventure, motorcycling around Europe, climbing the Matterhorn, skiing, running for New York State Assembly, and finally following his dream and attending The Art Students League of New York to become a painter.

An early Peace Corps Volunteer in Peru, Fred Zecker (1940-2013) worked to make his community a better place. His lifelong commitment to serving others began with his career as a social worker and Community Development Coordinator at ACTION Housing Inc. Following his work in these positions, he joined the United States Air Force, where  he received the Air Force Commendation Medal.  Upon his return from the Air force, he served on the Department of Community Affairs state-wide, Community Services Block Grant Advisory committee, and the WorkNet Pinellas Board of Directors.

Follow this link for news of other recent passings included on the National Peace Corps Association’s In Memoriam page.

Among the honorees at the 47th annual Laguna Beach, California Patriots Day Parade in early March will be two local RPCVs named as the 2013 Citizens of the Year.  Bonnie and Arnold Hano (1991-93) are being recognized for their long time political and environmental activism.

Along with their past Peace Corps service, the Hanos were recognized for their efforts to win passage of a building height limit which led to the founding of Village Laguna, which is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the unique village character of Laguna Beach.  Bonnie continues to serve on the city’s Heritage Committee, while Arnold continues to be a prolific writer and spokesman on community issues.

Fiji

After more than 34 years of work with the U.S. Forest Service, Ramona DeGregorio-Venegas (1979-81) has retired.  Most recently, Ramona worked as an outdoor recreation planner at the Manistee National Forest in northeast Michigan.  According to an article in the Luddington Daily News, Ramona plans to remain living in the region, but has not ruled out applying for another tour of service with the Peace Corps.

Ghana

The website womensenews.org began 2013 by honoring 21 women leaders in the 21st century.  One of those recognized is Heidi Lehmann (1993-95), who serves as Director of the Women’s Protection and Empowerment Unit at the International Rescue Committee.  She leads work on key policy, programming and advocacy issues related to violence against women and girls.  Her work has taken her to the scene of some of the worst conflicts and natural disasters in recent history including Darfur, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Honduras

Celebrating twenty years since the founding of Central American Medical Outreach (CAMO), was not the only milestone for Kathy Tschiegg (1979-81) as 2013 began.  Kathy was also among the recipients of the inaugural REAL Awards, given to health care workers in the U.S. and around the world, in recognition of the life-saving work they provide every day.  The Orrville, Ohio non-profit serves around 100,000 people annually with services ranging from breast exams and prosthetics to neo-natal care and eye surgery.  Kathy was honored in the General Health Worker category.

Jordan

Licensed clinical social worker Dorothy Walline (2009-11) has joined the staff of the Behavioral Health Center in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.  Walline served as a special education volunteer while in Jordan.  The Behavioral Health Center is an outpatient treatment facility providing a full-range of behavioral and mental health services to adults, adolescents and children.

Kenya

New Mexico’s Fifth Judicial District Court Judge, J. Richard Brown (1979-81), has retired from the bench.  Brown was appointed as a judge in 2006 by former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.  That was preceded by 18 years of work as a public defender.  Judge Brown and his physician wife Caryn – who also served in Kenya, recently relocated to New Zealand.

Korea

Dr. James Tielsch (1973-75) is the new Chair of the Department of Global Health at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.  He previously held an appointment as a Professor in the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

While at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Tielsch focused his research in two areas, maternal and child health and the epidemiology of blinding eye diseases both in the United States and in developing countries.  More recently, he focused his efforts on studies of malnutrition, infectious disease, and environmental health among women and children living in low-income countries.

After receiving his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, Dr. Tielsch joined the Peace Corps and served as a tuberculosis control officer in Korea.

Mali

RPCV Heather Maxwell recently said it was really an honor when she assumed the role at the beginning of 2013 as host and producer of the Voice of America’s (VOA’s) Music Time in Africa.  She assumes the role following the retirement of Leo Sarkisian, the creator of the program more than a half-century ago.  Music Time in Africa is VOA’s oldest English language music program.  Heather is an ethnomusicologist with Doctorate and Master’s degrees from Indiana University specializing in African Music.  She is also an accomplished jazz and Afrojazz/Afrosoul vocalist and has been working, researching, and performing in Africa and the U.S. since 1987.

Senegal

Senegal RPCV and current Peace Corps recruiter at the University of Virginia, April Muniz (2010-12) was recognized at the end of 2012, as part of the 17th annual “Best of C-Vill”, part of the Charlottesville News and Arts Weekly Newspaper.  April was one of “Five (local) people you might find behind the curtain,” honoring people featured during 2012 “who are, however quietly, shaping life in Charlottesville and beyond.”  Prior to Peace Corps, April worked nearly 20 years in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry before joining a start-up company linking small farmers with families wishing to lower their eco-footprint by eating locally.  Among her contributions in Charlottesville, April recently joined the Board of Better World Betty, a local  environmental education and resource non-profit organization.

The wife of an iconic Congressman.  An international architect. A dedicated social service provider.  A fun-loving creator of delicious curries and accordion music.  These were among the many members of the Peace Corps community we lost in December.

Lillian Miles Lewis (1939-2012) served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nigeria in the mid 1960’s.  Not long after returning to Atlanta, she met (and later married) civil rights activist and future Congressman John Lewis.  Lillian was a chief political advisor and confidant to her husband, and was instrumental in his decision to run for Congress.  Her life-long interest in Africa and education led to her appointment as associate director of the Institute for International Affairs and Development at Atlanta University.

Nadine Hogan of Alexandria, Virginia and Key Biscayne, Florida made her mark in the Peace Corps when she was appointed Associate Director of Domestic Operations in the early 1980’s.  This appointment was preceded by many years of service to Latin America that began with her involvement in delivering medical supplies from Colorado (where she worked as a nurse) to Guatemala earthquake victims in 1967. She would later serve for six years as Mission Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development, for Regional Programs of Central America and Panama.  She continued to serve the region until her recent death.

Mary Louise Snowden (1936-2012) of Wilmington, North Carolina held key roles with the Peace Corps. In her case, Mary’s Peace Corps connection began as a volunteer in Fiji.  That led to several overseas positions, including Country Director in Nepal.  Upon returning to the U.S. Mary was appointed to be Acting Director and Chief Administrative Officer for the Europe, Mediterranean and Asia Regions of Peace Corps.

Karen Leigh DeFelice (1961-2012) volunteered with the Peace Corps in Ecuador.  Her educational background in science and agriculture led to her becoming an internationally recognized author and speaker on digestive enzymes and digestive health, supplements and diets.  A resident of Des Moine, Iowa, Karen’s work has been credited with assisting thousands of people suffering from conditions including Autism and food intolerances.

Thomas Walsh (1937-2012) of Auburndale, Massachusetts served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in India in the 1960’s.  A 1965 graduate of the Washington University School of Architecture, Tom combined his education and his love of the world to serve as project architect for a number of international buildings, including the Aga Kahn Hospital in Pakistan and international clinics in Kuwait and Malaysia.

Michael Denny (1949-2012) was committed to social justice.  His life-long work began as an educator, serving in the Peace Corps in Paraguay in the 1970’s.  For nearly two decades, he worked at the New North Citizens’ Council in Springfield, Massachusetts.  He was appointed Executive Director in 2005, and is credited with a legacy of innovative, sometimes non-traditional services to young children, teens and families.

Corey Hilber (1985-2012) died suddenly in Chicago in December.  His life included serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kyrgyzstan and a teacher in Japan.  In Chicago, Corey mentored high school students and worked on community gardens, stemming from his interest in food production and urban agriculture. Many remember Corey for his curry-making skills, his accordion playing and his love of family and friends.

Follow this link for news of other recent passings included on the National Peace Corps Association’s In Memoriam page.

Botswana

Richard Simonton Sr. (Botswana 1976-78) has been named the new President and CEO of the AOD Federal Credit Union in Bynum, Alabama. Simonton has more than thirty years of experience in the credit union industry. He recently worked for 17 years at the Insight Credit Union in Orlando, Florida, and was active in the community, supporting Toys for Tots, Second Harvest Food Bank, the Coalition for the Homeless and the Russell Home for Atypical Children.

Cameroon

December, 10, 2012 – Human Rights Day – also marked the launch of the online shop for Cherie Amie, a fair trade intimate apparel company co-founded by Tara Smith (Cameroon 2007-09). The Sacramento Bee reports the company “fights poverty with a three-tiered business model. The company produces its original apparel in Cameroon, where it employs a team of artisans with fair wages in a safe and secure environment. Under the Good Returns model, the company uses 100 percent of its profits to finance small loans for women entrepreneurs. It goes one step further by donating ten percent of its net income to Peace Tree Africa, the non-profit Smith founded to finance development projects across sub-Saharan Africa.”

China

The St. Lawrence County Arts Council has named Rebekah Wilkins-Pepiton, as its new Executive Director. Wilkins-Pepiton worked for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Southwest China. She began working at the Arts Council, based in Potsdam New York, during December and will assume her duties as Executive Director in January 2013.

Ecuador

Betsy Bechtel (Ecuador 1964-66) of Palo Alto, California has been named President of the Board of Trustees of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. Residents of the district re-elected Bechtel to the Board of Trustees in November. Bechtel, a former Palo Alto Mayor and City Council member, has served on the Board of Trustees since 2003.

Samoa

Samoa RPCV Sarah Nichols has relocated to Fairbanks, Alaska, after being named earlier this year as the new Director of the Fairbanks Boys and Girls Club. A native of Texas, her background includes teaching and the performing arts.

Togo

Emily Lagasse (Togo 2008-10) is closing out the inaugural year of Sukuvi, a Massachusetts based non-profit organization which seeks to help students in Togo attain a university education by providing community supported low-interest microloans. Sufficient funding in the first year of the program allowed thirteen students to pursue higher education. Early supporters of the program include the Boston Area RPCVs.

Tunisia

Sheryle J. Bolton (Tunisia 1968-69) returned to her alma mater, Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia, to be the guest speaker at the fall commencement on December 15th. A member of the college Board of Trustees, Bolton is the new CEO of Sally Ride Science. The San Diego based company brings science to life through pioneering professional development, instructional solutions, and real-science investigations for students in 4th-8th grades. Bolton was named CEO in August, succeeding Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space.

We love to hear about recent professional and community service activities by returned Peace Corps Volunteers and former Peace Corps staff!  Include country and years of service and an e-mail or phone contact for confirmation. Send with ACHIEVE in the subject line to alumninews@peacecorpsconnect.org

It is not surprising that many Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) continue on to find new ways to help better their community.  Some of the members of the community we lost in November not only shared a passion for the Peace Corps, but also in helping further the education of children and adults, including those with disabilities.

Deborah Vose Carey (1932-2012) had a love for education that was conveyed throughout her entire life. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Minnesota and went on to become a school psychologist in the metropolitan Boston public school system with a special focus on children with special needs.  She went on to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia and showed her final dedication to education when she started a school for learning disabled children in Kuwait.

Owen Coyle Maher (1935-2012) also had a history helping learning disabled children. Owen dedicated much of his life to being a bilingual special education teacher with the goal of helping his student grow into more independent adults. He served not only in the Peace Corps but also in the United States army before continuing his education at Columbia University, achieving a graduate degree in education.

Similarly, Daniel S. Friedman (1946-2012), served his years in the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone following the completion of his masters’ degree in health planning. He was an active member of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, and the Bronx Developmental Disabilities Council, as well as the Associate Director for the Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center. Daniel dedicated his whole life to working to make a difference in the lives of children with developmental disabilities.

Ted Allan Rathbun (1942-2012) served in the Peace Corps from 1966-1968 in Iran. When he returned, he continued his education and eventually taught for 30 years at the University of South Carolina. Ted received a number of impressive distinguishing awards, including, Outstanding Men and Women in Science (1973), Outstanding Educators of America (1974), International Who’s Who in Asian Studies, and was named a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology.

Follow this link for news of other recent passings included on the National Peace Corps Association’s In Memoriam page.

(Thanks to intern Nicole Bustamante for preparing our November In Memoriam tribute)

Kristy Crabtree (right), Bangladesh Returned Peace Corp Volunteer, 2005 to 2006.

After ripping open the letter with her Peace Corps country assignment, Kristy Crabtree rushed to a local bookstore.   Scanning the travel aisle for a guide on Bangladesh, she hurriedly grabbed the one and only copy and dashed out the store anxious to learn more about the place she’d soon be living.

Volunteer days.

Now, nearly six years after her service, she’s still pouring through newspapers reading about Bangladesh.  It’s something she didn’t initially expect when joining the Peace Corps, but she’s remained closely connected to the country.

This connection first prompted her to return to Bangladesh in 2008 to conduct research in the refugee camps for her Master’s degree thesis, and now, she’s preparing to return yet again.  This time, she was determined to travel back after reading an article in Bangladesh’s Daily  Star newspaper.

The newspaper article was about a young girl named Hena who lived outside Bangladesh’s capital city, Dhaka. One evening Hena’s 40-year-old cousin beat and raped her.  The assault was so severe she lost consciousness.  However, elders in her village convened a village court where Hena was essentially put on trial with the perpetrator.  This type of traditional justice mechanism is not operated by the state, and there are no formal judges, but there are punishments prescribed by local religious and socio-economic leaders.

Following the village court meeting, Hena, the victim and survivor of the crime, was given a punishment of 101 lashes.

She didn’t survive.

Unfortunately, Hena’s story is not different from other survivors of rape or sexual assault in rural Bangladesh. Under improvised, informal village arbitration, these survivors are often punished, although they’re not the perpetrators.

Worse, most of the stories like Hena’s have gone unreported completely. And survivors continue to be punished. But RPCV Kristy Crabtree wants to change that, so she’s launched a Kickstarter campaign to help her raise $3,100 to travel back to Bangladesh and report on this issue.

She plans to live in the communities where these village court meetings are held and hear firsthand from survivors, local leaders, and other villagers.  Most importantly, she plans to share this story with a broader audience to advocate for change and amplify the voices of survivors.

To learn more about the Kickstarter campaign, click here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crabtree/flawed-justice-village-arbitration-in-bangladesh

Cameroon

Vijay Rajendran (02-04) has launched Hungry Globetrotter, a month-to-month subscription service for food items designed to connect home chefs, culinary enthusiasts, families and busy professionals with the flavors of the world. Subscribers receive a subscription box each month focusing on a cuisine of the world. As noted on its website, “Our subscription boxes include an ever-changing mix of gourmet products and flavors from the best emerging and renowned brands in global cuisine.”

Ghana

Jerome E. Perez has been appointed by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as the new Director for BLM’s state office serving Oregon and Washington. Perez served in the Peace Corps with his wife, Rita. Most recently, Perez has been serving as Deputy Regional Forester for the U.S. Forest Serivce’s Intermountain Region, based in Ogden, Utah.

Togo

Nick Vilelle (04-06) is the founder of Cause, a “philanthropub” that opened in Washington D.C. in October. The concept around Cause is to make charitable giving more convenient, fun and transparent for the general population. The restaurant/pub plans to donate 100% of its net profits to selected organizations both locally and internationally. Since its launch, Cause has identified its first group of four charitable organizations that will benefit from its profits. It has already hosted an event organized by the RPCVs of Washington DC.

Malawi

Leo Higdon Jr. (68-70) announced he will be stepping down as President of Connecticut College at the end of 2013. Higdon has been president of the college since 2006. During that time, Connecticut College has been recognized as a top producer of both Peace Corps Volunteeers and Fulbright Scholars. Higdon was honored with the Sen. Paul A. Simon Award for Campus Internationalization, and the President’s Community Service Honor Roll, with Distinction. In September, Higdon was the keynote speaker in Providence at a Third Goal Expo, organized by the National Peace Corps Association, the Rhode Island RPCVs, and the Peace Corps.

Russia

Christina Baybay-Bykov is the latest member of the Peace Corps community to appear on the well known television quiz show, Jeopardy. Christina appeared in the game show’s special teachers tournament. She was one of 15 teachers from around the nation selected to compete. Tina teaches Social Studies at Boone High School in Orlando Florida.

We love to hear about recent professional and community service activities by returned Peace Corps Volunteers and former Peace Corps staff!  Include country and years of service and an e-mail or phone contact for confirmation. Send with ACHIEVE in the subject line to alumninews@peacecorpsconnect.org

The passing of Peace Corps’ second director, Jack Vaughn, highlighted the commitment to service to our nation from those we lost during October.

RPCV Joseph Nason’s first service to our country was as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot during World War Two.  Nason was shot down over the Pacific, captured, and served as a Prisoner of War for two years.  Nason returned to the Pacific thirty years later, when he and his wife Mary joined the Peace Corps in 1977 as volunteers in Saipan.  An attorney, Joseph Nason worked in the Saipan government legal offices.  He passed away in Westborough Massachusetts in October at the age of 93.

Nason is among several members of the Peace Corps community who also served in our nation’s military.  John P. Connelly of Washington D.C., was a member of the U.S. Navy Reserves and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Brazil from 1964-1965.  Minnesota native Richard Straw served in the U.S. Army in the 1940′s and early 50′s, including two years in Korea.  Richard also served our nation as a science and math education support staff for Peace Corps Malaysia from 1966-1968.  James Edward Farley Jr. worked as a member of Peace Corps staff in the early 1960′s.  That followed service in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves from 1956-1962.

For 78 years, Sister M. Sylvia (Mary Florence) McClain served her faith with the Pittsburgh Sisters of Mercy.  During the course of this service, Sister Sylvia joined the Peace Corps, serving as a volunteer in the Philippines.

For many years, Roger Ware Banks served his community of Minneapolis.  This included his work as an educator, teaching courses at the University of Minnesota, Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas.  An active member of many civic and service organizations serving Minneapolis and Minnesota, Roger was honored by the Peace Corps in 2006, receiving the Franklin Williams Award, given to RPCVs of color who devote their careers to giving back to their communities.  An early volunteer in India (1963-1965), Roger also held positions with the New Mexico Peace Corps and VISTA Training Center between 1965-1968.

Also in October, the Peace Corps community lost Christine Marie Arnold, who served as Associate Director of Management for the Peace Corps in the early 2000′s.  Former Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez said of her, “Chris was a great public servant who dedicated most of her adult life to service at the county, state and federal levels of government.  She was a great contributor to the work of the Peace Corps and will be missed by all of us who knew her and were fortunate to work with her.”

A member of the Overseas Press Club of America, Virginia Peeples White of New York City served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Hungary from 1992-1994.  A part-time professional actress, White held high administrative positions with a number of organizations including the Woodrow Wilson International Center, and continued to volunteer at the International Center of New York well into her eighties.

As is probably the case for so many, the obituary of Niger RPCV David Woodruff noted that Peace Corps was an experience that changed his life forever.  As part of that change, David worked as the Director of the Diagnostic and Evaluation Unit of the Texas Commission for the Blind, as Director of Mental Health Services in Oracle Arizona, and as a bilingual school psychologist for several communities in central California.

Follow this link for other recent passings on the National Peace Corps Association’s In Memoriam page.