Comments on: Carrie Hessler-Radelet for Peace Corps Director!

By: Mary Lyn Field-Nguer

Mary Lyn Field-Nguer — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:17:38 +0000

I have known Carrie since 2000, worked for her from 2005-2008, and strongly support her candidacy to continue as Peace Corps Director. She is exceptionally smart, fair, valued and energetic. She has the Obama-like quality of seeing two sides of most issues, choosing to find value in each person and letting empathy trump judgments and competitiveness. Carrie has the background and persona to do this job and do it well. As a former PCV in Tonga and the HIV/AIDS specialist at HQ as well as a trainer in the Pacific, Peace Corps has been a part of my life at many junctures. I have seen Carrie remain committed to the Peace Corps with her work on the Board of the Association. She deserves this post and will perform well.

By: Maureen Orth

Maureen Orth — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 04:50:20 +0000

Carrie and I have worked together on a number of projects relating to Peace Corps outreach and the 50th anniversary. I am so impressed with her and her willingness to make things actually happen. She was an enthusiastic supporter of PeaceCorpsPostcards.com, for example, and was instrumental in getting it off the ground. She is creative, filled with great ideas and energy without affectation or being interested in taking credit. She is such a hard worker and cares so deeply for the Peace Corps from the ground up, not the other way around. She has gained great experience as Deputy Director and would make a superb Director–she won’t need a year to learn anything. Carrie should be Director period, her gender is just a plus.

By: Joanne Roll

Joanne Roll — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:10:36 +0000

HDF,

Please define “innovation”. Please define “open.” We should all be beyond tossing cliches around.

If you mean improved administrative practices, that is already happening based on the 2010 Agency Assessment recommendations. If you are talking about programing in the developing world, then you must be specific. You have the obligation to show that you are not just suggesting that the people that we would serve should be guinea pigs for the latest fad - a “run it up on the flag pole and see if anyone salutes” mentality that is so trite it is not even used in “Mad Men.” Peace Corps is better than that.

Peace Corps is already top heavy, in my opinion, with “people outside our own RPCV community”, The aforementioned 2010 Agency Assessment, as well as the FYR cite the preponderance of political appointees in decision-making positions. The Agency Assessment recommended that such appointees be given an “orientation” on the goals of the Peace Corps. OMG.

By: Tino Calabia

Tino Calabia — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:57:54 +0000

BOB: I worked in a children’s summer camp on the Pacific Coast near Arequipa. Maybe your brother served there, too. Otherwise, since I worked on Peru’s northern desert coast, I may not have met Ron.

HDF: Sargent Shriver had, of course, never been an RPCV before he became the founding PC Director. He proved to be the best PC Director. Nowadays it would be hard to conceive of any non-RPCV who would understand what it takes to live and work as a PCV. Carrie’s not only an RPCV but is the third generation in her family to have served in the Peace Corps.

–Tino

By: HDF

HDF — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:21:53 +0000

There are lots of RPCVs who can do a good job. The President of NPCA is good too. However, to stay innovative and open we may want to look outside our own RPCV community.

By: Ken Hill

Ken Hill — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 17:44:35 +0000

Its hard to imagine someone better qualified to address the challenges that Peace Corps faces at this juncture. This includes a tenacious invisibility both in terms of public perception and budget.

Carrie has solid management skills and a vision for Peace Corps. Given today’s Peace Corps’ needs, she’s ideal.

Peace Corps needs to improve and grow!

My vote goes to Carrie!

Ken

By: Nancy Tongue

Nancy Tongue — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 03:35:11 +0000

Carrie is a pro-active and caring individual and is working hard to implement critical changes within Peace Corps to help those of us who have become sick or injured during or as a result of our service. She is actively working with our group, Health Justice for Peace Corps Volunteers to help us get the benefits we are entitled to but have often been unable to obtain. She would make a dynamic director!
Nancy

By: FlacoBob

FlacoBob — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 05:26:57 +0000

Tino…were you a Volunteer with my brother Ron Arias, Peru 1963-65? Mike Beede was his site partner in Sicuani. We need to get RPCV’s behind Carrie’s appointment…thanks Tino!

By: Joanne Roll

Joanne Roll — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 23:39:03 +0000

Carrie Hessler-Radelet has the combination of management experience and technical expertise in a the critically important area of public health. She weara her position well as Acting Director. I think she would be fabulous as Director. Could Peace Corps actually be lucky enough to get her?

The only question I have is a cynical one. Would RPCV support help or hinder her chances?

By: Michael L. Driscoll

Michael L. Driscoll — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 23:28:42 +0000

John Coyne:

Do you know what high school Carrie Hessler-Radelet taught at, in Western Samoa, during her service as a PCV?

I taught at the Teachers Training College, in Math, English, and some Science, during 1973-1974. If you see her, say: “Talofa” from Michael L. Driscoll Western Samoa/RPCV 1973-74
Talofa: is the general greeting, in Samoan : - )