More on Peace Corps Prep

Clayton Kennedy (El Salvador 2010-12) who is, he informed me, “just an outreach specialist, not the director of University Partnerships” Sorry, Clayton, I just wanted to give your CV a boost). Also, Clayton tell me, “Peace Corps Prep and Campus Ambassadors have both been in the Office of Diversity and National Outreach, where I have worked since my arrival last June. However, these two programs and I are transitioning over to the Office of University Partnerships, which is simultaneously coming over to VRS. The position of the Director of University Partnerships is currently open and just about to be posted.”

Clayton Kennedy (El Salvador 2010-12)

Okay, are we all thoroughly confused by this Washington gobbledygook? Good.

But what (in simple plain English) is how you would describe Peace Corps Prep?

I asked Clayton who was nice enough to reply, “Peace Corps Prep is a partnership program that prepares undergraduate students for intercultural service abroad. We provide four core learning objectives around which our partner colleges and universities build their programs, weaving together coursework, extracurricular and professional development activities. Program graduates receive a certificate from the Peace Corps and a competitive edge when applying for service.”

Clayton was also pointed out the universities I did not list in my previous blog on the program. These twelve school are: Tulane, Brigham Young, UTEP, Florida International University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Newly accepted schools include everyone from University of Virginia to Arizona State, where the Peace Corps Director, our own  Peace Corps Director, Carrie Hessler-Radelet, last week gave the commencement address to the graduating class of 2015.

Clayton then adds, “The program dovetails beautifully with Peace Corps’ recent reboot of its application process, which streamlined each step and gave applicants the new ability to choose where they want to go and what they want to do. Students can now discover the type of Peace Corps placement that compels them and then build their PC Prep curriculum around it.”

You know, he does sound like a Peace Corps recruiter, doesn’t he? Say, didn’t Clayton say that the position of the Director of University Partnerships is currently open and just about to be posted.

Carrie, do us all a favor, give that job to Clayton Kennedy. He seems more than able to do it.

Plus, he’s an RPCV….

“Whatever path you choose, wherever you go from here, I hope you will find a way to serve others. Service will teach you lessons you can’t learn in any other way, unlock potential you never knew you had, and inspire you to believe – even in the face of the steepest challenges – that one person can truly make a difference.” – Peace Corps director Carrie Hessler-Radelet, at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences maroon convocation May 12, 2015, at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe.