Preserving the peace
Cece Wildeman
Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: News
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Alumni across the nation are serving in the Peace Corps, and among large colleges and universities, CSU ranks 12th, which is an increase from last year's ranking of 13th.
"Our recruiting numbers tend to be high and we continue to be one of the top recruiters in the country," said Karen Gardenier, the coordinator of the CSU Masters Peace Corps program.
In the late '50's CSU professor Maurice L. Albertson was called upon to develop a research program in social sciences. Then in January of 1960, Congress announced that it wanted a study done on the Peace Corps.
In response to Congress' request, Albertson established a team of 20 faculty members with previous experience working in developing countries. They tested their design ideas for the Peace Corps in Asia and South America after first testing them out in the US.
"Many people wanted to volunteer," Albertson said.
The first group was sent to Pakistan in 1961 and CSU professor Pauline Berkey was sent to supervise them.
"It was highly successful," he said.
Since this time, CSU has remained in the top rankings in the number of volunteers from each school, with a steady ranking around 12th for the past five years, said Martha Denney, director of international education. Currently there are 57 CSU graduates volunteering.
And the university's ranking continues to rise because students remain excited about the Peace Corps, said Gardenier.
Since 1988, CSU has offered Peace Corps master's programs in four different areas, including English, food science and human nutrition, and all departments of natural resources and agriculture.
"There are a lot of students who want to pursue a master's and go into the Peace Corps, and it is a good way to combine them. It is a good way to apply theory as well as practical application," said Gardenier.
Tami Wolff-Barry, the CSU Peace Corps coordinator, served as a volunteer in the Solomon Islands for 24 months before being evacuated due to internal struggle in the country.
"Our recruiting numbers tend to be high and we continue to be one of the top recruiters in the country," said Karen Gardenier, the coordinator of the CSU Masters Peace Corps program.
In the late '50's CSU professor Maurice L. Albertson was called upon to develop a research program in social sciences. Then in January of 1960, Congress announced that it wanted a study done on the Peace Corps.
In response to Congress' request, Albertson established a team of 20 faculty members with previous experience working in developing countries. They tested their design ideas for the Peace Corps in Asia and South America after first testing them out in the US.
"Many people wanted to volunteer," Albertson said.
The first group was sent to Pakistan in 1961 and CSU professor Pauline Berkey was sent to supervise them.
"It was highly successful," he said.
Since this time, CSU has remained in the top rankings in the number of volunteers from each school, with a steady ranking around 12th for the past five years, said Martha Denney, director of international education. Currently there are 57 CSU graduates volunteering.
And the university's ranking continues to rise because students remain excited about the Peace Corps, said Gardenier.
Since 1988, CSU has offered Peace Corps master's programs in four different areas, including English, food science and human nutrition, and all departments of natural resources and agriculture.
"There are a lot of students who want to pursue a master's and go into the Peace Corps, and it is a good way to combine them. It is a good way to apply theory as well as practical application," said Gardenier.
Tami Wolff-Barry, the CSU Peace Corps coordinator, served as a volunteer in the Solomon Islands for 24 months before being evacuated due to internal struggle in the country.
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