February 5, 2019
Rebecca Roeder the new campus representative for Peace Corps
Kansas State University's Office of International Programs, with cooperation from the Career Center, College of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension, has been successful in securing grant funding throughout the last decade to pay for a part-time Peace Corps representative on campus.
Rebecca Roeder, in her new role as the Peace Corps recruiter, said that she is excited to help K-State students begin their own Peace Corps journey.
Roeder served in the Peace Corps as a health volunteer in Peru from 2016 to 2018. Her primary projects included working with families with children under three on proper nutrition, early childhood stimulation and hygiene practices. She also worked with the local school to implement a teen leadership program, promote healthy decision-making and teach sex education.
"It was an honor to feel so welcomed by the Peruvian community and work with them to achieve their goals, while simultaneously furthering my own personal and professional development," Roeder said. "By the end of my two years, I felt much more like a community member rather than an outside volunteer. It was hard to leave, but I know the friendships I made and what I learned during my Peace Corps experience will always be with me."
Roeder will be housed in the Berney Family Welcome Center and can be reached at 785-532-7068, roeder@k-state.edu and peacecorps@k-state.edu. She is available to answer questions for interested students, assist with the application process, as well as provide classroom and club presentations. Her office hours will be 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, or by appointment. Drop-ins are welcomed and encouraged.
She serves to recruit students from all colleges with special emphasis on the College of Agriculture and the College of Education. Roeder welcomes students from all areas to learn more about the Peace Corps process.
Roeder grew up in Frankfort and holds bachelor's degrees from K-State in Spanish and communications sciences and disorders.
"The Peace Corps is asked to provide volunteers to address global challenges concerning health, sustainable economies and agriculture initiatives," said Grant Chapman, associate provost for international programs in the Office of International Programs. "Staff with this special knowledge are fairly hard to find and that is why Peace Corps desired to continue with a Peace Corps presence representative at the nation's first land-grant university."
Kerri Keller, executive director of the K-State Career Center, said that over the last three years with a campus recruiter, there were 10 new K-State graduates who joined the Peace Corps, making them a top 100 employer.
Under Rebecca Carnes, who served as the Peace Corps campus representative from 2016-2018, there were many programming initiatives, presentation and seminars to elevate the level of Peace Corps awareness on campus.