Florida State University is marking the Peace Corps’ 65th anniversary with National Peace Corps Week events March 2–5 and celebrating more than 900 FSU alumni who have served communities around the world through the international volunteer program.
Established by President John F. Kennedy on March 1, 1961, the Peace Corps sends American volunteers to live and work in communities around the world for two-year assignments focused on education, health, agriculture and community development. Today, Florida remains one of the top states producing Peace Corps volunteers, with FSU alumni continuing that tradition of service.
“FSU students consistently demonstrate the curiosity, resilience and compassion that make strong Peace Corps volunteers,” said Heather Jordan, FSU’s Peace Corps recruiter. “Serving isn’t just about what you give; it’s about how you grow. Many volunteers discover new strengths, new perspectives and lifelong connections that influence the rest of their careers.”
As FSU’s Peace Corps campus recruiter, it’s Jordan’s job to increase awareness of volunteer opportunities through outreach, class presentations and hosting workshops and information sessions. Peace Corps information sessions take place on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and Thursdays at 12 p.m. in Room 2300 of The Globe.
National Peace Corps Week kicked off at FSU Monday, March 2, with “Coffee Hour with the FSU Peace Corps Recruiter.” Jordan hosted the informal drop-in session for interested students to learn about service opportunities, the application timeline, and what they can expect during their two years abroad.
The Center for Global Engagement will host a Peace Corps Panel at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, in The Globe Auditorium as part of its Engage Your World Speaker Series. Jordan and several other Peace Corps volunteers will have an open discussion about the Peace Corps process and experience. Doors will open at 5 p.m. for a meet and greet with light refreshments.
As a Peace Corps volunteer from 2003 to 2005 in Monapo, Mozambique, Jordan taught English and health education, sparking a lifelong passion for public health and service.
Florida is one of the top five states in the U.S. in producing volunteers. Lydia Howald, an FSU alumnus who graduated in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs, joined the Peace Corps in 2025 and is serving as a volunteer in Zambia working on the Linking Income Food and Environment (LIFE) project.
Through the LIFE project, Peace Corps Zambia is collaborating with Zambia’s Department of Forestry to help conserve natural resources. As a volunteer working on the LIFE project, Howald lives amongst small-scale maize farmers and teaches them aboutagroforestry, a practice that integrates trees and shrubs with crops or pastures.
“Since we live in a place so dependent on the harvests and the environment, we must work hard to protect the soil and the land, to allow farmers to sustain themselves and their families’ futures,” she said.
Howald also assists with other community programs, including nutrition counseling, fruit tree propagation, tree nursery establishment, and connecting people to other programs, bringing greater infrastructure and development to rural villages.
“I wanted to work with the environment in a more ‘hands-on’ way and get the opportunity to connect with a new community and culture” she said.
After taking “URO 4408: Food Systems Planning,” a course taught by William Butler, a professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at FSU, Howald knew she wanted to learn more about programs that connect people with the environment.
“I’m very thankful to have this opportunity to build on those concepts and build relationships with a new community while working to sustainably support their needs and build their capacity,” she said.
Having learned Chitonga, one of Zambia’s regional languages, in her pre-service training, Howald leads workshops and navigates social interactions in the language of her community. Living on a local family’s property, she joins them for dinner a few times a week to immerse herself in the language and culture.
“My community was so excited that I was making an effort to continue to learn the language,” Howald said. “Being able to express myself and make jokes has helped me make many friends and feel more at ease in my village.”
Apart from her responsibilities, Howald enjoys beginning each day with coffee in her outdoor kitchen before heading to the community garden to water her vegetables.
“It’s safe to say that this experience has exceeded my expectations,” she said.
Visit the FSU Peace Corps webpage on global.fsu.edu to learn more about the program.