October 22, 2001

Contact: Aline Hoey, Peace Corps coordinator, (785) 864-7679.

Peace Corps creates office at KU

LAWRENCE -- A grant from the Denver Regional Recruitment Office of the Peace Corps has established a Peace Corps Office at the University of Kansas. The office will market Peace Corps opportunities, recruit volunteers, identify and interview prospective volunteers, and serve as a liaison to the regional and national Peace Corps offices. The KU Peace Corps office is located within University Career and Employment Services in the Burge Union, room 110.

"The Peace Corps office was established at KU for several reasons," said Gail Rooney, director of University Career and Employment Services. "KU historically has had a large number of its alumni seek Peace Corps opportunities. In 2001, KU was third in the Midwest region in terms of alumni volunteers. The Denver office felt that KU would be a good place to inform potential volunteers. A Peace Corps coordinator on campus can do an even better job of letting students and community members know about Peace Corps opportunities."

KU's new Peace Corps coordinator, Aline Hoey, began her duties Oct. 1. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Gabon, Central Africa, she was a math teacher and trainer in the C.E.S. N'Djole Secondary School. She also was a Peace Corps fellow at Northern Arizona University. Hoey taught physical science to Apache students attending a reservation high school in San Carlos, Ariz., before coming to Kansas and working with the Santa Fe Trail School District in Osage County and Lawrence Public Schools as a science teacher. Hoey received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master's degree in secondary education from Northern Arizona University.

"My past experience as a Peace Corps volunteer will allow me to share my experience with others and to help them decide if the Peace Corps is right for them," Hoey said. "I understand the qualities of a good volunteer and can offer potential volunteers some insight as to what the experience will be like."

Hoey is available to meet individually with students wanting to learn more about the Peace Corps or needing assistance with its application process. Hoey also can speak with faculty, academic departments, student groups, community organizations and classes about Peace Corps opportunities. To arrange a presentation, call (785) 864-7679 or e-mail peacecorps@ku.edu.