ISU Peace Corps program ranks high nationally and with students

Associate Director of the Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development at ISU, Beverly Beyer, and Graduate student Kara Harvey say the program is a growing experience for everyone involved. (Photo by Beth Whisman/WJBC)

Illinois State University is continuing with a successful Peace Corps program. It was recently ranked number five in the nation as a Peace Corps Master’s International school and Fellows/USA Graduate Schools in the 2011 ranking of graduate schools. Associate Director of the Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development at ISU, Beverly Beyer says the ranking is about numbers.

“However, we couldn’t attract those numbers if we didn’t have the quality of the curriculum, and so Kara and I were just chatting about some of the things she just learned in the classroom that she really found came in handy for her Peace Corps service,” Beyer said.

One student who’s experienced the program, Graduate student Kara Harvey served in Togo in Africa, and says it was an amazing experience.

“And, I think one of the biggest changes in any one’s Peace Corps service is their own personal growth,” Harvey said. “And so I came back a very different person with all different skills, all different outlook on life, and so I feel very different after having that experience.”

Harvey helped with girls education and creating a school system.

ISU is the only school in Illinois to offer both Peace Corps graduate programs, the Master’s International program to currently serving volunteers, and the Fellows/USA program for those who’ve completed service.

To listen to Beyer and Harvey’s interview with WJBC’s Beth Whisman, click below.

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