Serving with Impact: Insights from Returned Peace Corps Volunteers at Middlebury

CCI is thrilled to invite students, faculty, and the community to a panel discussion titled “Serving with Impact in the Peace Corps.” The event is scheduled to take place on Monday, November 13, 2023, from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM in the RCGA Robert A. Jones Conference Room on campus. Students can register for the event in Handshake.

The panel discussion will feature a distinguished group of returned Peace Corps Volunteers, including faculty and staff members. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear their personal stories, learn about the challenges and rewards of international service, and gain valuable insights into authentic community engagement while abroad.

The Panelists:

Nicole Chance (she/her)

• Assistant Director, International Programs, Middlebury College
• Peace Corps Service: Kankan, Guinea, 2000-2002

During her Peace Corps service, Nicole taught English at l’Université Julius Nyéréré de Kankan in Guinea, West Africa. With a dedication to higher education, she has spent over two decades assisting students in realizing their own study-abroad experiences.

Joseph Holler

• Assistant Professor of Geography, Middlebury College
• Peace Corps Service: Tanzania

Joseph Holler’s diverse academic journey began with his Peace Corps service in Tanzania, where he taught math and information technology in Tanzanian secondary schools. This experience sparked his interest in geography, leading him to earn a Ph.D. in the field. He currently teaches courses on geographic information systems, human geography, open geographic information science, and climate change adaptation and development at Middlebury.

Jason Mullin (he/him)

• Director of Donor Relations, Middlebury College
• Peace Corps Service: Papua New Guinea, 1992-1994

Jason’s Peace Corps journey was a shared adventure with his wife, Tania Bolduc, who is the Administrative Coordinator of Faculty Affairs at Middlebury College. Together, they lived on a remote island in a village of 600 people. Jason’s project involved building large cement water storage tanks to capture rainwater for drinking, cooking, and bathing. While the experience wasn’t primarily a career move, it provided a unique opportunity to explore the world, immerse themselves in another culture, and serve the local community. Their son, Silas, is currently in Peace Corps training in Timor-Leste.

Michael Sheridan (he/him)

• Professor of Anthropology and African Studies, Middlebury College
• Peace Corps Service: Kenya, 1988-1990

Michael Sheridan’s Peace Corps service took him to the scenic Taita Hills of southeastern Kenya. There, he worked on water projects, helping village water project committees design and secure funding for water pipelines. The experience deeply impacted his life, leading him to pursue a Ph.D. in anthropology and ultimately a career at Middlebury College. He now shares his expertise with students in anthropology and African studies.

Phyllis Stinson

• Program Manager, International Programs and Off Campus Study (IPOCS)
• Peace Corps Service: São Tomé e Príncipe, Central Africa

Phyllis served as a Health and Sanitation Education Volunteer in a small Lusophone African country, where she partnered with UNICEF to manage a latrine-building project, overseeing scheduling, budgets, and materials. She also provided vital sanitation education to recipient households. This experience, distinct from her academic background in Political Science and Spanish, introduced her to project management, a role she embraced, handling budget tracking, construction schedules, and community engagement. Her Peace Corps service shaped her adaptability and passion for international work, propelling her through diverse career roles, from actor and writer in New York City to contributions to think tanks in DC, admissions work in Senegal, and gender and development projects in the Philippines. Today, Phyllis advises students interested in Middlebury’s Study Away at Monterey programs and supports Schools Abroad with Conflict Transformation initiatives in 13 countries.

The Panel Discussion: Serving with Impact in the Peace Corps promises to be an enlightening event for all who attend. It’s an excellent opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge from returned Peace Corps Volunteers who have integrated their experiences into their careers.

Mark your calendars for Monday, November 13, 2023, from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM in the RCGA Robert A. Jones Conference Room.