Karen Ives, an NC State alumna found herself wanting something more.

Working for an energy company in New York City after graduation wasn’t enough anymore, and that’s when the Peace Corps came to mind. 

“I had been in academia and I had gotten a master’s degree and I remember all my professors were the kinds of people who talked about how awful the world was but weren’t eligible to really do much about it. And of course going to New York City and working in corporate America was when I realized I was looking for something else,” Ives said. “After my undergraduate I had thought about the Peace Corp, but was coming up with a lot of excuses as to why I wouldn’t be able to go. But when I was in New York City I realized that to me, helping people was worth any inconvenience or discomfort.”

Ives served her two years in Mongolia teaching English and now is the Peace Corps recruiter at NC State. Ives advises students who are interested in learning about what the organization has to offer in hopes to join and serve others. 

According to Ives, some majors may align better with certain Peace Corps sectors but that does not mean that other majors do not have the same chance of getting accepted.  

“I was an English major, one of those majors that doesn›t seem to align closely with any of the Peace Corps sectors, and I was accepted,” Ives said. “Having some language skills helps, especially Spanish and French, but again, not studying one of these languages doesn›t mean you won›t get in. Really, the traits that make a good volunteer are flexibility, a willingness to learn and a sense of adventure.” 

Zachary Schnell recently returned from his two years in the Peace Corps, and is currently working on his masters of science in natural resources at NC State.

“I did a program here at NC State that is called Masters International, which is a combination of Peace Corp and earning your master’s degree,” Schnell said. 

According to Ives, this master’s program includes a variety of schools that have specific graduate programs created to align with Peace Corps service.   

“A student first applies to the graduate school and, once accepted, applies for Peace Corps service,” Ives said. “Masters International students have a wide selection of programs to choose from in everything from education to anthropology, from public health to business, English to engineering.” 

Schnell was located in the Philippines working on coastal resources management.

“Part of why I wanted to join the Peace Corp was because I wanted to live outside the U.S. for an extended period of time,” Schnell said. “I wanted to experience a different culture, live in a different environment as well as learn a new language, and as a kind of bonus effect was the fact I would be able to earn my graduate degree.” 

Jamie DeRose, a senior studying environmental technology and management, will be leaving for the Peace Corps this May. DeRose will be serving in Peru as a water and health sanitation extension volunteer.

“I have a minor in Spanish so I figured I would look at the countries that are Spanish-speaking that also had an environmental need due to my major,” DeRose said. “My top choice out of those countries was Peru and I was really happy when I was told I would be going there.”

DeRose said her education and time at NC State has definitely helped to prepare her for this journey.