The University of South Florida Peace Corps welcomed its first Peace Corps Campus Ambassadors this fall. The milestone is notable because only 151 universities in the United States offer Peace Corps Prep programs, and just 68 have Campus Ambassadors, including 10 in Florida.
Peace Corps programming at USF, which includes Peace Corps Prep and Peace Corps recruitment, helps students meet Peace Corps requirements before graduation and strengthens their applications. Beyond preparing students for the Peace Corps, the program offers opportunities for personal growth and career development.
“The USF Peace Corps not only gives students a priority in the Peace Corps application process, but it also builds important skills such as networking, public speaking and confidence,” — Taleah Vazquez, USF Peace Corps recruiter
“The USF Peace Corps not only gives students a priority in the Peace Corps application process, but it also builds important skills such as networking, public speaking and confidence,” said Taleah Vazquez, USF Peace Corps recruiter and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.
The Peace Corps requires leadership experience, making the USF Peace Corps Campus Ambassador role a natural fit for globally minded students. The opportunity allows students to gain leadership experience while raising awareness of the program on USF’s campuses.
“We’re really excited to spread the word about the Peace Corps in a greater way on campus,” said Carolina Ferreyros, the Global Campus Programs administrator. “There are many misconceptions around Peace Corps and Peace Corps Prep, leading to lower enrollment compared to our other Campus Programs, so we hope that the Campus Ambassadors will establish peer connections, which will lead to more engagement and community involvement.”
USF Peace Corps Campus Ambassadors will connect with their peers by sharing social media posts, collecting leads, posting flyers and giving classroom presentations.
"The Campus Ambassadors don't need to know everything about Peace Corps or Peace Corps Prep to start," Ferreyros said. "They just need to be willing to share why it is important to them."
Meet the inaugural USF Peace Corps Campus Ambassadors
Carmen Simmons
Health science major
For Carmen Simmons, her Peace Corps journey started with a song.
The lyrics of “Juno” by indie artist Choker resonated with Simmons when she was in middle school because its message reminded her of her own commitment to service.
“Growing up, my mother encouraged me to volunteer in my community, and I fell in love with it,” Simmons said.
So when representatives from the USF Peace Corps visited her college class, it was only natural for Simmons to get involved. She attended tabling sessions and worked toward completing Peace Corps Prep requirements through community service.
Yet, when invitations were sent to become one of the first USF Peace Corps Ambassadors, Simmons almost didn’t apply.
“I was shy, so it took me quite a while to actually apply,” Simmons said.
But her passion for volunteering and connecting with the community ultimately pushed her past her initial hesitation. She now draws on that passion to build confidence in her role as a USF Peace Corps Campus Ambassador.
Mary Holahan
Cell and molecular biology major
Switching from communications studies to science, and now becoming a USF Peace Corps Campus Ambassador, Mary Holahan has been on a journey, and she is only getting started.
Holahan did not need USF Peace Corps recruiters to convince her to join the program. She knew what she was getting into from the beginning.
“I talked to some family friends who have served in the Peace Corps. They said it was an amazing experience and exactly what they did right out of college. It really shaped them as people. They said it would be the most defining experience of my life,” she stated. “When I heard that, I was immediately sold.”
With encouragement from her friends and additional research, Holahan gained clarity about what she wanted to do after college.
“Last year I realized I do not want to go straight into the workforce. I really want to see things I have never seen before, help other communities, and do anything I can to step out of my bubble.”
Anna Carro
Environmental science and policy and political science dual degree
Anna Carro wasn’t sure she wanted to join the Peace Corps after college.
“It was scary at first to think of living in a different country for so long,” Carro said.
But after becoming one of the first USF Peace Corps Campus Ambassadors and hearing about Vazquez's experiences, Carro realized the Peace Corps could be the right path for her.
“It’s crazy how much personal growth you get in a short amount of time. But the Peace Corps takes care of you financially so you can focus on your work. It’s a cultural immersion experience that allows you to learn so much about yourself.”
Carro recommends the USF Peace Corps Campus Ambassador experience to students who are interested in service and learning more about the Peace Corps.
“Learning is the whole point of being an ambassador. You are learning about it and sharing your knowledge with others.”
Discover more about the USF Peace Corps Programs
As the USF Peace Corps Campus Ambassadors opportunity grows, the USF Peace Corps programming is positioned to further cultivate a culture of service, leadership and global citizenship across the university.