Interview with Katrina Mathis, March 12, 2021

Interview Summary

After reading an article in a 10th-grade civics class, Katrina Mathis knew that she would join the Peace Corps. Mathis graduated from the University of Georgia in political science and history. She applied to Peace Corps through a program promoting and fast-tracking diversity. Invited to a health project in Guinea, she first trained in Senegal. The father of Mathis’s local host family was also the head doctor at the health center where she worked. She gave health talks, particularly related to child/maternal health. In addition, Mathis helped build a primary school in response to a community request. Mathis felt a natural kinship with the people of Guinea as an African American herself. The Islamic religion and its polygamous tradition contrasted to her Southern Baptist upbringing, which stimulated introspection of her religious values. Mathis’s mantra was 'when a window opens on local reality, a lot of mirrors also appear to reflect back on me.' [This is the first of two interviews with Katrina Mathis.]

Interview Keyword

University of Georgia Political science History Peace Corps minority recruitment initiatives Medical West Africa Thies (Senegal) Senegal Thiès (Senegal) Guinea (Country of service) Fouta Djallon (Guinea) French (Language) Health training Health centers Health presentations Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) School construction Women Diversity in the Peace Corps Fula people Pular (Language) African Americans Black Americans Islamic religion Muslims Polygamy Relationships Pita (Guinea) Bantignel (Guinea) 1994-1996 (Date of service) Peace Corps recruiters Recruitment coordinators Peace Corps Atlanta Regional Office 1997-2002 (Date of service) Fulani (Language)

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Guinea Guinea Acculturation Communication and culture Culture Culture shock Intercultural communication Interpersonal communication and culture Interpersonal relations Interpersonal relations and culture Language and culture Language and languages Lifestyles Manners and customs Voluntarism Volunteers Peace Corps (U.S.)--Management

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.