Interview with Richard Botzler, November 5, 2021

Interview Summary

Richard Botzler served as a Peace Corps volunteer in an environmental education program in Mexico 2009-11. He joined with his wife Sally, after a career teaching wildlife diseases and environmental ethics at Humboldt State University. During the first year he worked at the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve developing contracts with loggers and farmers to provide them with financial carbon offsets for changes in their practices. He also worked with the Eco Club of Mexico, helped monitor the movement of jaguars, and developed a research project to study pathogens killing amphibians. After leaving the Biosphere, he taught science and English in a rural school, facilitated student exchanges with US students, taught English to ecotourism workers and pursued the amphibian study. Upon returning, he and Sally started a bilingual Eco Club, which engaged in many community projects. He says the experience stretched his capacity in many ways, including understanding the vulnerability of students and others coming to the US.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (US) Mexico (Country of Service) Environmental Education (Peace Corps program) 2009-11 (years of service) Queretaro Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve Jalpan Autonomous National University of Mexico Eco Club (a youth serving organization started in Argentina and now widespread in Central America) diversity in Peace Corps Many Faces of Peace Corps

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