Interview with Kathleen Corey, August 31, 2022

Interview Summary

Abstract for Staff Kathleen Corey Staff, various posts overseas and in Washington, DC, 1989-1998 and 2013-2016 Corey got a master’s degree at SIT after Volunteer service and worked with refugees throughout Southeast Asia for the next nine years. She then contracted for Pre-Service Training for groups going to Pakistan and China focusing on appropriate cultural communication. Corey was next selected by Peace Corps to be the CHIP for the NANEAP Region, the CHOPS for PACHEM Region, and Acting Regional Director for the AP Region. She was also appointed Country Director to Sri Lanka and North Macedonia. Corey shared stories for each of these roles. She helped lead a team who entered Eastern Europe, Baltics, “Stans,” and Russia opening 18 countries in 18 months at the request of the White House. During the Gulf War she monitored post evacuations from four countries. Corey also talked about the challenges of securing the safety and security of Volunteers. She felt good Country Directors were shaping America’s future leaders!

Interview Keyword

Pre-Service Training Director Pakistan China Chief of Program and Training (CHIPS) North Africa, Near East, Asia and Pacific (NANEAP) Chief of Operations (CHOPS) Pacific, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and Mediterranean (PACHEM) Acting Regional Director Asia and Pacific (AP) Country Director Sri Lanka North Macedonia Women of Legacy of Peace Corps School of International Training (SIT) Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) Refugee Service Center (CAL) shawlawar kemeezes dress dupatta head cover Pakistan tourist killed Embassy CIA China Exchange of Letters Country Agreements Friendship Volunteers TEFL Communist Party monitors Szechuan Tiananmen Square close U.S. Senator Eastern Europe Baltics Stans Russia staff pressure small business TEFL White House American interests Cambodia Prince Sirivudh Royalty Hung Sen Pol Pot Ambassador CharlieTwinning Gulf War evacuations Morocco Tunisia Pakistan Yemen kidnapping Philippines evacuation best interest North Macedonia LBGTQ personal stories support groups Sri Lanka bombs evacuation Peace Corps HQ political appointees

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