Director
Josephine K. "Jody" Olsen,
Acting Director
 
Jody K. Olsen is the Acting Director of the Peace Corps and since 2002 has been the Agency’s Deputy Director.

Dr. Olsen''s distinguished career at the Peace Corps began as a Volunteer in Tunisia from 1966 to 1968, teaching English and developing community health programs. In 1979 and 1980, she was Peace Corps country director in Togo, a program which focused on education, health, and agriculture.

Between 1981 and 1984, Dr. Olsen served as regional director for the Peace Corps, managing operations in 17 countries, and she returned to the agency in 1989 to serve for three years as chief of staff, during which time the agency expanded into 25 new countries.

Prior to becoming Deputy Director, Dr. Olsen was the senior vice president at the Academy for Educational Development (AED) and before that she served as executive director for the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), the organization responsible for managing the Fulbright Senior Scholar Program.

Dr. Olsen has traveled to over 80 countries. She is a tireless advocate for the mission of the Peace Corps and the work of Volunteers, speaking at dozens of domestic and international events each year. She is a former president of the University of Maryland Alumni Association and remains active in alumni affairs.

Dr. Olsen holds a bachelor''s degree in sociology with a teaching certification from the University of Utah; a master''s degree in social work from the University of Maryland; and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland''s College of Education.

Dr. Olsen has received numerous awards for her leadership and public service including: the Alumni of the Year Award from the University of Utah; the Alumni of the Year Award and Alumni Hall of Fame distinction from the University of Maryland’s College of Education; the Marita Houlihan Award (for outstanding efforts and commitment to fostering international exchange) from NAFSA; and an Honorary Doctorate in International Sustainable Development from Michigan Technological University.

Senior Management
Lynn Foden
Acting Regional Director, Africa

David Burgess
Acting Regional Director, Europe, Mediterranean and Asia (EMA)

Roger Conrad
Acting Regional Director, Inter-America and the Pacific (IAP)