January 3, 2018

WASHINGTON – President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate Dr. Josephine (Jody) K. Olsen as Director of the Peace Corps. Currently, Dr. Olsen is visiting professor at the University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Social Work and director of the school’s Center for Global Education Initiatives.

If confirmed, Dr. Olsen will return to the Peace Corps, where she served as Acting Director in 2009, Deputy Director from 2002-2009, Chief of Staff from 1989-1992, Regional Director, North Africa Near East, Asia, Pacific from 1981-1984, and Country Director in Togo from 1979-1981. Dr. Olsen also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia from 1966-1968.

Dr. Olsen served as senior vice president of the Academy for Educational Development from 1997-2002 and executive director of the Council for International Exchange of Scholars from 1997-2002.

Dr. Olsen received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in social work and a doctorate from the University of Maryland. A native of Utah, Dr. Olsen currently lives in Maryland.