For students considering joining the Peace Corps, MU has an on-campus recruiter to point people in the right direction.

Claire Lea, who filled this part-time position since August, spent time in Africa for the Peace Corps from 2002 to 2004. However, her service didn’t end when she came back to the U.S. Lea now spends much of her time on campus promoting the Peace Corps.

Lea alternates between various tasks that come with the job. She said some of her responsibilities are working in the MU Career Center, helping students apply to join the Peace Corps, promoting it at various events on campus and holding informational meetings. She also speaks to classes that students with certain relatable majors might be taking, such as Spanish, agriculture or health professions classes.

Lea said sometimes she also conducts interviews for applicants who have passed an initial screening. When a student applies online, the applications are sorted through in the regional office in Chicago. Lea will receive the applications that pass that first round, and she’ll conduct interviews with those candidates.

“Thousands of people apply each year,” Lea said.

However, not everyone is going to make it. While the general requirements are that an applicant must be 18 years old and a U.S. citizen, Lea said it’s also beneficial to have a bachelor’s degree, regardless of the major. She also said relevant experience is preferred.

Although there are a variety of positions within the Peace Corps, having volunteer experience related to one of the three main sectors would be beneficial, Lea said.

These sectors are split up into work and education, agriculture, and public health. To become involved with the work and education sector, a student would most likely teach science, math or English as a second language. Lea noted you don’t necessarily have to have a degree related to these subjects, particularly English.

“You need some experience, like after-school tutoring for kids over age 12,” Lea said.

An applicant could be considered for the public health sector without a degree related to the health professions as well. Any experience with the Red Cross or other volunteer work in the health industry would be beneficial in that aspect.

While Lea was positioned in Africa, she taught math to middle school students in Guinea.

“(My favorite part) was discovering the similarities between American and African middle school students,” she said.

Yvonne Moore is an MU graduate student who joined the Peace Corps after graduation. She began as an agriculture volunteer in Bolivia, which involved working with high school students in community gardening and bee keeping.

Moore said when the program in Bolivia was shut down due to political turmoil, she transferred to Peru to volunteer with youth development and HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness.

“I had a really good time,” Moore said. “Some of the best friends that I have now are other Peace Corps volunteer.”

Moore said she really enjoyed getting to experience another culture.

“My favorite part was having the chance to learn how other people live and experience day-to-day life in other cultures,” Moore said.

For more information about the Peace Corps, Claire Lea will be having an informational session in the Student Success Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday.