2023 (30th) Cohort
Kate Calhoun is originally from the Cincinnati area, but is joining us from Hawai’i where she has lived for the last three years. She served in the PC in Zambia in the Linking Income, Food, and Environment (LIFE) program. Kate will be studying for a Masters in Social Work and serving with the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services.
Alejandra Quintero is originally from Minnesota but has been living in Washington, D.C. for the last 5 years. As a Peace Corps volunteer she worked in English Education in the Republic of Georgia. She will be studying for a Masters of Social Work and serving with the Choice program as a Latinx Liaison.
Geneva Tatem joins us from Reston, Virginia. She served in the Peace Corps in the Kyrgyz Republic for 3 years, 2 as a TEFL Volunteer and 1 as a Community Youth Development Volunteer. She will be studying for a Masters in Intercultural Communication, and says she is most looking forward learning new things and meeting new people.
Vathani Logendran comes from Corvallis, Oregon. She served in the Peace Corps in Botswana as a youth and development specialist. She will be studying for a Masters of Public health and serving with Retriever Essentials.
Maryam Najafi joins us as our second Global Peaceworker Fellow! She is studying for a Masters in Community Leadership and supporting the Community Leadership program’s five-year program evaluation. She comes from Herat City, Afghanistan where she studied for a Bachelors in English Language and Literature and worked for 10 years in disaster relief in vulnerable communities with the Danish Refugee Council. Maryam came to Maryland after the Taliban regime took power in Afghanistan in 2021 and is eager to gain knowledge and skills to benefit her communities.