Coral Gables, Fla. (January 8, 2015) – The Peace Corps has awarded a grant to the University of Miami to hire a Peace Corps recruiter dedicated to increasing the participation of UM students in the international service organization, which remains dear to UM President Donna E. Shalala, one of the Peace Corps’ first volunteers.

“This new position is a big deal for Toppel and UM because it solidifies our longstanding partnership with the Peace Corps, and more importantly, it will strengthen the pipeline of UM students into this important organization,” said Christian Garcia, executive director of UM’s Patricia and Harold Toppel Career Center, where the recruiter will be based.

The Peace Corps sends Americans abroad to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. Peace Corps volunteers work at the grassroots level toward sustainable change that endures long after their service. Volunteers become global citizens and serve their country in the process. When they return home, volunteers bring their knowledge and experiences to their communities, enriching the lives of those around them.

Shalala, who served in the Peace Corps in Iran from 1962 to 1964 and worked with fellow volunteers to construct an agricultural college, has been an avid supporter of the service organization throughout her long and storied career. As UM president, she maintains an open-door policy to any student who wants to talk about the Peace Corps and has inspired many of them to join.

“My Peace Corps service changed my life, and I would encourage any young person to consider such an extraordinary public service adventure,” she said. “I am thrilled that we have a recruiter designated to encouraging our students and community members to consider the Peace Corps. There can be no better preparation for life than a couple of years in public service.”

The recruiter will devote 20 hours a week on recruiting activities throughout the campus and the community. Recruiting includes distributing materials,developing and maintaining a social media presence, giving class talks and presentations to student organizations, and identifying highly skilled candidates to serve as volunteers.