Peace Corps volunteers bring global service and leadership to TXST

As the Peace Corps celebrates its 65th anniversary, members of the Texas State University community are reflecting on how international service continues to shape their approach to leadership, service, and community.

Established in 1961, the Peace Corps is a federal agency that sends American volunteers abroad to work alongside local communities on projects related to education, health, economic development, agriculture, youth development, and the environment. Since its founding, more than 240,000 Americans have served in countries around the world. In 2025, Texas tied with New York for third-most Peace Corps volunteers in the nation.

This year, the organization is marking the milestone with its “Still the Toughest Job You'll Ever Love” campaign, a revival of one of its most recognizable slogans. For returned Peace Corps volunteers at TXST, the anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on how their experiences influenced them and continue to inform their work at TXST. 

From volunteer to educator and leader

Helen Lowman, Ph.D., professor of practice in political science and director of the Center for Research, Public Policy, and Training, emphasized that her Peace Corps service continues to guide her approach to education and leadership.

“What makes the organization so powerful is that it does not approach development as a one-way exchange. Volunteers live and work within communities, learning as much as they contribute. That experience produces leaders who approach global challenges with empathy, cultural competence, and a deeper appreciation for interconnectedness,” Lowman said.

There was one particular moment from her time volunteering with the Peace Corps in Thailand that has stayed with her for decades. She had just arrived in her village and was still developing her Thai language skills when an elderly farmer appeared at her door with a live turkey. He explained that he overhead her say that she had completely forgotten about Thanksgiving and needed one for the holiday. That evening, her Thai neighbors prepared a meal that blended local traditions with an unexpected American celebration. 

“It was a small gesture, but it reflected something profound about my time in the Peace Corps,” she said. “Even across language and cultural differences, people showed up for one another in meaningful ways. That experience shaped how I understand leadership and connection to this day.”

After serving as a volunteer in Thailand, Lowman went on to hold several leadership positions within the Peace Corps, including regional director for Europe, the Mediterranean, and Asia, and associate director of Volunteer Recruitment and Selection. One of her most meaningful professional contributions, she said, was helping modernize recruitment efforts to make the Peace Corps more accessible and reflective of the diversity of the United States.

Those experiences continue to inform how Lowman works with students at TXST, emphasizing the importance of learning beyond the classroom.

“The Peace Corps also taught me that transformative learning often happens outside traditional classrooms,” she said. “That perspective has influenced my commitment to internships, study abroad opportunities, community partnerships, and other applied learning experiences that help students connect academic knowledge with real-world challenges.” 

Finding a community through service

The Coverdell Fellows Program provides returned Peace Corps volunteers with financial assistance and opportunities to continue a commitment to service while pursuing graduate education. For Leah Rose, a Coverdell Fellow and a student in the master of social work program, Peace Corps service continues to fuel her commitment to service and leadership at TXST.

Rose served as a youth development specialist in Morocco from September 2022 to November 2024, organizing educational and life-skills programs and working alongside community members to support local initiatives.

Reflecting on her time in the Peace Corps, Rose said, “Being part of an organization with such a long history of global service is both humbling and inspiring.”

One of her most lasting memories came during a powerful earthquake in September 2023, when the response from her community left a deeper impression.

“I jumped up and rushed outside, where several members of my village were gathered, checking to make sure I was safe,” she said.

“What impacted me most was not just the earthquake itself, but the overwhelming care shown by the community,” she said. “It reminded me that throughout my service, I had become more than just a volunteer from America. I had become part of a community that genuinely cared for me.” 

Her Peace Corps experience has continued to guide her involvement across campus. During the past academic year, Rose served as a Graduate House representative and parliamentarian. She also serves as a student-to-faculty liaison for the School of Social Work, community events coordinator for Delight Texas State, and a member of the Organization of Student Social Workers. 

Building a career through service

For Anastasia Gumatay, Peace Corps service helped strengthen the skills and experiences that continue to shape her work as a therapist and social worker.  

Gumatay served as a Children, Youth, and Families volunteer in the Philippines from 2018-2020. Living with a host family in Dumaguete City, she volunteered at a physical therapy center for children with disabilities, conducting home visits, completing intake assessments, and leading disability awareness training for staff members. She also partnered with local leaders and community organizations to support disability resources and tutor children living in shelters.

The experience broadened her understanding of the challenges people with disabilities face and strengthened her commitment to serving others through social work.

“Although I had worked with children with disabilities in the past, this role exposed me to covert and overt forms of discrimination against people with disabilities,” she said. “As a social worker and therapist, a developed lens allows me to serve my disabled clients better and educate others about different forms of ableism.”

Gumatay credits her Peace Corps experience for helping guide her toward a career in social work and preparing her for graduate studies at TXST, where she earned her master of social work degree in December 2025.

“Peace Corps supported me in strengthening my cultural competency and advocacy skills,” Gumatay said. “These skills were critical as I worked toward my master of social work at TXST and currently work as a therapist for clients with varying support needs, abilities, and identities.”

As a Filipino American, the opportunity to serve in the Philippines also allowed her to deepen her connection to her heritage.

“Peace Corps gave me the opportunity to connect more deeply with my roots,” she said. “It was incredibly transformative to work in my ancestral land while developing my social work skills.”

Continuing the mission

For Lowman, Rose, and Gumatay, the impact of Peace Corps service extends far beyond their time overseas. At TXST, their global experiences inform education, student engagement, and professional practice rooted in trust, cultural understanding, and lifelong learning. Those interested in learning more about Peace Corps service can visit peacecorps.gov. Information on Returned Peace Corps Volunteer fellowship opportunities at TXST is available through The Graduate College.