Kennedy arrived at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on October 14, 1960. The reason why he was there was to do some campaigning for his presidency. The assembled students heard the future President issue a challenge. He asked for how many of them would be willing to serve their country and the cause of peace by living and working in the developing world? Over the last 40 years, more than 165,000 Americans have responded to his challenge. Since then, the Peace Corps has demonstrated how the power of an idea can effect the way an entire nation thinks.
The first director was appointed by President Kennedy in 1961. He signed the executive order that made the PeaceCorps an official government agency. R. Sargent Shriver was appointed director and soon after, PeaceCorps volunteers were sent to 5 different countries to start the program on a bold beginning. Carolyn R. Payton, the 8th director was female, not only was she a woman, she was an African-American. Being the first female and African-American director, she had quite a load to carry. She focused on getting the youth of America more involved in the ideas of the PeaceCorps. Her successor Richard F. Celeste kept the importance of the woman in mind when he was in charge. He worked tirelessly to diversify the staff positions with more females. He paved the way for Loret Miller Puppe. President Ronald Regan appointed her in 1981. From 1981 to 1989, she worked toward further developing woman's equality in the world. President Bush, in 1991, appointed Elaine Chao director of the Corps. She expanded the PeaceCorps presence to Eastern Europe and Central Asia. .
Since its inception in 1989 by Paul D. Coverdell, World Wise Schools has helped more than 1,000,000 U.S. students communicate directly with PeaceCorps Volunteers all over the world. World Wise Schools participants often find that by increasing awareness of cultural diversity around the world, students come to value the rich heritage and broad representation of peoples within their own communities.
