Linda Stewart, 66, of Florissant, Mo., has been accepted into the Peace Corps and will depart for Ethiopia June 29 to begin training as an English language specialist volunteer. Stewart will live and work at the community level to improve students’ English through classroom instruction, computer lab work and clubs, as well as foster professional development for English teachers. She will also work with teachers and student teachers to strengthen ties between schools and colleges where teachers are being educated.
Stewart received her bachelor’s in English in 1988 from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and then her master’s in communications in 2000 from Lindenwood University. Previously, she worked for the University of Missouri-St. Louis as a coordinator for alumni relations, Urban Strategies as director of communications and training, and St. Louis Community College as interim manager of continuing education. She retired in 2011 but teaches part-time at St. Louis Community College.
“I spent most of my working life in jobs that required extensive travel, primarily in the U.S. and sometimes in Europe and Canada,” she said. “Though I love my part-time retirement job as college faculty, I needed to expand my world. The Peace Corps gives me an opportunity to live another culture and see the world from another perspective.”
During the first three months of her service, Stewart will live with a host family in Ethiopia to learn the local language and integrate into the local culture. After acquiring the language and cultural skills that will help her make a lasting difference, Stewart will be sworn into service and assigned to a community in Ethiopia where she will serve for two years.
Stewart will work in cooperation with the local people and partner organizations on sustainable, community-based development projects that improve the lives of people in Ethiopia and help Stewart develop leadership, technical and cross-cultural skills that will give her a competitive edge when she returns home.Peace Corps volunteers return from service as global citizens well-positioned for professional opportunities in today’s global job market.
“When I return to the U.S. at the end of my service, I hope to use what I've learned to teach English as a second language,” Stewart said.
Stewart joins the 125 Missouri residents currently serving in the Peace Corps. More than 3,274 Missouri residents have served as volunteers since the agency was created in 1961.
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