Women of Peace Corps Legacy's Extra-Ordinary Women Podcast

Women of Peace Corps Legacy interviews an “Extra-Ordinary Woman”, E. Scott Osborne, who is a writer, gender equality advocate, and athlete. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo from 1980 to 1982.

Featured Guest:
Scott Osborne is currently President of Through Women’s Eyes, a gender equality organization, Chair of the Reel Equals Film Festival, and Co-Host of the podcast “A Woman’s Place with Scott and Ashley.” 

She writes and speaks regularly on activism and the global gender gap and has been an international development manager, lawyer, and teacher. Her work has been seen in the Albany (NY) Times Union, Montessori Leadership, Triathlete.com, Tomorrow’s Child, and the Sarasota Herald Tribune, among other places, and she is currently writing a book about human competencies. While living in India, Scott’s research on gender issues led her to the concept that would become SPOILED, a play about violence and masculinity. 

Originally from New York City, Scott has lived and worked in seven different countries, including Kenya, Lesotho, India, and Russia and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, West Africa.

Scott was a long-time committee Chair with Together Women Rise and formerly President of the Gulf Coast Chapter of UN Women USA, Co-Chair of the board of the BARKA Foundation based in Burkina Faso, Treasurer of the board of the Museum of Political Corruption.

She has a JD from New York University, a MPA from Princeton University, a BA Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania, and Montessori El I and El II certifications.

She is a 2021 Sarasota Magazine Unity Award winner, an avid amateur athlete, and an eternal optimist who always looks forward to tomorrow.

www.escottosborne.com

Podcast Host:
Maryann Minutillo has an extensive career in international development and public service. She is a founding member of Women of Peace Corps Legacy and a co-founder of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation. She has served as a mentor for mid-level professionals at Peace Corps for WPCL since the program began. Prior to her work at Peace Corps, Maryann was Director of the Department of State’s Family Liaison Office. In this position she oversaw community, education and family support programs at the State Department and United States Embassies throughout the world.  She was Peace Corps Country Director in Bolivia, Acting Regional Director and Chief of Operations for the Inter-America and Pacific Region and Senior Advisor to six Directors of Peace Corps.  Throughout her life, Maryann has had a strong interest in cultural adaptation and the impact of international transition and crisis situations on families and particularly on women’s careers.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance women and girls empowerment to create a more just, equitable, inclusive, and safe world for future generations.  WPCL seeks to partner with and highlight the work of those existing organizations and programs that are effectively addressing the issues of women and girls.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy interviews an “Extra-Ordinary Woman”, Stephanie  S. Sullivan, who was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Featured Guest:
Stephanie S. Sullivan retired from the Foreign Service with the rank of Career Minister on December 28, 2025, after over four decades of service to the United States. She held three ambassadorial postings: to the African Union (2024-2025), Ghana (2018-2022), and the Republic of Congo (2013-2017). Ms. Sullivan’s first diplomatic tour of duty was in Cameroon (1986-88). She also served in Ghana as Political Chief (1997-2001). 

An important Ghanaian Adinkra symbol to Ambassador Sullivan is Nkonsonkonson. (Displayed on the bottom left of her image). It represents unity, human relations, and the importance of togetherness.

Ms. Sullivan was Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs. She served as Acting U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations and earlier was Deputy Chief of Operations for Africa at the Peace Corps. She was Director of the State Department Operations Center (the 24/7 alerting, briefing and crisis management center) and served at the White House Situation Room. She was also desk officer for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. In addition, she provided management support to colleagues at U.S. Missions to International Organizations and in Europe and the Western Hemisphere. 

She has degrees from Brown University and the National War College, and speaks French and Lingala. She and her husband live in Massachusetts and have two sons. 

Podcast Host:
Kathleen Corey is past president of Women of Peace Corps Legacy.  She spent sixteen years with Peace Corps getting her start as a Volunteer in Liberia.  She has been Country Director in North Macedonia and Sri Lanka and held various headquarter positions responsible for opening Peace Corps China, Cambodia, and numerous countries in the Former Soviet Union.  As a retired diplomat, she currently teaches various courses to Department of State employees at the U.S. Foreign Service Institute.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance women and girls empowerment to create a more just, equitable, inclusive, and safe world for future generations.  WPCL seeks to partner with and highlight the work of those existing organizations and programs that are effectively addressing the issues of women and girls. 

Women of Peace Corps Legacy interviews an “Extra-Ordinary Woman”, Nicole Banister, who is a master of ceremonies, an award-winning TV show host, a presenter, and an international changemaker. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa from 2013 to 2016.

Featured Guest:
Nicole Banister hosts the celebrity interview series NIKKI BANZ LIVE with 100 guests from 35 countries, and the first 3 seasons of Start It Up–the YouTube series boasting 16M views and showcasing one of the world’s most prestigious social entrepreneurship competitions. Nicole has emceed in-person in 29 different countries; moderated virtual events for 25,000 people online; and is a sought-after facilitator for corporate social responsibility events at high-profile companies like JPMorganChase, IBM, TikTok, Ford, and more.

Nicole served as a School and Community Resources Project Volunteer in Limpopo, South Africa from 2013-2015, with a third year extension of her service in Cape Town from 2015-2016. She is a Board Member for the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience (MPCE), founding member of the Friends of South (FSA) Africa RPCV Community, and recipient of the Peace Corps’ Franklin H. Williams Emerging Leader Award. Nicole is also a State Department Community Engagement Exchange Mentor, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Fellow, and a Georgetown University Hoya. With expertise in strategic global partnerships and creative diplomacy, Nicole is passionate about leveraging media to amplify the voices of the world’s most dynamic changemakers by unapologetically speaking her own truth and holding space for others to do the same.

Podcast Host:
Lee Lacy is a senior leader, management consultant, facilitator and coach whose career in international and national programs spans four decades. She is a founding member of Women of Peace Corps Legacy. Lee has served in several senior positions for the Peace Corps. In these roles, she worked with Peace Corps Volunteers and staff making the transition to different cultural contexts. She serves as a job search counselor for the Foreign Service Institute’s Transition Center providing assistance to Foreign Service officers preparing for a second career or retirement. As a trainer and director of the Overseas Briefing Center, Lee conducted cross-cultural and re-entry training for foreign affairs employees and their families. She has lived and worked in Samoa, Nepal, Armenia, and Afghanistan.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance women and girls empowerment to create a more just, equitable, inclusive, and safe world for future generations.  WPCL seeks to partner with and highlight the work of those existing organizations and programs that are effectively addressing the issues of women and girls.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy interviews an “Extra-Ordinary Woman”, Suzanne McCormick, who is the first woman to serve as the President and CEO of YMCA of the USA since September 2021. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand from 1989 to 1991.

Featured Guest:
Under her leadership, YMCA of the USA has enhanced the national service-delivery
system for Ys, created new opportunities for Y leaders to offer direct feedback
about the support they receive from the national office and significantly increased
contributed support from national donors and partners, among other accomplishments.

Suzanne has 32 years of experience in the nonprofit sector as a local and national
executive leader. She served for three years as U.S. President of United Way
Worldwide and a member of the organization’s global management team. She also
was executive sponsor of United Way’s Women United Global Leadership Council.
Suzanne previously spent five years as President and CEO of United Way Suncoast
in Tampa, Florida, and 13 years at United Way of Greater Portland in Maine,
including four as President and CEO. She also was CEO for both the American Red
Cross of Southern Maine and the People’s Regional Opportunity Program in Maine.
Forbes named Suzanne to its 50 Over 50 list in the Impact category in 2023. The
NonProfit Times recognized Suzanne in the Power & Influence Top 50, its annual celebration of the nonprofit sector’s top leaders, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. She serves on the boards of Independent Sector and the National Fitness
Foundation.

Podcast Host:
Maryann Minutillo has an extensive career in international development and public service. She is a founding member of Women of Peace Corps Legacy and a co-founder of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation. She has served as a mentor for mid-level professionals at Peace Corps for WPCL since the program began. Prior to her work at Peace Corps, Maryann was Director of the Department of State’s Family Liaison Office. In this position she oversaw community, education and family support programs at the State Department and United States Embassies throughout the world.  She was Peace Corps Country Director in Bolivia, Acting Regional Director and Chief of Operations for the Inter-America and Pacific Region and Senior Advisor to six Directors of Peace Corps.  Throughout her life, Maryann has had a strong interest in cultural adaptation and the impact of international transition and crisis situations on families and particularly on women’s careers.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance women and girls empowerment to create a more just, equitable, inclusive, and safe world for future generations.  WPCL seeks to partner with and highlight the work of those existing organizations and programs that are effectively addressing the issues of women and girls.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy interviews an “Extra-Ordinary Woman”, Juliet Sorensen, the recipient of the 2025 Deborah Harding Women of Achievement Award. Juliet was a maternal and child health Peace Corps Volunteer in southeastern Morocco from 1995 to 1997.

Featured Guest:
Juliet Sorensen is a clinical professor of law and the director of the Rule of Law Institute and Program in Rule of Law for Development at Loyola University Chicago. Prior to joining the faculty of Loyola, Juliet was on faculty at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where she founded and directed the Northwestern Access to Health Project, a global, community-based partnership at the intersection of health, human rights, and development. Juliet also served for five years as the executive director of Injustice Watch, a nonprofit journalism organization that investigates systemic inequities in the court system. A Chicagoan since 2003, Juliet was an Assistant United States Attorney from 2003 to 2010, focused on public corruption, complex fraud, and human rights. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Columbia University School of Law.

Podcast Host:
Kathleen Corey is past president of Women of Peace Corps Legacy.  She spent sixteen years with Peace Corps getting her start as a Volunteer in Liberia.  She has been Country Director in North Macedonia and Sri Lanka and held various headquarter positions responsible for opening Peace Corps China, Cambodia, and numerous countries in the Former Soviet Union.  As a retired diplomat, she currently teaches various courses to Department of State employees at the U.S. Foreign Service Institute.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance women and girls empowerment to create a more just, equitable, inclusive, and safe world for future generations.  WPCL seeks to partner with and highlight the work of those existing organizations and programs that are effectively addressing the issues of women and girls. 

Women of Peace Corps Legacy interviews an “Extra-Ordinary Woman”, Ann Morgan . She was one of the earliest Peace Corps Volunteers, serving in Nigeria from 1962-1964 where she taught English in a secondary school.

Featured Guest:
Ann Morgan holds a BS in Journalism from the University of Illinois and an MA in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. She studied Cross-Cultural Communications at the East West Center in Hawaii, Swahili at Michigan State University, and Sociology at the University of Illinois. 

She was a Micronesia Desk Officer in Peace Corps Washington and served as both Deputy Director and Country Director in Thailand. She was among the first group of women appointed as Country Directors in 1977.

Ann also served as the Director of International Programs at Texas Tech University.  After her service as Peace Corps Director in Thailand, Ann was recruited to become Director of Refugee Training at the U.S. Department of State. She held that position for the next 15 years.  The program she managed prepared over 500,000 refugees from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and elsewhere for resettlement in the United States.

In 1995, after 33 years of public service, Ann “retired” to rural West Virginia and became an entrepreneur. She renovated a nineteenth-century farmhouse and opened it as a bed and breakfast. She started two retail stores, adding to a growing number of local businesses owned by women. One of the stores, an old-time General Store, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She also co-founded a real estate agency. Ann always believed that her Peace Corps experience was the best preparation for working in the culture of Appalachia. Ann currently lives with her spouse in Safety Harbor, Florida. 

Podcast Host:
Kathleen Corey is past president of Women of Peace Corps Legacy.  She spent sixteen years with Peace Corps getting her start as a Volunteer in Liberia.  She has been Country Director in North Macedonia and Sri Lanka and held various headquarter positions responsible for opening Peace Corps China, Cambodia, and numerous countries in the Former Soviet Union.  As a retired diplomat, she currently teaches various courses to Department of State employees at the U.S. Foreign Service Institute.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance women and girls empowerment to create a more just, equitable, inclusive, and safe world for future generations.  WPCL seeks to partner with and highlight the work of those existing organizations and programs that are effectively addressing the issues of women and girls. 

Women of Peace Corps Legacy interviews an “Extra-Ordinary Woman”, Kim Dixon. She is the recent past president of Partnering for Peace: Friends of Peace Corps and Rotary.

Featured Guest:
Kim Dixon's career has taken her from sales, marketing, curriculum development, and Business Development and Organizational Change consulting - working with local startups to Fortune 500 corporations worldwide, As an early adopter of Internet for Business she has been a public advocate, speaking globally on opportunities with IBM and subsequently held executive positions in several Internet startups. Ms. Dixon took a sabbatical 2014-2016 to serve in the US Peace Corps, country of Georgia in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) refugee resettlement. After her service she returned to Georgia to support several projects through NGOs and religious groups in Tbilisi, as well as conduct regional board governance consulting. She resides in Raleigh NC and is active with Peace Corps Association of North Carolina, Rotary and Partnering for Peace:Friends of Peace Corps and Rotary

Mentioned in the podcast:

• Natasha Wamchek,  who is part of the Rotary-Peace Corps Joint Projects, referenced her in the Ukrainian project. She is part of the RPCV Alliance for Ukraine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf7sbXzlQQ4
• References to Bartosz Gawarecki.  Here is a very good story he tells of Friends of Moldova (but it is a long webcast and he is at 50 minutes into the broadcast) in.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCib3Vv-Igs

Podcast Host:
Lee Lacy is a senior leader, management consultant, facilitator and coach whose career in international and national programs spans four decades. She is a founding member of Women of Peace Corps Legacy. Lee has served in several senior positions for the Peace Corps. In these roles, she worked with Peace Corps Volunteers and staff making the transition to different cultural contexts. She serves as a job search counselor for the Foreign Service Institute’s Transition Center providing assistance to Foreign Service officers preparing for a second career or retirement. As a trainer and director of the Overseas Briefing Center, Lee conducted cross-cultural and re-entry training for foreign affairs employees and their families. She has lived and worked in Samoa, Nepal, Armenia, and Afghanistan.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance women and girls empowerment to create a more just, equitable, inclusive, and safe world for future generations.  WPCL seeks to partner with and highlight the work of those existing organizations and programs that are effectively addressing the issues of women and girls.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy interviews an “Extra-Ordinary Woman”, Jody Olson. Jody is currently co-president of the Women of Peace Corps Legacy and is chair of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation Park Advisory Committee and the University of Maryland, College of Education Board of Visitors.

Podcast Host:
Josephine (Jody) Olsen served as Peace Corps Director, 2018 – 2021. In March, 2020, because of the COVID outbreak, she led the nine day evacuation of all 7,000 Peace Corps Volunteers from 61 countries. Jody was a Peace Corps Volunteer, Tunisia, 1966-1968, and has served the agency in five other senior positions, including Deputy Director. Her memoir about her decades of Peace Corps service, A Million Miles, My Peace Corps Journey, will be available Oct. 2024. 

For a decade, Jody was Visiting Professor at the University of Maryland-Baltimore and director of the Center for Global Education. In the 90’s, she was Director of the organization that manages the Fulbright Senior Scholar Program. Jody received a BS from the University of Utah, and a Master’s and PhD from the University of Maryland. Her many awards include University of Maryland President’s Award, University of Utah’s alumni of the year award, and two honorary doctorates. She has also been a Resident Fellow at the IOP Harvard Kennedy School.

Podcast Host:
Maryann Minutillo has an extensive career in international development and public service. She is a founding member of Women of Peace Corps Legacy and a co-founder of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation. She has served as a mentor for mid-level professionals at Peace Corps for WPCL since the program began. Prior to her work at Peace Corps, Maryann was Director of the Department of State’s Family Liaison Office. In this position she oversaw community, education and family support programs at the State Department and United States Embassies throughout the world.  She was Peace Corps Country Director in Bolivia, Acting Regional Director and Chief of Operations for the Inter-America and Pacific Region and Senior Advisor to six Directors of Peace Corps.  Throughout her life, Maryann has had a strong interest in cultural adaptation and the impact of international transition and crisis situations on families and particularly on women’s careers.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance women and girls empowerment to create a more just, equitable, inclusive, and safe world for future generations.  WPCL seeks to partner with and highlight the work of those existing organizations and programs that are effectively addressing the issues of women and girls.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy interviews an “Extra-Ordinary Woman”, Deborah Harding. Women of Peace Corps Legacy's Women of Achievement Award is named after Deborah, to recognize women leaders who have made a significant difference in the lives of women and girls around the world.

Featured Guest:
Deborah Harding was the founder of the Liberian Education Trust, a transition initiative to help rebuild the education system destroyed by 14-years of civil war.  The Trust brought access to education for thousands of Liberian girls and market women.  She was co-founder of the Network for Human Rights in Liberia in the mid-80s.  In 2013 President Johnson Sirleaf honored Debbie with Liberia’s highest civilian award Dame Grand Commander Humane Order of African Redemption for her support to the Liberian nation.  Debbie undertook ensuring gender equality in recruitment and placement of Peace Corps Volunteers and in hiring country directors in the mid-70s.  She established the Women in Development Program at the Peace Corps and had its language included in the Peace Corps Act.  She is a founding member of Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL).

In addition, Debbie has a significant leadership history in  other international organizations, including the Soros Foundation, the German Marshall Fund of the U.S., and the Cambodian Crisis Center, most of which you will hear about in this two-part podcast.

Podcast Host:
Kathleen Corey is past president of Women of Peace Corps Legacy.  She spent sixteen years with Peace Corps getting her start as a Volunteer in Liberia.  She has been Country Director in North Macedonia and Sri Lanka and held various headquarter positions responsible for opening Peace Corps China, Cambodia, and numerous countries in the Former Soviet Union.  As a retired diplomat, she currently teaches various courses to Department of State employees at the U.S. Foreign Service Institute.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance women and girls empowerment to create a more just, equitable, inclusive, and safe world for future generations.  WPCL seeks to partner with and highlight the work of those existing organizations and programs that are effectively addressing the issues of women and girls. 

Women of Peace Corps Legacy interviews an “Extra-Ordinary Woman”, Deborah Harding. Women of Peace Corps Legacy's Women of Achievement Award is named after Deborah, to recognize women leaders who have made a significant difference in the lives of women and girls around the world.

Featured Guest:
Deborah Harding was the founder of the Liberian Education Trust, a transition initiative to help rebuild the education system destroyed by 14-years of civil war.  The Trust brought access to education for thousands of Liberian girls and market women.  She was co-founder of the Network for Human Rights in Liberia in the mid-80s.  In 2013 President Johnson Sirleaf honored Debbie with Liberia’s highest civilian award Dame Grand Commander Humane Order of African Redemption for her support to the Liberian nation.  Debbie undertook ensuring gender equality in recruitment and placement of Peace Corps Volunteers and in hiring country directors in the mid-70s.  She established the Women in Development Program at the Peace Corps and had its language included in the Peace Corps Act.  She is a founding member of Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL).

In addition, Debbie has a significant leadership history in  other international organizations, including the Soros Foundation, the German Marshall Fund of the U.S., and the Cambodian Crisis Center, most of which you will hear about in this two-part podcast.

Podcast Host:
Kathleen Corey is past president of Women of Peace Corps Legacy.  She spent sixteen years with Peace Corps getting her start as a Volunteer in Liberia.  She has been Country Director in North Macedonia and Sri Lanka and held various headquarter positions responsible for opening Peace Corps China, Cambodia, and numerous countries in the Former Soviet Union.  As a retired diplomat, she currently teaches various courses to Department of State employees at the U.S. Foreign Service Institute.

Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance women and girls empowerment to create a more just, equitable, inclusive, and safe world for future generations.  WPCL seeks to partner with and highlight the work of those existing organizations and programs that are effectively addressing the issues of women and girls.