FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Carol Spahn Named Acting Director of the Peace Corps

WASHINGTON – The Peace Corps is pleased to announce Carol Spahn as the agency’s acting director. She has been delegated the authorities and responsibilities of the director and will fill the role until the Biden-Harris administration selects an individual to serve in the position. (An earlier version of this press release stated Spahn was the chief executive officer. President Biden has since designated her acting director.)

“It is an honor to serve the Peace Corps and our country,” said Spahn. “From my time as a volunteer in Romania to my years as a country director in Malawi, I have loved my work for the Peace Corps, the American people, and the people of the countries where I have served. I am grateful the Biden-Harris transition team has accorded me the privilege of serving in this new role.”

Spahn brings more than 25 years of public and private sector experience to the acting director position. Most recently, she served as Peace Corps’ chief of operations in the Africa Region covering Eastern and Southern Africa. Previously, she was the country director of Peace Corps/Malawi for five years.

Spahn served as a Peace Corps volunteer from 1994 to 1996 in Romania, where she worked as a small business advisor. Before returning to the Peace Corps as Country Director, she was the senior vice president of operations at Women for Women International. Prior to that, Spahn was executive director of Accordia Global Health Foundation. She also served as vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Small Enterprise Assistance Funds and held positions at leading private sector institutions, including GE Capital and KPMG Peat Marwick.

Spahn holds a bachelor's degree from the Catholic University of America and a master’s degree in international development from the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs.

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