FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, February 26, 2004

Peace Corps Names New EMA Regional Director

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 26, 2004 – Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez recently announced the appointment of Jay Katzen as the new Regional Director for the Europe, Mediterranean, and Asia region. Mr. Katzen assumed his responsibilities on February 17th.

"Jay brings to the Peace Corps his extensive experience abroad, where he lived and worked for more than two decades. We are pleased to welcome him to our team, and hope that Jay will continue to guide and inspire grassroots programs in his capacity of Regional Director,” Director Vasquez said.

The Regional Director for the Europe, Mediterranean, and Asia region is responsible for directing grass roots programs in 21 countries in the Eastern Hemisphere including the Balkans, Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Asia. Chief programs include education, health, environmental and HIV/AIDS education, and small business development.

Mr. Katzen has ample experience in international affairs, having served almost 25 years as a career Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. State Department. He was Deputy Chief of Mission in Bamako, Mali, and Chargé d\'Affaires in Brazzaville, Congo. His other posts included Australia, Burundi, Romania, and Zaire, and service at the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York. He was also Vice Chairman of the Board of the African Development Foundation.

Most recently, Mr. Katzen served as a delegate in Virginia’s House of Delegates where he represented the 31st legislative district of Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Warren counties.

Mr. Katzen earned a Bachelor’s degree at Princeton University and a Master’s degree at Yale University. He has since been back in the education system as a visiting professor at the Boston College Graduate School of Management. In addition, he has served on advisory boards at Duke, the University of Kentucky, and Shenandoah University.

Since 1961, more than 170,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and awareness, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment.

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