Jody K. Olsen, PhD |

Continuing Professional
Education

The University of Maryland School of Social Work Office of Continuing Professional Education is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to sponsor social work continuing education programs and maintains full responsibility for this program. We are also approved to offer CE to Licensed Counselors and Psychologists. Clinicians in other states should verify with their licensing Board. For any questions, comments or concerns, please email cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu

Jody K. Olsen, PhD

Retired

Josephine (Jody) Olsen served as Peace Corps Director, 2018 – 2021. In March, 2020, because of the COVID pandemic, she led the successful nine-day evacuation of all 7,000 Peace Corps Volunteers from 61 countries to the US, never done before. Jody was a Peace Corps Volunteer, Tunisia, 1966-1968, and has served the agency in five other senior positions, including Country Director (Togo), Regional Director (Europe and Asia) and Deputy Director. Her memoir about her decades of Peace Corps service, A Million Miles, My Peace Corps Journey, is available through the U of U Press and Amazon.

For a decade, Jody was Visiting Professor at the University of Maryland-Baltimore and director of the Center for Global Engagement. In the 90’s, she was Director of the organization that manages the Fulbright Senior Scholar Program. Today she co-chairs Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL), and is chair of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation Park Advisory Committee and the Univ. of MD, College of Education Board of Visitors, and is on the Maryland Governor’s Commission for Service and Volunteerism. 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 three honorary doctorates. She has also been a Resident Fellow at the IOP Harvard Kennedy School.