Sometimes, in order to see the status quo, it takes a little distance. When MU’s Peace Corps Fellows return to the United States, they bring their global perspectives to the University of Missouri campus in order to open the minds of students, staff, and community members. Nathan Jensen, Jennifer Keller, Amy Bowes, and Andy Craver are among this year’s fellows. Their work in distant countries has changed them, helping them grow. Now they're sharing their experience and newfound attitudes with MU.

Some of the most powerful things the fellows brought back to the U.S. are their memories. Jensen loved attending ceremonies in his community, Bowes was touched during an inter-school debate, and Craver’s favorite memories center around the concept of family. Keller remembers her mentor and the moment when a maternity clinic she helped to create finally opened. “People from all over came. Everyone was dressed up, and all of the local hunter associations came and performed dances wearing their traditional mud-cloth outfits,” she says. “I gave a speech in Bambara, and I thought, ‘Who am I to be giving a speech in Bambara over a microphone?’”