At Colorado State University, the spirit of service and global citizenship has always been deeply ingrained in our culture. Our historic ties to the Peace Corps stand as a testament to our commitment to creating a positive impact on the world.
Peace corps roots planted at Colorado state university
A short, early-morning speech by then-presidential candidate John F. Kennedy in October of 1960 provided the support needed to fund a feasibility study.
Then a call to Colorado State University.
At the Colorado State University Research Foundation, Director Maurice “Maury” Albertson picked up the phone.
On the other end of the line was Sargent Shriver, who became the first Peace Corps director.
The idea was to send young Americans to work in developing countries and competition for the grant was fierce.
After repeated conversations and visits to Washington D.C. in 1960, Albertson and CSU finally received a Point Four (precursor to USAID) contract to prepare a Congressional Feasibility Study of the Point-4 Youth Corps.
Joined by CSU researcher Pauline Birky-Kreutzer and Andrew E. Rice, they published a feasibility study that helped lay the foundations for the international development agency.
See the complete text at archives.mountainscholar.org
Albertson and Birky-Kreutzer’s contract with the State Department called for a detailed study, leading them to conduct research in at least 10 countries on three continents, in one month.
By May 1961, they produced a 334-page final report called The Peace Corps.
This report became a cornerstone for Shriver’s effort to frame the training and in-country support for the Peace Corps.
See the complete text at archives.mountainscholar.org
Visionaries of Global Service: CSU’s Peace Corps Pioneers
“You take this buzzy idea and put Maury’s energy into it, then fold in Pauline Birky-Kreutzer’s attention to detail – and it’s hard to give that dynamic a name. Stanford and MIT both wanted to do the feasibility study, but Maury got in there and pestered people in Washington until he got it. It all arose out of Maury’s optimism.”
Jane Albritton, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer 1967-1969
Honoring their legacy: Peace corps tribute garden installed at csu
To celebrate CSU’s early and ongoing involvement with the foundation of the Peace Corps, a Peace Corps Tribute Garden was established west of the Lory Student Center Theatre.
The ground-breaking occurred on March 1st, 2023 – National Peace Corps Day. The garden was completed in fall 2023.
Pictured are RPCV John Roberts, RPVC and County Commissioner John Kefalas, President Amy Parsons, Vice Provost Kathleen Fairfax.
Thanks to the advocacy and support of CSU’s donors and greater community members, this history and CSU’s leadership associated with the Peace Corps will be remembered forever.
If you are interested in contributing to CSU’s Peace Corps activities, please show your support at advancing.colostate.edu/peacecorps
“The Peace Corps Tribute Garden at CSU is a great way for us to recognize and promote the important role CSU played in the formation of the Peace Corps. In addition to providing the recognition to those who helped contribute to the foundation of the Peace Corps, we hope the garden will serve as an inspiration to CSU students to join the Peace Corps after graduation, following the footsteps of the nearly 2,000 CSU graduates who have served in the Peace Corps.”
– Kathleen Fairfax, Vice Provost for International Affairs, (February 2023).
The peace corps mission
To promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
To help the countries interested in meeting their need for trained people.
To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Northern Colorado attracts hundreds of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) that call Fort Collins and CSU their home. The mission of the Peace Corps is exemplified through these dedicated individuals who continue to build strong international relationships while deeply enriching our local communities.
Read more about the history & future of the peace corps & CSU!
Seeds of Service: Roots of the Peace Corps can be traced to CSU
KUNC Report: CSU celebrates Peace Corps roots with new tribute garden as alumni continue to serve
Peace Corps Chronicles: Former CSU faculty member led project with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
A seed from a short speech: Peace Corps roots planted at Colorado State University