UT alumni gather at Cactus Cafe to mark 65 years of Peace Corps service

March 9, 2026

Returned and current Peace Corps volunteers filled the Cactus Cafe on Wednesday night to mark the agency's 65th year and to trade stories from service in communities around the world. The event brought together alumni who had worked in health, education and sanitation projects, and it served as a moment to reflect on the program's local ties.

The Peace Corps began on March 1, 1961, as an initiative launched by President John F. Kennedy to send Americans abroad for community-based development and cultural exchange. Volunteers work in sectors such as public health, education and infrastructure while promoting cross-cultural understanding.

University of Texas ties were a major theme. UT Austin ranked fifth last year among graduate schools for producing Peace Corps volunteers, organizers said. University data show that by fall 2025, 1,737 UT alumni had served in the Peace Corps, with 36 volunteers serving overseas at that time.

Anne Saldívar, UT's Peace Corps recruiter and a former volunteer in Jordan, told the crowd that many students and alumni embrace service as part of the university's mission. She described a strong cohort of service-oriented people who carry the school's values into international work, whether they remain in Austin or serve abroad.

Alumna Sarayu Adeni shared her experience serving in the Dominican Republic from 2010 to 2012, where she taught sexual and women's health and helped girls become peer educators. Adeni recounted sitting in the back of a classroom as those girls taught younger siblings and neighbors, and said simple acts like sharing homemade cherry juice helped build confianza, or trust.

Adeni also described a visit from her family to her host village, when she found herself translating conversations and realizing she had become a bridge between cultures. She wrote about belonging in a piece published in a Peace Corps magazine, noting how those everyday moments created deep connections.

UT communications alumna Lisa Baile spoke about serving in Ecuador from 1988 to 1990, working with nurses on vaccination, nutrition and sanitation projects. Baile highlighted completing a latrine system aimed at reducing gastrointestinal illness, and she recalled the generosity of community members who shared food and even rain boots during long rainy seasons.

Both alumni said their service shaped ongoing commitments to community work and teaching their families about global interdependence. Event organizers closed by underscoring the reciprocal nature of Peace Corps service, where volunteers and host communities learn from each other while advancing development goals.