Haley Ehlers ’16

(served in Timor-Leste from 2016–2018)

Haley graduated in May 2016 with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and minor in Nonprofit Leadership. While at PLU, she held many roles within Impact (student-run advertising and design organization), the women’s lacrosse team, Residential Life, the Center for Community Engagement and Service, and The Matrix in Student Media.

She is currently serving as a Community Development Volunteer in Timor-Leste (2016-2018) and is working with a farmer’s coop that has activities in horticulture, health (nutrition & hygiene) education and saving & loans programs, alongside secondary projects like small English classes.

She joined the Peace Corps because she wanted to be part of sustainable, person-to-person development. Since the start of her service, these original aspirations continue to be reinforced. Peace Corps serves as a unique opportunity to create relationships and make change with community members who also want to see their community thrive.

Outside of the technical knowledge Haley gained in business and nonprofit operations, her time at PLU helped facilitate a mentality of effective collaboration and care. By continually creating a space for open dialogue, inviting all stakeholders to be involved, balancing desires and resources, asking important, critical questions and expressing care for all, as an institution PLU stands alongside Peace Corps’ mission of spreading friendship and peace.