Declan Tomlinson ’22

Why this Organization/Cause is Important to You or the Nominee
In a time of reduced government funding, Peace Corps is still sending volunteers to empower rural communities around the world and build relationships based on the LMU value of cura personalis. I was inspired to join the Peace Corps because of my service experiences with LMU Campus Ministry. I wanted to do some sort of post-graduate service experience, and through classes in the political science and economics department like Humanitarian Aid and Economic Development, I found that the Peace Corps was a worthwhile option that combined my academic skills with my desire for service. I ended up serving in a rural village in the mountains in Fiji with less than 100 people for two years. I joined a group of LMU students at the Ignatian Teach In for Social Justice, where we flew to D.C. in 2021. That was a really cool opportunity to connect with international organizations and see the federal government. I saw the USAID building for the first time and was inspired to join in international development.

Length of Service with the Organization/Cause
Two years and three months

Share Advice to Guide Students Hoping to Pursue a Career with Social Impact or in Nonprofit Industries
I hope that my impact would be in continuing a tradition of friendship and inquiry. The Peace Corps is about learning about cultures and sharing our own culture. I think the Jesuit mode of educating the whole person was really helpful in integrating with my village in Fiji. I became a member of the community by doing things I wouldn’t have normally done, like spear fishing and hunting and farming. Because of this, in my rural village, I have many lifelong friends who I hope to visit soon again.

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