Staff

Bolivia (1999-2002), Timor Leste (2002-2003), Peace Corps HQ (2003-2006, 2010-2011, 2014-2017), Costa Rica Staff (2007-2010), Ethiopia Staff (2011-2014)

Dan Baker has more than 20 years of professional experience in both the private and public sectors. Prior to becoming President of NPCA, Dan was NPCA’s Director of Programs and Business Development for two years, joining NPCA as the pandemic began in order to launch to support programs for evacuated Peace Corps Volunteers. Prior to NPCA, Dan worked in fundraising for Outward Bound, and was project director and senior technical advisor for youth development at IREX. At IREX, Dan led a $30M USAID-funded project working with political leadership in Guatemala and consulted with various other projects and practices to improve the organization’s approach to working with youth around the world.

Dan’s Peace Corps journey began in 1999, just after undergraduate school at Davidson College, when he received his invitation to serve in Bolivia. There he worked as a water sanitation worker and volunteer coordinator. After three years in Bolivia, Dan answered a call for continued volunteer service in Timor Leste, where he was a member of the first group of volunteers to arrive in the new country.

After four years as a volunteer, Dan continued on to a 13-year career at Peace Corps in various staff and consultant roles, both in the field and in the Washington, D.C. headquarters office. His first field position was in Costa Rica where he was the Associate Director for a youth development and child protection project. He also notably worked in Ethiopia as the first Director of Programming and Training in that country, and where he oversaw a rapid expansion of the program, including significant work with USAID Feed the Future and PEPFAR programming. Following his tenure in Ethiopia, he served as the Chief of Programming and Training for the Africa Region in Washington, D.C., where he oversaw implementation of region-wide initiatives such as Let Girls Learn, Read for Life, and advances in the agency’s diversity and inclusion efforts. Dan served with distinction during his time as Peace Corps staff, twice receiving the Director’s Distinguished Service Award, and being selected to the agency’s leadership development academy.

Dan and his wife Chris (RPCV Jamaica) currently live in Silver Spring, Maryland with their daughters and enjoy frequently visiting their southern roots in North Carolina and Georgia.

RPCV Comoro Islands 1992–1994

Carla Brown-Ndiaye is an explorer whose unceasing curiosity about people, cultures and countries is what led her joining the Peace Corps, where she taught English to high school students and to aviation professionals. She has also supported maternal and child health projects in her community. One of the highlights of Carla’s experience in the Comoros was that she had the rare opportunity to climb to the top of Karthala, a live volcano.

Carla is an international development professional who has spent more than 25 years living and working in sub-Saharan Africa. Her deep connection to the Continent began with a trip to Kenya and was solidified by a 6 year stay in Benin, where she witnessed first-hand the links between Africa and the continental slave trade. Carla has also lived and worked in Malawi, Senegal, The Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Cote d’Ivoire.

Carla’s worked at Catholic Relief Services as a Country Representative and was the Head of Programs at the Catholic Medical Mission Board. Carla managed an annual budget of up to $20 million and oversaw education, public health, agriculture, micro-finance, water and sanitation, justice, and humanitarian aid programs. She was also the Director of the Family Resource Center in Brooklyn, NY where she implemented homeless prevention programs.

Carla is fluent in English and French and holds a master’s degree in both International Affairs and Public Health from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College.

Orrin Luc joined the National Peace Corps Association in March 2021. As the Digital Content Manager, he designs and delivers digital messaging across all platforms, managing the creation of video, website, digital magazine, and newsletter content. He enjoys producing and editing short documentaries that showcase the NPCA’s Community Fund, advocacy efforts, and Global Reentry program. Orrin served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador 2014–16 and again as Peace Corps Response in Mexico 2017–18. He currently lives in Chicago, and he is happy to report that he has met and interviewed Jeff Goldblum in person.

Travis Matthews became part of the National Peace Corps Association team in early 2024. He has a passion for networking, development, and member engagement, and he is excited to use his experience and expertise in these areas to support all of the amazing individuals in the Peace Corps (and beyond) that dedicate their time and effort towards serving others.

Travis served in the Peace Corps as a community economic development volunteer from 2016–2018 in Lüderitz, Namibia. In this role, he worked alongside community and business leaders to promote entrepreneurship through a variety of business skills trainings, small business development initiatives, and other economic stimulus programs. Upon completion of his 2-year service, he remained in Namibia to continue to support young professionals through programming done in partnership with the US Embassy. During his time in Namibia, he also became an avid traveler and backpacker, which led him to become the Couchsurfing Ambassador for Namibia from 2018–2023.

Prior to Peace Corps, Travis acquired over 10 years of business development experience in a variety of industries, including banking, tourism, and events. He holds two degrees from Northern Illinois University (BS Business Administration, BS Economics), and, upon graduation, was awarded the Excellence in Leadership Award for his work in the fight against sexual violence and gender-based violence.  He now lives back in his hometown of Chicago and is always eager to meet up and talk about Peace Corps, travelling, DJing, or skateboarding.

Robert Nolan is a communications and content strategist with more than 20 years of experience working with top-tier nonprofit organizations and foundations, with a special focus on civic engagement and international affairs. He was executive director of communications at Carnegie Corporation of New York and digital director at the Foreign Policy Association, and has produced documentaries and digital media for PBS, U.S. News and World Report, and the Huffington Post, among others. He is the founder of Contemplative Content, a strategic communications consulting group.

Jonathan Pearson works with NPCA members and other supporters to advance policies to expand, improve and embolden the Peace Corps, and promote opportunities for international service (including the Service World initiative). He also engages with advocates on other key global issues that impact the lives of people and communities in countries where Peace Corps volunteers served.

Jonathan coordinates the annual National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps each March, when RPCVs go to Capitol Hill to speak directly with policy-makers as others who can’t come to Washington phone and email their lawmakers. He regularly writes blogs and updates throughout the year to keep the Peace Corps Community informed about advocacy opportunities.

Prior to NPCA, Jonathan worked voluntarily and contractually to assist with the formation of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

Following his Peace Corps service, he worked 5 years as Program Coordinator for Maryland Save Our Streams in Glen Burnie, MD, leading a number of watershed-based community organizing projects. A long-time member of Amnesty International, he joined the staff of AIUSA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Office in 1997. He served in several positions, including Regional Deputy Director and Director.

Jonathan served in the Peace Corps on Lamotrek Atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia as a teacher and community development worker. Prior to joining the Peace Corps, he worked for seven years as a reporter, newscaster, News Director and talk show host for WINY Radio in Putnam.

A native of Connecticut, Jonathan graduated cum laude from Boston College, majoring in communications and political science.