A Texas native, Kristin served in Colombia from 2017-2020 as a Teacher Trainer, Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) Program Director, and Volunteer Leader. She has served as HoTPCA President since 2023 and has enjoyed connecting with so many amazing RPCVs! In Austin, you will find her enjoying the great outdoors – paddleboarding and hiking, or at home cuddling with her sweet Colombian PC cat, Seño. Her favorite memory from Peace Corps service is when she was dressed up as a reina (queen) and danced Cumbia in front of the whole school during the Carnaval festival!

An Austin native, Autumn served as a Children, Youth & Family Volunteer in the Philippines, where she taught at a local university and worked alongside social workers at the Department of Social Welfare and Development. After completing her service, she stayed on the island of Palawan to co-found a coffee roastery and a Waldorf-inspired wild school. Before Peace Corps, Autumn was a Teach For America corps member in New Orleans. She now works in Customer Success in the education-tech space. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, walking her dog, and exploring Austin’s taco scene!

Evan served as a Community Organization & Economic Development (COED) volunteer in El Salvador from 2011 to 2012, concluding his service as country operations were phased out. Since 2024, he has been the HotPCA Treasurer and is now in the final year of his term. In Austin, Evan enjoys outdoor adventures with his rescue dog, Chucho—named after the Salvadoran term for stray dogs. A highlight of his service was founding a youth group that earned $15 each Sunday by selling concessions at local soccer league games, fostering entrepreneurship, and promoting long-term self-sufficiency in a region where daily earnings averaged $5.

Marissa Garcia is a Texas-born creative, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Guyana), and founder of Pixel Paz, a design studio that helps nonprofits and small businesses look as vibrant as the work they’re doing. During her Peace Corps service, she was an education volunteer who helped build a playground for over 500 kids, led an art camp, and painted colorful murals around the primary school to bring joy and life to the space. Marissa has lived in five other countries, collaborated with all kinds of mission-driven organizations, and always brings a splash of color and corazón to whatever she’s working on. She’s excited to be part of the HoTPCA board and connect with fellow Austinite RPCVs who know the magic of bucket baths, mango seasons, and making things happen.

Hunter served as a math/science teacher in Nigeria from 1965 to 1968, mainly in a village on the Niger delta but with two terms in Ibadan during the civil war.  The first of his four children was born in Ibadan.  A long-time Austin resident, he has combined his software-development work with volunteer work in co-ops, political work, and as an Austin Community College trustee.

Originally from Rochester, New York, Doug served as a PCV in the Central African Republic (’83-’86), teaching English for two years, then Health Education during a third year, then served as Logistics Coordinator for the incoming trainee group. In Atlanta in 1987, he was the RPCV resource person for departing trainees, before going on to work briefly at PCHQ in the Medical Liaison Office, then (87-92) the Washington, DC Area Recruitment Office. He’s lived in Austin six years, and is proud to have rescued from life in a car a handsome choc. lab/pitbull mix named Drake.

Nora is the luckiest person she knows.  In a rural village immediately along the Vietnam border, she trained teachers and taught students English as a member of the first Peace Corps cohort in the kingdom. Other projects included a girls’ soccer team (most had never played before), curriculum development at an orphanage, and applying for donations for a district library.  Arriving in Austin in 2009, she taught at ACC and middle schools, then moved to the DR to work for an education foundation. Back since 2020, she now teaches leadership development.

Buzz was invited to Peace Corps training by telegram from Sargent Shriver in late 1963 shortly before JFK’s assassination. He served as a volunteer teacher from 1964 through 1966 in Malaysia, working first for the state of Sabah teaching English as a Second Language in the Malay medium primary in the jungle. He then extended for a third year and ended up in a teacher training college on the Malay Peninsula. Returning to the US in 1967, he ended up working in Peace Corps training programs in Hawaii, primarily training PC Malaysia trainees in groups 17-20. Buzz also worked as the director of training for Tonga 3 and Figi 14. Nowadays, in his free time, Buzz is the HoTPCA Social Chair and has organized hundreds of meetups for widows in Austin!

An Education volunteer in Sri Lanka from 1994-1996, Melissa taught English to teachers in training her first year, and Years 1 through A Levels her second. Melissa’s favorite memory of Sri Lanka was joining a procession to the temple on the Vesak Full Moon holiday, marveling at the intricate handmade paper lanterns along the way. Her group also hosted the country’s inaugural English camp, bringing together Tamil and Sinhalese students from across the country for an unforgettable immersion experience. Melissa served on the HoTPCA board from 2000 – 2004, and was the UT campus recruiter from 2002 – 2004. Now in her fourth-ish (who’s counting?) career, Melissa is a psychotherapist.