Interview with Paul A. Rodell, January 20, 2022

Interview Summary

This is part 2 of an interview with Paul A. Rodell, who served as a Peace Corps volunteer in an agriculture program in the Philippines from 1968-71. He discusses applying to graduate schools in the US and the Asian Center of the University of the Philippines. He discusses enjoying the multi-cultural student body and interdisciplinary program at the University of the Philippines. He also talks about diverse people he met, including his future wife and New People’s Army activists who opposed the regime of President Marcos. He talks about returning the US in 1974, continuing graduate studies in the US, his career as an historian of Southeast Asia, his many Philippine friends and return trips to the Philippines. He concludes talking about the downside of Peace Corps’ policy limiting work at headquarters to 5 years.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (US) Philippines (Country of Service) Agriculture (Peace Corps program) 1968-71 (years of service) Vietnam War (historical context) Asian Center of the University of the Philippines International Volunteer Services, Inc. (precursor to the Peace Corps) John Larkin, academic mentor and Philippine/Southeast Asia specialist Nur Misuari (Muslim scholar, founder of the Moro National Liberation Front).

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Interview Usage

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