Interview with Mark Gorsak, July 2, 2021

Project: Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project

Interview Summary

Mark Gorsak served as a volunteer in Education in Togo, 1986-1987. He heard about Peace Corps as a youth, wanted to serve his country, and was drawn to Peace Corps’ volunteer and teaching missions. In Togo, Mark taught math (in French) to 400 high school students in the town of Tabligbo. He taught sampling and estimation, which awakened an interest in statistics which led to a career as a survey methodologist for the federal government. Mark’s successes included helping an entire class pass its final math exam, and working to decrease deforestation by building efficient clay stoves. His challenges were health-related: he had malaria twice, Giardia, amoebas, a tumba fly infestation and was medevaced home four months early with disc ruptures. He values his people experiences in Togo and his bond with volunteers. Advice to future volunteers: be aware of your surroundings and realize you need not change the world.

Interview Accession

2021oh0537_pcrv0307

Interviewee Name

Mark Gorsak

Interviewer Name

Joyce L. Jenkins

Interview Date

2021-07-02

Interview Rights

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Gorsak, Mark Interview by Joyce L. Jenkins. 02 Jul. 2021. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.

Gorsak, M. (2021, July 02). Interview by J. L. Jenkins. Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.

Gorsak, Mark, interview by Joyce L. Jenkins. July 02, 2021, Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.





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