Interview with John Smith-Sreen, November 1, 2022

Interview Summary

John Smith-Sreen served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, from 1982 to 1985, in the Fisheries Program. John was introduced to life in other countries through his parent’s work in foreign service, spending four years in Belgium and two years in Laos. While attending Radford University, he saw a Peace Corps poster, and decided to apply. Training began at a U.S. Fish and Wildlife center in Arkansas, and continued in Mbalmayo and Mbengwi, Cameroon. Training included French language, culture, motorcycle riding and maintenance, and aquaculture. John was assigned to Malantouen to work with Bamoun fish farmers. Work included identifying sites, constructing ponds, and improving pond management. John extended for a third year and worked in Yaoundé as a Volunteer Leader. A fourth year in country included a contract with CARE, a contract with Peace Corps, and a job assisting a National Geographic researcher. John then attended grad school at Michigan State where he also served as a Peace Corps recruiter, after which he applied for the position of Associate Peace Corps Director in Gabon. He spent five years there, and two as Desk Officer in DC. After leaving the Peace Corps, John has worked for USAID since 2000.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Cameroon (country of service) 1982-1985 (date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Freshwater Fisheries Peace Corps (U.S.)--1980-1990 Foreign Service dependent Radford University Stuttgart Arkansas (training): Mbalmayo (training) Mbengwi (training) Malantouen (assignment) Bamoun Fish farms Peace Corps Volunteer Leader CARE Gabon (country of service) Associate Peace Corps Director Libreville Peace Corps Africa Desk Officer USAID Peace Corps Recruiter

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.