Interview with Kevin Cropper, May 31, 2023
Project: Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Panama, 2007 – 2009, AgricultureKevin Cropper was born in Texas, moved to Arkansas, and finally to Southwest Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Tech with degrees in Computer Science and Liberal Arts and Sciences (minors in math, English, and psychology). He also has a master’s from Johns Hopkins University. Kevin trained in Santa Clara focusing on agricultural techniques, e.g. terracing, composting, and gardening. Kevin and his wife were assigned to Isla Leones, reachable only by boat - population of 300 to 350 inhabitants. He described his house and the community at large. The economic base of the community was in cattle, fishing, and farming. Maria Luisa, a host mother, and other community leaders, assisted Kevin in presentations to women’s groups, setting up a library of children’s books, and story time and English lessons at the local school. Kevin worked as the liaison between community groups and the Agriculture Ministry. He shared his thoughts on relationships and the change process as well as several memorable moments of his service.
Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Keyword
Panama agriculture Texas Arkansas Virginia Texas A&M University computer science minors math English psychology cousin father’s friend RPCVs recruiting events John Hopkins masters DC staging Pre-Service Training Santa Claire couples host family Volunteer visit model farm Day of Martyrs Panamanian history In-Service and Mid-Service training Isla Leones work site cattlemen fishermen farmers community members Maria Luisa leaders boat transportation houses description cell phone connection community description Puesto de Salud health clinic prepared food daily routine fishing fields school English story time kids library books sea turtles liaison with Agriculture Ministry and community farm demonstration memorable moments kids relationships change process women’s network Peace Corps valueInterview 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.Restriction
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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.
Add this interview to your cart in order to begin the process of requesting access to a copy of and/or permission to reproduce interview(s).
Cropper, Kevin Interview by Randolph A. Adams. 31 May. 2023. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Cropper, K. (2023, May 31). Interview by R. A. Adams. Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Cropper, Kevin, interview by Randolph A. Adams. May 31, 2023, Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
Persistent Link for this Record: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7wtmqsfz2zf