The Museum of the Peace Corps Experience (MPCE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Erie to its Board of Directors.
Jennifer Erie is a seasoned international development leader, diplomat, storyteller, and creative entrepreneur whose global career spans more than two decades and reflects a deep commitment to equity, dignity, and cross-cultural understanding. A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Jennifer served in South Africa’s Limpopo Province from 1999 to 2001, where she trained teachers and partnered with local social services organizations—an experience that shaped her enduring belief in the power of community, creativity, and human connection.
Born and raised in New York, Jennifer began her international journey as a study-abroad student in Zimbabwe before joining the Peace Corps. She later built a distinguished 15-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), holding senior leadership roles overseeing global health, humanitarian, and community development initiatives. Her assignments took her to South Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and South Africa, where she consistently championed inclusive, trauma-informed, and community-driven approaches while amplifying marginalized voices.
Earlier in her career, Jennifer supported international public health and humanitarian responses from Washington, D.C., strengthening pharmaceutical supply-chain systems, managing health communications initiatives, and providing health counseling and vocational rehabilitation services through organizations including Whitman-Walker Health, Africare, and John Snow, Inc.
Beyond her international development work, Jennifer is the founder of Fête Jen Global, a creative and cultural social-impact enterprise that uplifts storytellers, emerging artists, and diaspora communities. Her work spans performance platforms, talent management, music production, cultural travel and retreats, and philanthropic advising. She is also a Lifetime Member of the International Thespian Society.
Jennifer currently resides in Maryland and holds a Master’s degree from American University and a Bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University. She is an active member of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer group Friends of South Africa and is completing her memoir, The World in My Bones: The Diplomat Queens Made, which chronicles her path as a bridge-builder across cultures, communities, and creative spaces.
Reflecting on her appointment, Jennifer shared:
“I’m honored to join the Board of the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience. I look forward to contributing my passion for storytelling, community engagement, and creative expression to help amplify the diverse, transformative journeys of Peace Corps Volunteers and deepen public understanding of the human stories that define global service and peace.”
