Ron’s career is characterized by a passion for public service.  His primary focus has been higher education administration but he has extensive experience in international development, environmental concerns, healthcare, and food-banking. 

Ron served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda from 2015–2017 and was a business/agriculture advisor.  Ron states, “Aside from marriage and parenthood, service in the Peace Corps has been a highlight of my life.  It is satisfying when your work relates directly to your values.”   He has also worked in Nicaragua and Haiti.

Ron has a Ph.D. in Public Administration from The Ohio State University.  His administrative experience includes work at Carnegie Mellon University, Northeastern University, the Colorado School of Mines, and the City of Portland, Oregon.  He is the proud father of four.  His hobbies include fly fishing, biking, tennis, reading, and cooking,

John Ferrick served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Lesotho (1981-1984) as a Math and Science Teacher. From there he continued working for Peace Corps as Lesotho Training Director and Curriculum Development Specialist (1984-1985), then in D.C. as Lead Consultant in experiential training programs and consultant for several areas in PCV recruitment. Additional international education and health positions later brought him to Country Director and Associate Director for Programming and Training in Fiji/Tuvalu and Papua New Guinea (1990-1992). In 1992 John found his way into the UW-Madison system in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), where he worked until 2018 in several Study Abroad and international development positions - including supervising the campus Peace Corps recruiter for a number of years - before his retirement in 2018. John is now Professor Emeritus,  and ready to engage with the RPCV network in his retirement.

Darlene Schmidt served in Peace Corps Jordan 1998-2000. She has been our Treasurer for a long time, and is looking to step down from the position. Please contact president@rpcvmadison.org if you have skills and interest in taking on the role of Treasurer.

We are in need of a Secretary for a position that will last immediately, until our 2024 membership vote, usually held in September. If interested, please contact president@rpcvmadison.org to offer your help.

RPCV Armenia 2011-2013

Heather served as a TEFL volunteer in Bulgaria from 1999-2001. She taught English to high school students, and also spent 3 years prior to Peace Corps teaching in Japan.

RPCV Ghana 1996-1998

Kate Schachter has broad experience working with Peace Corps. She made a personal commitment to her country and the Peace Corps concept in 1961 with President Kennedy's challenge. She finally had the opportunity to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana from 2004-2007. That was followed by active participation on the leadership team of the RPCVs of Wisconsin-Madison, from 2007 to the present. She also was elected as an NPCA Board member and Group Leaders Forum Coordinator from 2010-13. In 2016 she returned to volunteer service as a Peace Corps Response Volunteer in Georgia. Kate is a co-founder and Group Leader of the RPCVs for Environmental Action. She was the UW Madison Peace Corps Campus Recruiter from 2018 - 2023. Now retired. Again.

RPCV Republic of Georgia, 2008-2011

RPCV Chile 1969-1971

RPCV Romania 2000-2005

Walt was born and raised around New York City. After obtaining an MS in Physical Chem from Cornell University, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya in High School Science Education from 1972-74. On returning to the U.S., Walt moved to Wisconsin, where he taught high school science for several years in Mequon, then returned to graduate school in Madison. While obtaining a PhD in Water Chem and then continuing to work as a staff scientist in that program, he helped to form several spin-off companies in efforts to commercialize technologies. After his retirement from the UW-Madison in 2007, he continues to help out with two of the spin-offs.

Walt joined the RPCVs of WI-Madison in November 1980 as the group was forming, and has held all positions except Treasurer at one time or another. He currently serves as an at-large Board member providing institutional memory, administering the GiftAway donations, and providing times to runners at the halfway point of the Freeze for Food 10K race.

RPCV Honduras 1988-1990