Peace Corps Union Stewards

Mathew Crichton
Chief Steward

​Mathew has been an active volunteer member of the Union for over 3 years.  He served previously as President, and before that he was the Local's Treasurer.  He has also acted as Steward on over a dozen cases.  He currently works in the Office of Health Services as an IT Specialist for Pre-Service's Medical Application Exchange (MAXx) system.  Mathew graduated from Stanford University in 2010 and holds a bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, and Society.  He is an RPCV from Morocco where he worked in Youth Development.  Mathew is passionate about design, technology, and startups.  He even ran a nomadic outdoor movie theatre in Papua New Guinea!  He’s excited to serve the Union as Chief Steward this year and will continue to work to educate, collaborate, and negotiate on behalf of our employees.

Ryan Stannard
​Steward 

​Ryan has been an active volunteer member of the Union since early 2021 in order to support his fellow Recruiters. He currently works in the Office of Analysis and Evaluation in VRS and provides program data support to all other offices within VRS. Prior to working for the Peace Corps, he served as an Education Volunteer in Thailand from 2014-2016 and earned a Master of International Development at the University of Pittsburgh in 2018. Outside of his work with Peace Corps he can be found walking & exploring historic Pittsburgh or traveling abroad with his partner Joel, and being a human to two rescue cats, Mori and Katsu. 

Sakeena Ali
Steward

​Dr. Sakeena Ali is an educator and a lifelong learner. Her goals are to empower those in need and help others reach their highest potential.  She has been working within the education field for 20+ years and has experience with all ages and backgrounds. Her background studying abroad, working in the US and overseas, and visiting 30+ countries brings a unique perspective to her work. Dr. Ali’s love for people and cultures around the world brought her back to Peace Corps, where she helps others gain the opportunity to see and better understand the world they live in. In October 2017, she began as a field- based recruiter for the Los Angeles area, including Santa Barbara and Ventura County
 

Ryan Haefke
Steward

​Ryan Haefke is an Administrative Specialist assigned to the Chicago office. He is an (e)RPCV from Senegal where he served as an Agriculture Forestry volunteer from September 2019 until the COVID-19 evacuation. He is a native of Kansas and an avid snacker. Ryan is interested in the marriage of agriculture, forestry and economics. He believes the Union is an essential place to ensure that Peace Corps workers are valued for the awesome work they do, and to make the agency better for everyone. 

Genevieve Locksley
Steward

​Geneviève Locksley (She/Her) is a Placement Specialist for the Office of Volunteer Recruitment and Selection. She served as a Youth Development Volunteer in the Philippines from 2018-2020 and was the President of the Volunteer Advisory Council (VAC). She lives by the cornerstone “nothing for the people without the people” and believes that serving as Union Steward and on the Executive Board is her opportunity to listen to your needs and advocate with and for you. Outside of her work with Peace Corps she is a playwright/theatre-maker, whitewater kayaker, and human to the sweetest little rescue dog, Mai-Mai.

Mike Black 
​Steward

​Mike became active in the Union in early 2020 as he recognized how economic justice ties in with the broader push for social justice – and the powerful role unions can play in support of the cause. Prior to working for the Peace Corps, he served as a Community Economic Development Volunteer in Albania from 2017-2019, where he undertook a diverse range of activities in his community. While he misses Albania’s snow-topped mountains and ubiquitous invitations to coffee, he appreciates playing a role in inspiring the next generation of Peace Corps volunteers as the Regional Recruiter in his hometown of Boston.

Amy Jenkins 
​Steward

Benjamin Simasek
​Steward