Senior Mahnoor Ansari (Lahore, Pakistan/Beaconhouse) of the Ohio Wesleyan rowing team was recently accepted into the Peace Corps.

Ansari will be going to Panama, however, she will not know her specific placement until she arrives for her 3-month in-country training.  Her job title will be Sustainable Agriculture Extension Promoter.

In this position, Ansari will work with low-income rural farmers to improve the food security, resiliency, and sustainability of their livelihoods.  She will promote the most effective practices and new techniques for farming, agriculture-based income-generation activities, organizational development, and nutrition within their communities.

Ansari has been interested in the Peace Corps for a while, but decided last semester that she would like to join for sure.

"After spending this past summer working on an organic farm in southern Virginia run by two returned Peace Corps volunteers, I realized this was something I really wanted to do," said Ansari.

Living in the Tree House Small Living Unit on campus has taught Ansari a lot about community and environmentalism, which sparked her interest in sustainable agriculture.  She also has been working in the Career Connection office since her freshman year and this has given her many transferable life and professional skills.

Ansari also has studied abroad for a semester at the University in Granada in Spain, and gone on spring-break wilderness treks through OWU.  These major experiences made her a competitive candidate for the Peace Corps.

"Being on the rowing team has also instilled a sense of dedication, perseverance, and focus within me," said Ansari.

She notes that rowing is both physically and mentally challenging, like her Peace Corps service will be.  In Panama, there are communities that use dugout canoes to travel, so Ansari is excited for the possibility of getting on the water, even if she will not be rowing.

Ohio Wesleyan rowing coach Andriel Doolittle stated that Ansari was one of the first walk-ons to join the rowing program, which is in its second season of varsity competition.  In her first fall season, she was stroke seat of the Varsity 4 boat and she has continued to play a vital part in the team's lineups because of her strength and technical abilities.

"Her greatest contribution to the program has been her leadership," said Doolittle.  "While she is not the most vocal of the group, she has shown how quickly you can take to the sport and become dedicated to something."

Doolittle believes that Ansari loves to be challenged and the Peace Corps will give her the next challenge she is looking for.

"I hope she can take some of what she has learned in her time rowing and use it in this next venture, like persevering through rough conditions, being a great teammate, and not being afraid of failure," said Doolittle.

Doolittle's hope for Ansari is that she continues to find things she is passionate about and that she continues to take big risks.

"Her potential to affect real change in the world has only just started," said Doolittle.

She also hopes Ansari is able to keep rowing in her life, whether it be spreading a love of the sport to other people, rowing with other clubs, or even just continuing to be a supporter of her teammates.