From Missoula to Albania: UM alum Ashlyn Hester's Peace Corps Journey

In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic put the world on pause. For nearly 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers across 60 countries, that meant an abrupt end to their service. Now, the Peace Corps is deploying its first cohort of overseas volunteers in more than two years. Among that group is University of Montana alumna Ashlyn Hester.

Hester is at the start of a 27-month stint in Albania, where she will volunteer in the health sector. The position is a perfect fit for Hester, who majored in health and human performance and minored in global public health. Originally from southern California, she already felt a strong connection to Montana after many family vacations spent at Flathead Lake. When she learned more about the programs available at the College of Health, she decided to apply to UM. A campus visit sealed the deal.

“Every time we passed someone walking around the University, they would just randomly say hello,” said Hester.  “The kindness was so nice.” 

On top of her studies and attending Grizzly athletics events with friends, community service also was a big part of Hester’s experience at UM. She volunteered at the Missoula Food Bank and at Soft Landing Missoula, an organization that helps refugees transition to life in Montana.  Then, after hearing a former Peace Corps volunteer speak on campus, Hester thought seriously about applying upon graduation.

“Hearing about her experience and how much she enjoyed it and the work she did relating to community health just gave a spark of interest to me,” she said.

The pandemic pushed her timeline back, but in 2021 she found a position that intrigued her —  in a place she knew nothing about. “I decided to take a leap of faith and apply,” she said.

Now, Hester will become something of a mini-expert on Albania, as immersing yourself in the local language and culture is a Peace Corps objective.

“We can bring back that knowledge to the U.S. and share it with people here so they can have a better understanding of what and who Albania is,” she said.

Hester doesn’t know yet exactly where in Albania she will be based. Volunteers spend several weeks as a group, receiving training and adjusting to their new environment before being sent out on assignments in different regions. It can seem like a daunting journey, but for Hester, it’s all part of the adventure and the mission to help others.

“This is just the beginning,” she said. “But, so far so good.”