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White House Author

Blair Orr

Blair served as a Forestry Volunteer in Lesotho from 1978-1981. In 1982 and 1983, Blair worked for Lutheran World Relief on forestry in refugee camps in Somalia. In 1995, he worked with Ed Frayer to establish the Loret Miller Ruppe Peace Corps Master’s International Program in forestry at Michigan Technological University. Loret Miller Ruppe raised her family in Houghton, Michigan and was the longest serving director of the Peace Corps. Since 1995, the program has expanded to a total of eight departments on campus, and Michigan Tech has become the largest Peace Corps Master’s International Program in the United States. The more than 100 graduates now work in large and small businesses, schools, government and non-profit groups bringing vision and talent to the American economy. Peace Corps’ Master’s International allows Peace Corps Volunteers to earn master’s degrees at more than 80 universities while they serve around the world.