Margaret Riley: A Lifetime of Global Citizenship
Margaret Riley’s life and career stand as a testament to the enduring impact of the Peace Corps mission. From her formative years as a volunteer in Colombia to her influential leadership on a national stage, Margaret dedicated her life to fostering intercultural understanding and international friendship.
The Peace Corps Foundation
Margaret often identified her time as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in Colombia as one of the two most pivotal experiences of her life. This immersion in a different way of life ignited a lifelong passion for global engagement, eventually leading her to pursue a PhD in Intercultural Communication. She exemplified the “lifetime value” of service, transitioning from a volunteer role into a distinguished career in international education.
National Leadership and Advocacy
Margaret was a visionary for the returned volunteer community. She played a foundational role in establishing the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA). She also served as the NPCA Secretary (1980–1983) and subsequently as President (1983–1986). Margaret was a fierce advocate for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. She famously aimed to make the acronym RPCV as recognizable as “VFW,” believing that those who served the cause of global peace deserved the same level of civic recognition as those who served in the military.
Impact in North Carolina
Closer to home, Margaret was a pillar of the North Carolina Peace Corps Association. Serving as its president and in various leadership capacities for many years, she was known as a “transformative leader” and a caring mentor. Her influence extended into academia at Duke University, where she led the study abroad office, guiding thousands of students toward their own firsthand international experiences.
Margaret freely shared her own time and resources to assist others, provide guidance, and remind us of our global citizenship and common humanity. Whether leading national boards or supporting local volunteer groups, Margaret Riley lived with a profound commitment to the idea that we are all part of a larger global community.
A Lasting Legacy: The Margaret Riley Peace Prize
Even in her passing, Margaret’s commitment to “common humanity” remained steadfast. Through a substantial financial contribution left to the North Carolina Peace Corps Association, she ensured that the work of fostering peace would continue for generations to come.
In recognition of her extraordinary life of service, her leadership within the NCPCA, and this final, generous gift, the organization is proud to name the North Carolina Peace Prize in her honor. Now known as the Margaret Riley Peace Prize, it stands as a permanent tribute to a woman who truly became a “global citizen,” sharing her joy and gratitude for life with the furthest corners of the globe.