VALDOSTA STATE MAGAZINE 37 First, he paid a visit to United States Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia). Next, he asked himself how many Peace Corps volunteers had been from Valdosta. After digging through the records at the Paul Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington D.C., he counted 58, including two serving in Botswana and Moldova. Bell, who still makes it back to Valdosta from time to time for homecoming festivities, said ·¬ÇŃÖ±˛Ąapp is never far from his thoughts, and he considers his time in Valdosta to be an important part of his story. Bell earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in African American studies from Valdosta State University in 2001 before earning a law degree and starting a successful law practice in Atlanta. In his new appointment, he will be responsible for several Peace Corps offices, including Press and Communications, Gifts and Grants Management, Strategic Partnerships, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Congressional Relations. He said that this is the first time these offices fall under one director. “It’s a new position actually,” he said. “The position I am in was created in the last [presidential] administration at the very end, so technically I’m the first person to be in this position.” Bell previously gained international relations experience in the State Department, serving under Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. He also served as communications and intergovernmental affairs lead for Vice President Mike Pence during the transition. One of the most important aspects of Bell’s new post is reporting to Congress on the safety and security of Peace Corps volunteers, and his near two decades of experience in Georgia politics has paid dividends. He said he placed a high priority on visiting Isakson in his first days on the job because the Georgia senator is one of the more vocal allies of the Peace Corps in Congress. “He is definitely a go-to, someone who is focused on the safety and security of our volunteers and considers the Peace Corps a great asset to American diplomacy,” he said. Safety challenges monitored by the Peace Corps can take many forms. Bell said one example was the September 2017 evacuation of 124 volunteers from Burkina Faso due to security threats. “We serve many poor places that many times are fragile, democracies are fragile, and there are times when democracy and other issues can arise and you have to be ready to make decisions to protect the volunteers,” he said, noting that Peace Corps volunteers often live and work with the people they serve, and when evacuated, they are eager to return to service as soon as they can. More than security, the biggest challenge of late has been natural disasters. A recent volcanic eruption in Vanuatu resulted in the evacuation of 7,000 people, and Bell said the Peace Corps took a proactive approach monitoring thermal activity and the water supply for changes that alerted officials to the danger of eruption. “Those things you really can’t predict,” he said. “They have always been challenges for the Peace Corps since the creation of the organization.” Bell has stated that he is grateful for the opportunity to serve the agency because of its commitment to public service, and it seems Bell is in the right place. Public service has played a prominent role in the Gainesville, Georgia, native’s career, which includes the founding of a multi-million dollar law firm, success in county politics, the creation of successful organizations for at-risk youth and criminal justice reform, and high-level appointments in national government.