March 26, 2026

#32 - Paul Barker (Iran)

Show Notes

Less than 24 hours after he graduated from college, Paul Barker was on a plane, en route to Iran, where he would spend the next five years as a Peace Corps volunteer, immersed in Iranian culture and history. And though he followed that with three decades of international work, he remained--remains!--in the thrall of Iran. And he understands, more so than almost anyone, the scope of the cataclysm unfolding there. (Recorded on March 12, 2026.)

Paul Barker has had a long and distinguished overseas career. The day after he graduated from Lewis and Clark College, he departed for Iran as a Peace Corps volunteer. He stayed for five years, first as an English teacher, then at a boarding school for nomadic tribal students, and finally as a field officer. He continued his Peace Corps service in Bahrain, where he met his wife, Nora. Following that, he spent two years in rural Sudan, running health programs for Eritrean refugees.

Paul spent 28 years with CARE, in Egypt, Ethiopia, West Bank/Gaza, Afghanistan, Sudan, Tanzania, and South Sudan. His last overseas assignment was for Save the Children International, as a country director in Afghanistan. He continues to be very active with the Peace Corps Iran Association. He has resettled in Oregon.