Manhattan University is proud to announce that recent graduate Maya Evans Harger ’25 has been accepted into the Peace Corps. Harger departed for Costa Rica on July 12, 2025, where she will begin training as a Youth in Development volunteer.

A Severna Park, Maryland native, Harger earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish and International Studies at Manhattan. She says her decision to serve stemmed from a passion for language, cultural immersion, and community engagement.

“I was motivated to join the Peace Corps to deepen my understanding of language and fully immerse myself in a different culture,” Harger said. “Most importantly, I hoped to make a meaningful difference by contributing my skills and working collaboratively with others toward sustainable change.”

In her role, Harger will work with parents, teachers, and local leaders in Costa Rica to support young people in becoming healthy, productive, and active citizens.

Harger is a graduate of Severna Park High School and the daughter of Aaron and Terri Ann Harger. She joins the 121 Maryland residents currently serving in the Peace Corps, adding to the more than 6,700 from the state who have served since the organization’s founding in 1961.