For Edwin Blanton, Southeast Missouri State University was more than a college experience. It was the launchpad for a life of service that has taken him from rural Missouri to London, the Australian Outback, the Caribbean and beyond.
Raised on a family farm in Ironton, Missouri, Blanton never felt pressured to stay in agriculture. Instead, when he transferred to SEMO from Mineral Area College, he found new possibilities opening before him. A winter break study abroad trip to Mexico in 1998, his first time leaving the U.S., sparked a lifelong passion for global engagement.
“Your comfort zone will keep you at home, but on a study abroad program you have support that you don’t have when you’re going alone,” said Blanton. “There were challenges, but great rewards, too. I learned so much about other cultures, about myself, and what I wanted to do.”
Blanton went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in marketing, a Bachelor of Science in foodservice and hospitality management, and a Master of Science in public administration from SEMO. Faculty mentors like Dr. Ken Heischmidt and Peter Gordon guided Blanton on international study trips, while student leadership roles—serving as treasurer of Student Activities Council and vice president of Alpha Kappa Psi—helped him develop the organizational and communication skills that would prove essential later.
After graduation, Blanton pursued international experiences in London and Australia before joining the Peace Corps in 2004. Assigned to the island of Dominica, he worked with a village council on municipal issues but soon discovered a larger calling: helping children with disabilities who were being left out of classrooms due to stigma, untrained teachers and lack of transportation.
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That realization led Blanton and his Peace Corps colleague, Jennifer Catron, to establish Ready Willing Enable (RWE), a U.S.-based international nonprofit. Since its founding in 2006, RWE has reached thousands through inclusive summer camps, family education and community outreach. In July 2025, the organization celebrated its 18th annual camp in Dominica, a program that has grown from a handful of participants to welcoming 30–50 campers each year. Many of those who attended the first camps now return as volunteers, paying forward the opportunities they once received. As RWE approaches its 20th anniversary in 2026, the organization continues to expand its reach and impact, staying true to its mission of empowerment and community.
“The first year of camp we had low attendance,” said Blanton. “Now, nearly two decades later there have been over 300 youth come through and now we see those early campers leading activities, managing logistics and mentoring others. That’s the impact we dreamed of.”
Blanton also serves as assistant vice provost at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he continues to blend higher education leadership with nonprofit advocacy. His work has included expanding RWE’s reach through volunteer trips with college students, awareness programming in Texas and partnerships across the globe.
The journey hasn’t been without challenges. In the early days of RWE, Blanton supported himself by waiting tables while pouring his energy into building the nonprofit.
“On paper it might look like success,” he said. “But there were really tough days of wondering if we could keep going. I just kept asking, ‘What am I good at? What do I enjoy doing?’ Then I’d suck it up and get it done.”
Looking back, Blanton credits SEMO for preparing him with both the confidence and adaptability needed to take risks and create change.
“At SEMO, I learned how to talk to deans, business leaders and university presidents. Those experiences gave me the courage to walk into rooms that might have otherwise been intimidating. That’s a gift I still lean on every day.”
For today’s students considering a path in nonprofit work, his advice is simple: start by serving.
“I have people tell me all the time that they want to start a nonprofit,” said Blanton. “But sometimes what’s needed is to join and strengthen what already exists. Volunteer first, learn the ropes and understand the impact. That experience is invaluable.”
At SEMO, students discover who they are and where they can go; alumni like Blanton show how deep roots can inspire global citizenship and meaningful change. Are you ready to start your own SEMO success story? Apply today.