The Peace Corps and NYU today announced the launch of a new Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program that will provide graduate school scholarships to returned Peace Corps volunteers.
The Peace Corps and New York University today announced the launch of a new Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program that will provide graduate school scholarships to returned Peace Corps volunteers. This partnership marks the largest Fellows program between the Peace Corps and a university, with seven NYU schools and centers accepting returned volunteers into their graduate programs. All program Fellows will complete internships in underserved American communities while they complete their studies, allowing them to bring home and expand upon the skills they learned as volunteers.
“We are delighted to partner with New York University to support our returned volunteers as they pursue higher education and continue their commitment to service,” Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “Communities are moved forward by the selflessness of volunteers, and returned Peace Corps volunteers have unique skills and experiences to offer their local communities.”
Fellows selected for the program will receive at least 50 percent of tuition in financial benefits at seven participating NYU graduate schools and centers with no application fee. These schools and centers include Center for Urban Science and Progress, Gallatin School of Individualized Study, College of Global Public Health, Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, School of Professional Studies, Silver School of Social Work, and Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development.
"As a university whose motto is 'A Private University in the Public Service,' we're excited to partner with the Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship and support returned volunteers in their continued leadership development and service on campus and throughout the city,” said Melody Barnes, vice provost for global student leadership initiatives at NYU.
Through their internships, Coverdell Fellows apply what they learn in the classroom to a professional setting. They not only gain valuable, hands-on experience that makes them more competitive in today’s job market, but they also further the Peace Corps mission. By sharing their global perspective with the communities they serve, Fellows help fulfill Peace Corps’ Third Goal commitment to strengthen Americans’ understanding of the world and its people.
"We are extremely excited about the NYU Fellows program and partnership with the Peace Corps. Providing an opportunity for talented Peace Corps alumni to continue their education through enrollment in NYU graduate programs will enable former volunteers to gain additional knowledge and skills that will be critical to them and have a major impact in the global community,” said Trudy Steinfeld, assistant vice president of student affairs and executive director of NYU’s Wasserman Center for Career Development.
Internships in underserved communities are an integral part of each Fellow’s degree. By sharing their Peace Corps experience and global perspective with the communities they serve here in the United States, returned volunteers are supporting the Peace Corps’ Third Goal commitment to strengthen Americans' understanding of the world and its people. Professional placements at non-profits and government organizations also help students further develop their skills. Participating NYU Coverdell Fellows may complete internships at organizations such as University Settlement, ECPAT/USA and AIR Harlem.
The Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program began in 1985 at Teachers College, Columbia University and now includes more than 90 university partners across the country, from the District of Columbia to Hawaii to Alaska. The program is specifically reserved for students who have already completed their Peace Corps service abroad. Since the inception of the program, more than 4,500 returned volunteers have participated and made a difference across the country. For more information, visit www.peacecorps.gov/fellows.
The first class of approximately 17 to 20 NYU Coverdell Fellows will enroll beginning in the fall of 2016. To learn more about the Coverdell Fellows Program at NYU, contact: PeaceCorpsadmissions-group@nyu.edu
About New York University: Founded in 1831, NYU is one of the world’s foremost research universities and is a member of the selective Association of American Universities. NYU has degree-granting campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai, and has eleven other global academic sites around the world. More NYU students study internationally than any other university, according to the Open Doors Report by the Institute of International Education, and NYU ranks third in the United States for the number of foreign students enrolled. Through its numerous schools and colleges, NYU conducts research and provides education in the arts and sciences, law, medicine, business, dentistry, education, nursing, the cinematic and performing arts, music and studio arts, public administration, engineering, social work, cities, global public health, big data, and continuing and professional studies, among other areas.
About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps sends the best and brightest Americans abroad on behalf of the United States to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. Volunteers work at the grassroots level to develop sustainable solutions that address challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their service, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, nearly 220,000 Americans of all ages have served in 140 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.