Group Photo

Photo courtesy of Peace Corps

About

The NYU Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship Program offers a select group of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) a financial scholarship while pursuing a master's degree at one of six participating NYU graduate schools. Fellows must intern, work, or volunteer with a non-profit organization or governmental agency that serves high need communities in the United States. Additionally, they participate in a cohort-based career development program in their first year of study and take advantage of individualized career coaching sessions.

The partnership with the Wasserman Center creates a unique opportunity for Fellows to identify the skills they developed during their Peace Corps service and consider how to leverage their skills in new academic and professional contexts. The partnership also aims to help RPCVs manage the transition into graduate school and future careers with support from peers in their cohort who may share similarities in their experience.

Eligibility Requirements

The Coverdell Fellowship is only available to returned Peace Corps volunteers who have satisfactorily completed their service. Admission to an NYU graduate program does NOT guarantee funding or a position in the NYU Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship. You cannot receive the fellowship if you have yet to join the Peace Corps, nor can you begin your studies while still serving as a volunteer.

Peace Corps Volunteers earn lifetime eligibility for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows program if they fall into one of the following categories:

  • Peace Corps Volunteers who complete the full two-year tour of Peace Corps service or are otherwise given “completion of service” (COS) status
  • Peace Corps Volunteers who are medically separated
  • Peace Corps Volunteers who are given "interrupted service" status because of circumstances beyond their control
  • Peace Corps Response or Global Health Services Partnership Volunteers who complete twelve months of service within a twenty-four month period* (The twelve month service requirement is waived for those Response Volunteers evacuated due to COVID-19.)

Two-year Volunteers who resign or are administratively separated are not eligible for Coverdell Fellowships unless they had already earned eligibility through a previous Peace Corps tour.
If you have questions about your eligibility status, you may contact the Peace Corps’ Office of University Programs at fellows@peacecorps.gov.  

How To Apply

The Coverdell Fellowship selection process is competitive. A limited number of fellowships are available each year, and availability varies. Admission to an NYU graduate program does not guarantee funding or a position in the NYU Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship. There is no separate application for the Coverdell Fellowship. If you wish to be considered for fellowship, you must apply directly to your school and program of interest and submit your application by the school deadline or by January 15th, whichever is first.

You will be asked to upload a copy of your official Peace Corps Description of Service (DOS) to your application. PCVs currently serving should submit a signed letter from their Peace Corps Country Director indicating their status as a current PCV, with the expected completion date. These applicants will be asked to submit their DOS as soon as it becomes available.

Applicants who are interested in part-time or online programs will not be accepted as Coverdell Fellows, though NYU will fully consider in-person programs being temporarily completed virtually due to COVID-19. NYU Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship recipients are required to be full-time master’s students for at least the first year of the fellowship appointment. All Fellows must begin their program during the Fall semester.

For general inquiries about the NYU Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship, please email PeaceCorpsAdmissions-group@nyu.edu. For school-specific questions, please send inquiries to the PeaceCorpsAdmissions-group@nyu.edu email and address it to the relevant party listed below:

  • Gallatin School of Individualized Study - Jamie Berthe
  • School of Global Public Health - Julie Avina and Alana Integlia
  • Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service - Kristy Kline
  • School of Professional Studies - Linda Nicholas and Matt Latessa
  • Silver School of Social Work - Evangelyn Diaz, and Byron Cortes
  • Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development - Yvette Brown and John Myers

Benefits

Financial Benefits

  • NYU offers all Coverdell Fellows a 50% tuition scholarship for full time enrollment, provided by your school of study. Individual schools may have additional financial support available, which will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
  • Applicants to the Program will receive an Application Fee Waiver.
  • In addition, Fellows enrolled at the NYU School of Professional Studies receive a book stipend of $750 per semester ($1500 per year). NYU Steinhardt offers health insurance to Fellows. Please reach out to the individual program contacts for more information on these benefits.
  • We strongly encourage all applicants to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for need-based aid, including federal loans. Please refer to the Financial Aid website of the school to which you are applying for further guidance.
  • The Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program considers Peace Corps service, in addition to non-profit and government agency work to qualify students for loan forgiveness after completing 10 years of loan payments. See the Federal Student Aid website for more information.

Professional Benefits

  • With the partnership between the Coverdell Fellowship and the Wasserman Center for Career Development, Fellows receive individualized career coaching sessions with coaches who specialize in working with graduate students.
  • Fellows also take part in tailored career development workshops that focus on many areas of the job search, including an emphasis on leveraging their Peace Corps service in their careers.
  • Fellows also participate in a 160 hour service learning program working with high need communities in the US.
  • Coverdell Fellows will have additional opportunities to learn about career and leadership events that may be of interest to them.

More Information

Learn more by reviewing the webinars and podcast below:

Fellow Profiles

2023-2024 Fellows

Salomon Djakpa

Peace Corps Service: The Gambia, 2019-2020

Mohammed Kanhai

Peace Corps Service: Georgia, 2019

2022-2023 Fellows

Ashley Bove

Peace Corps Service: Thailand, 2020

Lex Brierley

Peace Corps Service: Cameroon, 2016 - 2018

Karina Casarez

Peace Corps Service: Myanmar, 2018-2020

Carolyn El Serafi

Peace Corps Service: Armenia, 2012-2014

2020-2022 Fellows

Devynn

Peace Corps Service: Togo, 2017-2019

Andy Berry

Peace Corps Service: Kyrgyz Republic, 2015-2017

Jonathan

Peace Corps Service: Mozambique, 2019-2020
 

D'Shandi

Peace Corps Service: Tanzania, 2019-2020

Tatiana

Peace Corps Service: Eswatini, 2017-2020

Meritt

Peace Corps Service: The Gambia, 2019-2020

Reilly

Peace Corps Service: Zambia, 2017-2019

Noellw

Peace Corps Service: Guatemala, 2017-2019

Siaira

Peace Corps Service: Republic of Guinea, 2019-2020

Lerman

Peace Corps Service: Colombia, 2019-2020

Madison

Peace Corps Service: Moldova, 2018-2020

Tanya

Peace Corps Service: Guatemala, 2016-2018

Christine

Peace Corps Service: Republic of Guinea, 2019-2020

Maggie

Peace Corps Service: Namibia, 2018-2020