Jason Koski/University Photography

Institute for Public Affairs fellow Scott Fogel presents his capstone public service project on the Pressure Ulcer Initiative.

Cornell University’s MPA program, offered though the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA) in the College of Human Ecology, and the Peace Corps have launched a new Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program that will provide graduate school scholarships to returned Peace Corps volunteers.

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 Cornell 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.”

Said Alan Mathios, the Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Dean of the College of Human Ecology: “Given their rigorous interdisciplinary field experience, Peace Corps volunteers are an ideal fit for the mission of the college. I am confident that Cornell’s MPA program, supported by a global community of public affairs professionals, will provide opportunities for these fellows to advance their careers and make a positive impact on our world.”

Fellows will receive a tuition fellowship award of at least $8,000 per year. Additional tuition aid may be available for exceptionally well-qualified fellows, including grants to cover summer internship expenses.  

Through their internships, Coverdell Fellows apply what they learn in the classroom to a professional setting. They 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.

“As one of the country’s original land-grant institutions, Cornell is positioned at the vanguard of education for public service careers and has enjoyed a strong partnership with the Peace Corps since 1961,” said CIPA Executive Director Thomas O’Toole, who negotiated the Coverdell Fellows Program agreement with the Peace Corps. “In addition to foundational coursework and specialized coursework in eight concentration areas, the flexible curriculum of our MPA program offers professional development and engaged learning experience which will enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities [fellows] obtain in the field.”

This year, Cornell University ranked No. 5 among Peace Corps’ top volunteer-producing medium-size schools, with 33 alumni currently volunteering worldwide. Since Peace Corps was established in 1961, 1,641 Cornell alumni have served overseas.

Cornell offers two other Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows Programs in the Department of City and Regional Planning and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), along with two Peace Corps Master’s International Programs at the College of Architecture, Art and Planning and CALS.

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. More than 4,500 returned volunteers have participated.