Texas State launches Paul Coverdell Fellows program with Peace Corps
Posted by Jayme Blaschke
Office of Media Relations
October 16, 2017
Texas State University has launched the new Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program in partnership with the Peace Corps.
The Graduate College at Texas State will house the fellows program. The program will offer funding to returned Peace Corps volunteers pursuing a master of arts with a major in International Studies. All program fellows will complete internships in underserved American communities while they pursue their studies, allowing them to bring home and expand upon the skills they learned as volunteers.
In recognition of the new fellows program and recently-launched Peace Corps Prep program, Texas State faculty and staff who have served as Peace Corps Volunteers will participate in a panel discussion at 4 p.m. October 24 at the Center for International Studies. Panelists will discuss the benefits of Peace Corps, and share stories of their most challenging, rewarding and inspirational moments during service.
"We are excited about Texas State University’s new partnership with the Peace Corps Coverdell Program," said Andrea Golato, dean of The Graduate College. "We are delighted to welcome returned Peace Corps Volunteers who bring their global perspectives and unique experiences to our campus. The master’s program in International Studies prepares students for work and leadership in an interdependent world and is therefore uniquely positioned to help returned Peace Corps Volunteers build on their previous experience and increase the impact of their work."
Peace Corps volunteers selected as Coverdell Fellows for the master of arts with a major in International Studies program will receive a scholarship, an assistantship and in-state tuition.
"Coverdell Fellows will enhance immeasurably the Texas State community because they are experienced, mature, cosmopolitan, internationally engaged and culturally diverse leaders," said Dennis Dunn, director of the Center for International Studies. "It is an exciting initiative for Texas State University, The Graduate College and the graduate program of the Center for International Studies."
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 while furthering the Peace Corps mission. By sharing their global perspective with the communities they serve, fellows help fulfill Peace Corps’ commitment to strengthen Americans’ understanding of the world and its people.
Since 1961, Texas State has produced 242 Peace Corps volunteers, with 11 currently serving.
The Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program began in 1985 at Columbia University and now includes more than 100 university partners across the country, from the District of Columbia to Hawaii. The program is reserved for students who have successfully completed Peace Corps service abroad. Since the inception of the program, more than 5,000 returned volunteers have participated and made a difference across the country. For more information, visit www.peacecorps.gov/fellows.
To learn more about the Coverdell Fellows Program at Texas State University, visit www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/funding/scholarships/coverdell.
About the Peace Corps
The Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad on behalf of the United States to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, 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, more than 225,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov.
About Texas State University
Founded in 1899, Texas State University is among the largest universities in Texas with an enrollment of 38,694 students on campuses in San Marcos and Round Rock. Texas State’s 181,000-plus alumni are a powerful force in serving the economic workforce needs of Texas and throughout the world. Designated an Emerging Research University by the State of Texas, Texas State is classified under “Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity,” the second-highest designation for research institutions under the Carnegie classification system.