WASHINGTON, D.C. – The University of Maryland at Baltimore, Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa., the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point have recently signed memoranda of agreement with the Peace Corps, marking new partnerships with the agency’s Fellows/USA program. As one of the Peace Corps’ domestic programs, Fellows/USA has established similar relationships with more than 30 universities nationwide.

Fellows/USA partner universities offer returned Peace Corps volunteers financial benefits for their graduate studies and place them in degree-related service internships in high need U.S. communities. Returned Peace Corps volunteers are well suited to fill hard-to-staff positions or work in multilingual environments because of the practical, language, and intercultural skills they acquired while living and working overseas during their Peace Corps service.

The University of Maryland’s Baltimore campus is offering a master of social work program for returned Peace Corps volunteers with dual-degree options in Jewish studies, law, business administration, and public health. Peace Corps Fellows’ internships will be with community-based organizations in East and Southeast Baltimore communities, some of which serve the growing Latino community.

At Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa., Peace Corps Fellows will work toward Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, or Master of Education degrees while assisting public and nonprofit organizations and schools in Greensburg and surrounding Westmoreland County areas. The Office of Graduate and Adult Studies will arrange internships in education, environmental protection, and child disability, housing, medical, and counseling services.

The University of Cincinnati’s Peace Corps Fellows will work in older, disadvantaged Cincinnati neighborhoods on community development issues while pursuing master and doctoral degrees in economic development planning, environmental planning, international development planning, physical planning, and urban design. The School of Planning will place returned Peace Corps volunteers in nonprofit and public agencies that work to improve the quality of life for Cincinnati residents.

Peace Corps Fellows at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point will work toward master of science degrees in natural resources specializing in areas to include forestry, international resource management, fisheries, groundwater, land use planning, environmental education/interpretation, resource policy and planning, and soil and water science. Coordinated by the College of Natural Resources, Fellows’ internships will focus on local capacity building and watershed restoration/management with local agencies and organizations.

On campuses across the country, Fellows/USA programs are administered by university faculty and staff, some of whom are returned Peace Corps volunteers. For their contact information and for general information about Peace Corps Fellows/USA, please click here.

Since 1961, more than 171,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health and HIV/AIDS education and prevention, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment.

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