John Stapleton, Bard College

It's not unusual for many Peace Corps Volunteers to wake up to the sound of roosters crowing though the pre-dawn air, or to take an early morning run along a dusty path and be greeted by wide-eyed children and curious, calling vendors. It's not unusual for Peace Corps Volunteers to chat in a foreign language over coffee with their host families before they head off to their school, youth center or business center. But it may be unusual for those experiences to transpire while earning credits towards a master's degree.

"The Master's International (MI) program is truly unique in that you can study while serving, adding a level of authenticity to your research and to your graduate school experience that will be difficult, if not impossible, to find elsewhere," says John Stapleton, a Peace Corps Volunteer working in Environmental Education in El Salvador.

John is getting his MS in Environmental Policy from Bard College while volunteering overseas. "My master's project is essentially an analysis of the partnerships between the Salvadoran federal government and Non-Governmental Organizations pertaining to biodiversity conservation…The academic component of the MI program provides students with a slightly higher level of structure than other volunteers get. This enables MI students to focus more, and manage time more efficiently."

John's work centers on student ecological clubs that he's formed in two schools. He designs interactive learning tasks so that the kids can put theory into practice. But John doesn't stop there. In coordination with a local coffee cooperative and NGO, he has also initiated a regional NGO diagnostic that "seeks to synchronize the work plans of regional environmental NGOs."

John also works on grant applications; an internet access project for a school; soliciting library resources; and organizing library management training sessions. He has spent time promoting literacy and reading by forming reading circles in his town's Cultural House. "I would tell people who know they want a graduate degree and also know they want to serve in the Peace Corps, that the MI program is the most exciting and feasible option," says John, who then adds, "When I completed college I realized that all the international development jobs interesting to me required a Master's degree, at least two years of work experience, and fluency in a foreign language. The MI program was the best way for me to acquire the experience, skills, and education necessary to advance myself and my career. Plus, this has been an adventure that's distinctly fascinating, successful and rewarding. I'll miss it!"