EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Peace Corps and Michigan State University launched the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program housed in the Broad College of Business earlier this fall. The program offers tuition assistance to Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, or RPCV,  pursuing a graduate degree. All Coverdell Fellows also complete internships in U.S. communities while they pursue their studies, allowing them to bring home and expand upon the skills they learned as volunteers.

“We are pleased to partner with Michigan State University to support our returned Peace Corps volunteers as they work to continue their academic careers and commitment to lifelong service,” Peace Corps Chief Executive Officer Paul Shea said.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers selected as Coverdell Fellows for the Master of Business Administration will receive substantial discounts on tuition and fees in addition to a guaranteed graduate assistantship. 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 the Peace Corps’ third goal commitment to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

“Returning Peace Corps Volunteers have such diverse interests and expertise that they could pursue graduate studies in any discipline,” said Joy Campbell, who oversees all Peace Corps programming at MSU. “When the Peace Corps opened proposals for new partnerships in spring 2025, my colleague —in Broad — and I jumped on it.”

“I view this as a strong way to attract globally minded, highly qualified candidates whose RPCV experience translates into valuable contributions across the business landscape,” said Kara Tripi, managing director of admissions for Broad MBA Programs.

The Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program began in 1985 at Teachers College, Columbia University, and now includes more than 150 university partners across the country — from Florida to California. 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 lasting impact across the country.

Since 1961, Michigan State University has produced 2,193 Peace Corps volunteers, with 16 alumni currently serving worldwide. To learn more about the Coverdell Fellows Program within the Michigan State University Full-time MBA, contact Kara Tripi at ktripi(at)msu.edu.

About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps sends passionate and talented American volunteers abroad to collaborate with community members on projects that advance both American and local priorities. Volunteers build relationships, model democratic values and make a lasting impact in the areas of education, health, environment, agriculture, community economic development, and youth development. The Peace Corps equips volunteers with valuable leadership, management and language skills that make them assets to the U.S. workforce and strengthen America’s economic competitiveness at home and abroad. Since 1961, more than 240,000 Americans have served in 144 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

Banner image: Community economic development in Guyana. Courtesy of Peace Corps.