Peace Corps announces partnership with Mason School of Business
William & Mary's Mason School of Business is partnering with the Peace Corps to launch the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program at the university.
The new program will provide graduate school scholarships to returned Peace Corps volunteers pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) while concurrently completing a degree-related internship in an underserved American community. This is William & Mary’s first such partnership with the Peace Corps.
“The Peace Corps is excited to extend this opportunity to returned volunteers in partnership with the College of William & Mary’s Mason School of Business to support continued public service and education,” Peace Corps Acting Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “The Coverdell Fellows Program gives returned volunteers the chance to build on their classroom experience by sharing their unique knowledge and skills with local organizations in need.”
Selected Coverdell Fellows will work full-time toward a MBA and will receive financial aid of at least 50 percent tuition per year. This could range from $15,449 to $20,667 per year depending upon whether a student has in-state or out-of-state status.
Internships in underserved communities will be an integral part of each fellow’s degree. By sharing their Peace Corps experience and global perspective with the communities they serve here in the United States, returned volunteers support the Peace Corps’ Third Goal commitment to strengthen Americans' understanding of the world and its people. Professional placements at nonprofits and government organizations also help students further develop their skills. Coverdell Fellows MBA candidates will intern for organizations such as Williamsburg Housing Partnerships, Inc., Williamsburg Health Foundation and Literacy for Life.
“With the skills learned during their volunteer experiences combined with our superb educational program, we are confident that our future Coverdell Fellows will not only make meaningful contributions to the lives of underserved members of our community during their time in our MBA program, but they will make even larger contributions to society after graduation,” said Amanda Barth, director of MBA admissions for the Mason School of Business.
The Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program began in 1985 at Teachers College, Columbia University and now includes more than 80 university partners in 31 states and the District of Columbia. The program is specifically reserved for students who have already completed their Peace Corps service abroad. To learn more about the Coverdell Fellows Program at William & Mary’s Mason School of Business contact Scott McCoy, Scott.McCoy@Mason.wm.edu.
