Michigan State University is expanding opportunities for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers through the new Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program in the Broad College of Business. Introduced earlier this fall with the Peace Corps, the program offers tuition assistance to Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, or RPCVs, 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,” said Peace Corps Chief Executive Officer Paul Shea.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers selected as Coverdell Fellows for the Full-Time Master of Business Administration program will be awarded an in-state tuition waiver and will serve as graduate assistants for the program. 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’ commitment (known as the agency’s “third goal”) 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, MSU has produced 2,193 Peace Corps volunteers, with 16 alumni currently serving worldwide. To learn more about the Coverdell Fellows Program within the MSU Full-time MBA, contact Kara Tripi at ktripi@msu.edu.
