Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program
The Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program is a graduate fellowship program for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) that represents a unique opportunity for volunteers to complete their graduate studies while also fulfilling the third goal of the Peace Corps service: helping Americans learn more about and better understand the cultures of other countries around the world.
Our Coverdell Fellows must complete an approved Fellowship Placement designed to address the needs of a domestic undeserved and/or at-risk community. Through these assignments our Fellows are able to “bring home, and expand upon, the skills they learned as Volunteers.” This includes skills such as cultural awareness, adaptability, language skills and working in low resource settings.
Financial Incentives
Our Coverdell Fellows receive MPH internship credit in recognition of their service working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Health Sector and additional financial assistance (in the form of scholarship awards or graduate assistantships), which together total to at least 25% of the tuition and fees associated with their Master of Public Health Degree.
Upon successful completion of their Peace Corps Service, returned volunteers can be awarded one year of noncompetitive eligibility (NCE) for selection for federal employment. RPCVs who are accepted into participating Coverdell Fellows Programs may, at the hiring agency's prerogative, have their noncompetitive eligibility status extended up to three years from their Close of Service date (if they remain enrolled as full-time students).
Application Process and Related Requirements
All RPCVs enjoy lifetime eligibility for the Coverdell Fellows Program. Some RPCVs choose to apply for the program immediately after returning to the United States, but may do so at any time after successfully completing service.
To become a Coverdell Fellow at the University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, you must have successfully completed your Peace Corps service commitment in the health sector and be accepted into the MPH program.
Candidates must submit a complete application to the MPH program through the Centralized Application for Schools and Programs of Public Health (SOPHAS), and a supplemental UAlbany SPH Coverdell Fellowship Application to the Center for Global Health.
Note: In order to be eligible for the scholarship and assistantship opportunities offered to Coverdell Fellows, applicants must have graduated from their undergraduate program of study with a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or higher.
Interested students and prospective students are encouraged to contact John Justino, Director of the Center for Global Health, via email ([email protected]) to get more information and/or to ask any questions they may have.
