Peace Corps Fellows/USA Program

The Peace Corps Fellows/USA Program at Fordham University is a graduate fellowship program that offers financial assistance to former Volunteers who wish to earn our Master's degree in International Political Economy and Development (IPED). In addition to their academic program, Peace Corps Fellows will gain valuable on-the-job training in project management while interning with a community development organization in an under served US community.

Fordham Peace Corps Fellows may be selected to intern as an assistant project manager with the University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP). UNHP is a federally designated local community financial development institution dedicated to the creation, preservation, and financing of affordable housing in the Bronx for immigrant and other low income families. (More information about UNHP can be found at their web site, www.unhp.org.)

Our Fellows may also be selected to intern as an assistant project manager with the Fordham Road Business Improvement District (Fordham BID). The Fordham BID is a community organization primarily made up of local retailers who wish to promote business development and improve the quality of life along Fordham Road, a major retail street serving various immigrant and low income communities in the Bronx. The Fordham BID was established by local New York City law, is self-funded by local property owners and is overseen by the City's Department of Small Business Services. According to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, "BIDs are a proven example of how public/private partnerships can promote economic development." (More information about the Fordham BID can be found at their web site, www.fordhamroadbid.org.)

One Fordham Peace Corps Fellow may be chosen to teach in our Bridge Program at our College of Liberal Studies. This program attempts to bridge the language gap for Spanish speaking adults who want to earn their bachelor's degree at Fordham College of Liberal Studies.

At a minimum Fordham Peace Corps Fellows will receive a full tuition scholarship. Fordham Fellows also normally receive a small stipend to compensate them for their community service efforts.

To be considered for the Peace Corps Fellows/USA Program at Fordham, applicants must:

Be a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who has satisfactorily completed his or her Peace Corps service;
Submit a formal application including three letters of recommendation, general aptitude scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and transcripts of previous undergraduate and graduate course work; and
Indicate in your statement of purpose your willingness to intern with a community organization involved in the local economic development of the Bronx or teach adult Spanish speakers who wish to earn their Bachelor's degree..

Previous experience in community economic development or teaching will be considered beneficial. Proficiency in Spanish is beneficial for the community development internships and is required for the teaching internship.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, who have the appropriate language skills and who wish to pursue a career overseas in international humanitarian assistance, should also consider applying for an Arrupe Fellowship. Other Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, who have a strong interest in public service with the US government, might also want to apply for a Public Service Assistantship.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting the IPED office at:

International Political Economy and Development Program
Fordham University
Bronx, New York 10458
USA
(718) 817-4064
iped@fordham.edu.

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