The Peace Corps announced on Sept. 30 that Monmouth University ranked No. 5 among Peace Corps Prep schools on the agency’s list of top certificate-issuing institutions in 2020. Monmouth issued 28 Prep certificates to the graduating class of 2020, tying it in fifth place with Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.
Peace Corps Prep is a certificate program that teaches students sector-specific skills, foreign language proficiency, intercultural competence and professional experience and leadership. While having a Peace Corps Prep certificate does not guarantee acceptance into the Peace Corps, enrolling in the program will help students be more competitive.
“Partner institutions that provide Peace Corps Prep programs are an invaluable asset, because they help potential Volunteers attain education and training that makes them more competitive candidates,” said Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen. “Prep-certified Volunteers often arrive in their communities possessing valuable leadership skills and intercultural savvy—necessary building blocks to achieving lasting impact. We applaud partners for their dynamic role in our Volunteers’ success.”
There are more than 140 Peace Corps Prep partner institutions across the country. Established in 2007, the program aims to meet the demand for Peace Corps Volunteers with a broad and relevant areas of expertise and to support schools’ efforts to provide substantive, globally focused experiences for their students.
The program centers on empowering students to prepare themselves to be the best Peace Corps Volunteer they can be and is an opportunity for colleges and universities to globalize their campuses through a partnership with the Peace Corps. This diversity-focused program enhances students’ undergraduate experience by preparing them for international development fieldwork and potential Peace Corps service.
“Peace Corps Prep is a wonderful opportunity for all undergraduate students to develop competencies that will fortify their aspirations to serve abroad,” said La’Teashia Sykes, Peace Corps director of University Programs. “Congratulations to the top ten Peace Corps Prep certificate issuing schools, and a special thanks to all of our partnering institutions for cultivating students’ interest in Peace Corps service.”
“The real strength of our program comes from our contact with Monmouth alumni who are Peace Corps Volunteers and Coverdell Fellows,” said Frank Cipriani, director of the Peace Corps Prep Program at Monmouth University. “For instance, last year, we were able to send students to visit Monmouth alumni serving in Morocco and Ethiopia. We owe a great debt to our Coverdell Fellow, Leila Ali, a Monmouth graduate who came back to our graduate program and helped recruit a record number of students. Monmouth University is New Jersey’s Peace Corps Prep university, and we could not be prouder of our Peace Hawks!”
About the Peace Corps
The Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad on behalf of the United States to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, Volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.