ORONO — A new fellowship for returning Peace Corps volunteers will cover 100% of tuition and mandatory fees for a master’s degree in global policy at the University of Maine.
The UMaine School of Policy and International Affairs is offering the fellowship through the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, which provides financial support to former Peace Corps volunteers pursuing graduate degrees.
Starting in fall 2026, SPIA will award one Coverdell Fellowship each year. The fellowship covers two years of study (30 credits), the minimum required to complete the global policy degree. The funding is made possible through donor support.
Applications are open now and will be accepted online through Jan. 15.
“We at SPIA are excited to provide returning Peace Corps volunteers an ideal next step in their commitment to global service,” said SPIA Director Jim Settele. “They bring a wealth of field experience, cultural understanding and adaptability that align perfectly with SPIA’s mission to prepare future leaders in international affairs. This partnership with the Peace Corps offers not just a degree, but a continuation with SPIA of the mission returning volunteers began abroad.”
This is UMaine second Coverdell Fellowship, joining the existing fellowship in the master’s in social work program.
SPIA alum and former Peace Corps volunteer Katy Blackmer led UMaine’s effort to join the Coverdell Fellowship program. In the following Q&A, she discusses the application process and the benefits of the fellowship.
What makes UMaine a good partner for the organization?
UMaine is a strong partner because it already hosts a Coverdell Fellowship with the Master of Social Work. When expanding our offerings to returning Peace Corps volunteers, I felt that the School of Policy and International Affairs would be another strong partner because in my experience, it provided me with the space to build on the knowledge and skills gained during my service while advancing my academic and professional goals. SPIA’s interdisciplinary curriculum, small cohorts, and personalized faculty mentorship will allow returning Peace Corps volunteers to reflect on their Peace Corps experience and connect it to broader global challenges. The program’s emphasis on cross-cultural engagement, problem-solving, and real-world application mirrors the core values of the Peace Corps, making UMaine an ideal environment for returning Peace Corps volunteers to thrive.
What was the process like to develop this relationship between SPIA and the Coverdell Fellowship program?
I worked closely with SPIA Director Jim Settele throughout the application process to ensure we clearly represented the opportunities SPIA offers to returning Peace Corps volunteers. The Coverdell Fellowship requires that at least 25% tuition is paid for, but through the generosity of donors to SPIA and support from the Advisory Board we were able to allocate a full two years (30 credits) plus all mandatory fees covered for the Coverdell recipient. The process began in early April, and after about two-and-a-half months of planning and preparing the proposal, we submitted it and were notified in late August that SPIA had been awarded the Coverdell Fellowship. We have committed to offering one Coverdell to an RPCV each fall semester.
How do returning Peace Corps volunteers benefit from SPIA and vice versa?
The small cohort model and SPIA’s focus on intercultural and global connections gave me the space to reflect on my Peace Corps service in ways I hadn’t before. The skills, knowledge, and experiences I gained during my 27 months abroad finally had a framework where I could process them, see their value, and understand how they could be transferred and built upon for a future career. Returning Peace Corps volunteers bring that lived perspective into the classroom, enriching discussions for their peers, while at the same time learning from others’ diverse experiences to expand their own outlook, something that was very true to my own experience at SPIA.
Every returning Peace Corps volunteer has a unique experience, even those who serve in the same country. For me, the most impactful aspect was having the opportunity in the classroom to process and reflect on my service and see how it shaped me. I noticed that as a graduate student post-Peace Corps, I approached my studies differently. My service gave me real-world experiences to connect to theoretical readings, which allowed for deeper reflection and richer engagement in class discussions.
