Fort Valley State University, the historically Black educational institution in Georgia, is the latest university to join the Peace Crops Prep Program. The program is designed to train students who are interested in working abroad in international development work. This could include working for the Peace Corps or other governmental agency, nonprofit organizations, corporations, or foundations. There are now 39 colleges and universities across the United States who participate in the program.
Ann Gillespie, a veterinary technologist at Fort Valley State is coordinating student recruitment for the program, which is expected to begin at the university in the upcoming spring semester. “The program provides a framework for a well-rounded education that will help students in a global or international market. Most of the courses are in their major, so it’s just being able to add a global aspect to their major. It will not only make them more attractive to the Peace Corps but to NGO’s [non-governmental organizations] and other international organizations,” Gillespie said.