Seton Hall launched its Peace Corps Prep program on Aug. 21, which will provide field experience and leadership mentorship to undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in international development and civil service.
In partnership with the Peace Corps, the undergraduate initiative combines coursework and hands-on experience to prepare students for careers in international development and service, including future service with the Peace Corps.
Upon completing the prep program, students receive a Peace Corps certificate, a SHU digital badge and a certificate recognizing their preparation for global service.
The program—a collaboration between the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (CEPS), the School of Diplomacy and International Relations (SDIR), the Office of International Programs, the Career Center and the Division of Volunteer Efforts (DOVE)—is designed to provide students with a network of mentors.
Mary Kate Naatus, associate provost for Partnerships and Global Initiatives and dean of CEPS, said the program provides students a clear path to global service and other careers by teaching professional and leadership skills.
“Civil service and international development work are competitive and highly selective, and Peace Corps Prep builds skills that are in demand in these fields,” Naatus said. “In addition to the coursework, students will have access to career support as well as mentorship from returned Peace Corps volunteers.”
The program’s ultimate goal is to build students’ global service portfolio, Naatus said.
“Practical, experiential programs like Peace Corps Prep provide academic preparation in conjunction with practical service experience, building resilience, empathy and adaptability—skills that are crucial for success in Peace Corps and related international service programs,” Naatus said.
Naatus noted that the program is not limited to diplomacy and international relations students, emphasizing that the skills learned can be applied to any career because leadership is valuable across all sectors.
“I hope students come out of this program with a genuine sense of what it means to serve people whose lives look nothing like their own, and the humility, patience, and cultural agility that requires,” Naatus said. “If even a handful of our graduates go on to serve in the Peace Corps or another form of global service because this program gave them the confidence and preparation to do it, that's a real win.”
Courtney Smith, dean of SDIR, said the program's most beneficial aspect is its network of returned volunteers, who can guide students through leadership development.
“The Peace Corps, from the people I know who've done it, is a transformational experience, but it's not always the easiest experience,” Smith said. “I think it's important for students to have a sense of what they're actually getting into by talking to people who've done it.”
Alongside mentorship, the program provides students with training and professional development in six work sectors: agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health and youth in development. Smith said learning skills in these six areas can expand career opportunities, reflecting the School of Diplomacy and International Relations’ goal to develop students into servant leaders.
“If you have completed the Peace Corps prep program, then you're going to have a known set of skills, you're going to have competencies in these six areas and you're going to be ready to hit the ground running, I think as a more compelling applicant,” Smith said. “Seton Hall students are already well positioned to be competitive for the Peace Corps coming from a mission-driven institution.”
Tracy Robertson, Peace Corps Prep staff coordinator, said the collaboration between SHU and the Peace Corps arose in part because of the program’s new volunteer goal, as they seek to expand.
“[The] Peace Corps has a goal of getting 8,000 volunteers by 2030, so I think it's a great partnership,” Robertson said. “The world is kind of opening back up after COVID, and we really want to…encourage students to go out and explore, and really take advantage of these opportunities like Peace Corps service.”
Robertson noted the program gives students the freedom to choose where they want to lead in their community, providing opportunities that build intercultural competency.
“The Peace Prep program is really student-led,” Robertson said. “So the students would have to initiate being a part of the program. They'll meet with their coordinators who's on campus, and the school outlines what courses are a requirement, but really the idea, especially for the 50 hours in a sector that you have to volunteer, the students should identify what that opportunity is.”
With the current job market shrinking for college graduates, Robertson said the program boosts students into opportunities in the Peace Corps, where there is a strong need for volunteers.
“We really encourage people to think about it. There's a lack right now in jobs, so maybe this is the right fit,” Robertson said. “It has its benefits, and I think now, more than ever, people are taking a new look at the Peace Corps, at what it can provide and the opportunities that we give.”
Emily Harrast, a graduate diplomacy student and ambassador for the Peace Corps at SHU, speaks to classes on campus about the program, referencing her Peace Corps experience as a returned volunteer. Harrast served in Morocco from December 2022 to November 2024, during which she supported an education project.
“I did youth development, so I was teaching. I got to teach English, which is something I liked, and got to see a different culture,” Harrast said.
Harrast got her Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary’s College before serving in the Peace Corps for two years. While civil service was not her original career goal, she said joining the Peace Corps set her on the path to her future.
“My dream job is I would love to work as the Peace Corps country director, so that's in charge of one country's whole Peace Corps program,” Harrast said. “I also have really thought about being a foreign service officer. So both of those things fit really well with Peace Corps experience.”
SHU seeks to admit its first Peace Corps Prep cohort of five students this academic year, with plans to grow the program to 10 students annually. Interested students can learn more on the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies website, as well as through the Career Center.
Michela DiLorenzo is the head editor of The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at michela.dilorenzo@student.shu.edu.
