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You have confidence and courage. You are a changemaker who blazes trails and breaks through barriers. You are going to leave the world better than you found it. You are an educator. At Mount Holyoke College, you will take flight and take your career to a whole new level.
Our graduate students are teaching and learning across the country. We will help you grow and thrive throughout your career. Whether you are entering your own classroom for the first time, or ready to reinvigorate your practice, we are here for you. Ready to lead? Mount Holyoke will help you hone your vision and build your skills as a mentor to your colleagues and an advocate for your community. Our alum are coaches, writers, speakers, policymakers and leaders.
Join our community of kindred spirits. We are educators who are dedicated to social justice and promoting equity and belonging through our work.
Through the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows program, Mount Holyoke College Graduate Programs selects up to two Return Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) for each Masters program who will receive a 50% tuition scholarship. All students do either a student teaching placement or work on a capstone project. Students work with underserved, impoverished and/or disadvantaged communities and will work closely with a mentor throughout the process.
As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV), you embody the Mount Holyoke College mission: you are intellectually adventurous catalysts. You are role models for thoughtful, effective, and purposeful engagement with a dynamic world. You are shaping a better future for us all. This is why Mount Holyoke College partners with the Peace Corps. We want to support returned Peace Corps volunteers as they prepare for new chapters in life. The Paul D. Coverdell Fellows program is how we connect.
We are looking for Coverdell Fellows who are interested in furthering their careers as educators. Our three Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) programs, including the initial teacher licensure program, math teaching program, and teacher leadership program, all participate in the Coverdell program. Fellows accepted into one of these programs receive a 50% tuition scholarship and are paired with specially selected mentors.
“Both the Peace Corps and the Mount Holyoke MAT program have helped me focus my energy on the things that matter most to me - family, community, and helping others reach their potential. Both experiences will impact my choices and guide my decisions for the rest of my life. I was first introduced to the MAT program at Mount Holyoke through their partnership with a local public school district. As a non-traditional student, I appreciated Mount Holyoke’s commitment to training excellent teachers based on their potential. My age, family status, and life experiences were seen as assets, not liabilities, and my Peace Corps experience was considered a valued perspective throughout my time in the program.” - Kellee Davis, RPCV (Gambia), MAT ‘17
“I wanted to attend a school that valued teaching to all students and to supporting those who need it most. I did research and Mount Holyoke seemed like a strong program in a state that had a high bar for licensure.” - Chris Heden, RPCV (Liberia), MAT‘22
“Joining the Peace Corps was a part of a much longer path that I felt I needed to be the best teacher I could be. However, my Peace Corps experience was also eye-opening to my own limitations as a teacher within a larger system. I knew upon returning that I couldn’t give up teaching, but I needed to better learn the entire system. My time in the Peace Corps taught me what the power that motivated and engaged members within an education system could have on student performance. Mount Holyoke also had that, so, as a student, I knew they would help me thrive. I love the program philosophy of learning through practice. The program was amazing during the admissions process, treating me as a candidate and not a number they could easily replace. I knew that a faculty that was student-centered would help me become a student-centered teacher. I felt that the stakeholders of this program would help me realize my dreams.” - Leigha Jones, RPCV (Indonesia), MAT ‘16
a completed application, available at: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/admission/apply-graduate-student
a college transcript verifying the successful completion of at least a Bachelor's degree
two letters of recommendation
a personal essay
and a confirmation letter from the Peace Corps indicating your service.
The admissions committee reviews all applications on a rolling basis.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at: graduateadmissions@mtholyoke.edu or 413-538-3478. You can also sign up for a meeting with our admissions coordinator.
All Coverdell Fellows do an internship in the form of either a student teaching placement or a capstone project. They work with their program directors to identify projects and settings that will help them develop their knowledge, skills, and practice as educators. With the guidance and support of professional mentors throughout the process, they are able to explore a range of opportunities to serve impoverished and disadvantaged youth and communities.
