Peace Corps Fellows Program in Community Development


  • Karen Mauldin-Curtis, Program Manager
  • Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA)
  • 503 Currens Hall, One University Circle
  • Macomb, IL 61455
  • Phone: 309-298-2268
  • Fax: 309-298-3216
  • TDD:
  • Email: k-mauldin-curtis@wiu.edu
  • Website: peacecorpsfellows-wiu.org/rtac

Purpose of the Program

The Peace Corps Fellows Program in Community Development operates as a unit of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA). The program is a graduate level fellowship program that recruits former Peace Corps volunteers into graduate programs at WIU and provides them with specialized training in community and economic development. Once course work is completed, the Fellows are then placed in full-time internships to assist small towns with the implementation of community projects, such as: downtown revitalization, comprehensive planning, business retention and expansion, entrepreneurship development, tourism development, community housing, health education and outreach, volunteer management, and organizational capacity building. Program staff monitor progress and provide technical assistance throughout the 11 month internship.

Who is Eligible

Completed application and sponsorship fee.

Application Process

Applications accepted on ongoing basis; internships begin in September and January.

Availability of Funds

N/A

How Funds are to be used

N/A

Types of Assistance

Technical Assistance, Full-time graduate intern.

Year Program was established

1994