Bethlehem, Pa., September 10, 2015 – The Peace Corps and Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary today announced a new partnership that will offer students a unique combination of undergraduate coursework and community service that prepares them for a career in international development.

Moravian College students will be able to apply to the new Peace Corps Prep program for enrollment beginning Fall 2015.

“Students today have a passion for service and are interested in not just imagining a better world, but rolling up their sleeves and doing something about it,” Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “Through the Peace Corps Prep program, Moravian College students can develop skills specifically targeted to Peace Corps service and careers in the international development and service communities.”

Students in Moravian College’s Peace Corps Prep program will build hands-on experience and leadership skills while completing courses focused on intercultural competence and foreign language. Upon completion of the program, which will be housed in the Career Development Center, students will receive a signed certificate of completion from the Peace Corps.

“Moravian College students have had a long history with the Peace Corps because of their deep interests in social justice and service to the community,” said Cynthia Kosso, provost and dean of the faculty at Moravian College. “Many of our students have served in it. We are delighted now to have a formal program to better prepare them for the experiences the Peace Corps has to offer.”

The Peace Corps has Peace Corps Prep program partnerships with more than 25 leading academic institutions nationwide. Established in 2007, the program aims to support schools’ efforts to provide substantive, globally focused experiences for their students. Those who successfully complete the program make competitive Peace Corps applicants.

Pennsylvania recently ranked No. 6 among Peace Corps’ top volunteer-producing states in the nation. Two-hundred-seventy (270) residents of the Keystone State are currently serving in the Peace Corps. In 2013, Pennsylvania ranked No. 8 nationally for the production of Peace Corps volunteers.

About the Peace Corps:  The Peace Corps sends the best and brightest Americans abroad on behalf of the United States to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. Volunteers work at the grassroots level to develop sustainable solutions that address challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their service, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, nearly 220,000 Americans of all ages have served in 140 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.