The College of Charleston’s Peace Corps Master’s International (MI) degree option is less than a year old and is already celebrating the overseas placements of two participants. Laura Mudge and Andrew Wynne will both leave for the Philippines in July to start their two-year Peace Corps assignment.
The College’s Peace Corps MI degree focuses on environmental and natural resources, so both students will be working as coastal resources management extension workers. Mudge will be working alongside members of the local agricultural department and aiding with all sorts of projects involving their fisheries, marine protected areas, and coral reef and mangrove habitats. Wynne will work with local government and management to strengthen coastal resources, and help with local food security issues.
The first class of Peace Corps MI students began taking classes and developing their independent research program with faculty in August 2011. Prior to leaving for their overseas experience, all students will take seminar courses taught by experienced international faculty geographers and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV). The courses focus on topics such as international environmental issues, maximizing productivity in an international setting, and cultural sensitivity when working in developing countries.
“I was attracted to the MI and M.E.S. program at the College because of its interdisciplinary approach, dealing with both policy and natural science sectors,” Wynne explains. “I also liked the fact that I would be the first group to enter the MI program. Right now, after I earn my Peace Corps MI, I am interested in environmental urban planning as a potential career path after PCMI, specifically working with best management practices and low impact developments.”
“The Peace Corps MI was a perfect opportunity to both continue my education and volunteer abroad,” Mudge says. “After my volunteer service and earning my Master’s degree, I would like to continue working in the field of conservation with a focus on coral reefs and marine protected areas. Not sure yet if that will mean more education (PhD) or heading into the job field – I’ll have to wait and see what opportunities are available.”
The College’s Peace Corps MI program has met its first-year goal of five students and the other students will start their overseas assignments in 2013.
The College also continues its tradition of being one of the top volunteer producing schools in the nation. With 35 alumni currently serving abroad, the College is ranked second in the Southeast and 10th in the nation for medium-sized universities.
For more information about the Peace Corps MI program, contact Dave Owens at 843.953.5614.
