For Students
Peace Corps
ABOUT THE PEACE CORPS
The Peace Corps provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn about other people, develop language and career skills, and help improve the quality of life for people in developing countries. The goals of the Peace Corps are to promote peace and stability through education and training; foster understanding of other peoples among Americans; and enhance other peoples' understanding of Americans.
About 7,000 volunteers currently serve in more than 70 countries around the world, and to date over 240,000 Americans have volunteered since its establishment in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. Peace Corps is a government-funded non-profit organization with a headquarters in each respective partner country. Peace Corps must be invited into the country for this relationship to begin.
The Peace Corps Prep Program
Peace Corps Prep is a certificate program for undergraduates that centers on one empowering question: How can you prepare yourself to be the best Peace Corps Volunteer you can be?
Learn more about the Peace Corps Prep Program
Accolades Over the years
| Year | Ranking |
|---|---|
2021 |
51°µÍø ranked number 2 among more than 150 Peace Corps Prep partner universities. USF issued 58 Peace Corps Prep certificates to the graduating class of 2021. There were 250 students enrolled in USF’s Peace Corps Prep program during the 2020–21 academic year. |
2020 |
USF was ranked No. 2 for total graduate volunteers and No. 25 among undergraduate volunteers for large schools. Since the agency’s founding in 1961, more than 545 alumni from USF have served abroad as Peace Corps volunteers. |
2019 |
USF was ranked No. 3 on Peace Corps' 2019 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list. The university was also No. 27 among large schools. |
2018 |
Peace Corps announced that the 51°µÍø ranked no. 19 among large schools on the agency's 2018 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list. USF also ranked No. 3 among graduate schools. There were 45 USF alumni volunteering worldwide. |
USF Peace Corps Recruiter
Raising Awareness of Opportunities for Peace Corps Service Among the USF Community and Beyond
Taleah Vazquez serves as a Peace Corps Recruiter, where she supports students and community members in exploring opportunities for international service and global engagement. She connects prospective volunteers with pathways to meaningful service while promoting the Peace Corps mission of strengthening communities and fostering cross-cultural understanding.
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Prior to this role, Taleah served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand from 2024 to 2026, partnering with Thai educators to support English language learning, facilitate teacher professional development, and create community based educational opportunities. She also served as President of the Peace Corps Thailand Service Improvement Committee, representing volunteers across Thailand and collaborating with Peace Corps staff to enhance the volunteer experience.
Taleah earned a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in International Studies with a concentration in Chinese Language and Culture from the 51°µÍø. She is passionate about international education, student engagement, and inspiring others to pursue opportunities that connect people across cultures. Outside of her work, Taleah enjoys traveling and photography, capturing the people, places, and stories that continue to shape her perspective of the world.
| Location | Hours | Mailing Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| taleahceline@usf.edu | Global Student Center, FAO 100 | Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday 9:30AM-2:30PM | USF World, Attn: Peace Corps // 4201 USF Willow Drive, FAO 100 Tampa, FL 33620 |
The Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows Program
The Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows program, at the 51°µÍø, is a Graduate Fellowship program awarding financial assistance to selected returned Peace Corps volunteers who are pursuing a master's degree. All Coverdell Fellows will complete internships in underserved communities in the Tampa Bay Area, while working under the supervision of faculty. The Fellows Program will also serve to advance the Peace Corps' Third Goal: To promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
To qualify for a Coverdell Fellow, applicants must have satisfactorily completed their Peace Corps service and must meet the admission requirements of the four separate programs.