Nine University of Nebraska–Lincoln students have earned a certificate from the Peace Corps for successfully completing the Peace Corps Prep program.
The spring 2025 group is the largest to date, bringing the total number of certificate recipients to 25 since the program launched in 2021. Nebraska’s Peace Corps Prep program integrates coursework, hands-on experiences and professional development, preparing undergraduates for potential Peace Corps service by building four core competencies: sector-specific skills, foreign language proficiency, intercultural competence and professional leadership. Each student focuses on one Peace Corps sector: agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health or youth in development.
Students can take the Intercultural Development Inventory assessment upon acceptance and completion, receive a study abroad scholarship and engage with peers and local returned Peace Corps volunteers through events, mentorship and group volunteer experiences. Certificate recipients gain a competitive edge when applying for Peace Corps service.
The latest recipients represent two academic colleges and four Peace Corps sectors. Upon graduation, two will pursue a master’s degree in public health at Emory University, two will participate in a forensic archeology excavation in France, four will work or volunteer and one will teach. Three students have plans to apply for Peace Corps service.
Following is a list of students who completed Peace Corps Prep in spring 2025, listed alphabetically by hometown, with their academic major(s), college(s) and Peace Corps sector.
Nebraska
Lincoln:
- Sara Al-Rishawi, global studies and psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, health
- Aya Boko, elementary education and global studies, College of Arts and Sciences and College of Education and Human Sciences, education
- Anna Little, global studies, College of Arts and Sciences, environment
- Alexis Peterson, French and global studies, College of Arts and Sciences, education
- Kate Wandsnider, global studies, College of Arts and Sciences, youth in development
Omaha:
- Mu Hsar Eh, psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, health
- Paul Suder, biological sciences and French, College of Arts and Sciences, health
Papillion:
- Abigail Shih, biochemistry and Spanish, College of Arts and Sciences, health
Elsewhere in the U.S.
Tucson, Arizona:
- Dane Chamberlin, global studies and political science, College of Arts and Sciences, youth in development
The Global Experiences Office administers the Peace Corps Prep program in partnership with the School of Global Integrative Studies. The program is open to undergraduate students from any college. International students may complete the Peace Corps Prep program, but applicants to serve in the Peace Corps must be U.S. citizens. To learn more, click here or contact Rebecca Baskerville at rlbaskerville@unl.edu.
