Eastern Illinois University has long been known for its focus on service, leadership, and the kind of personal mentorship that helps students grow with confidence. That mission is now expanding through the University’s ‘Peace Corps Prep Program,’ a two-year pathway that helps students build the skills and understanding needed for meaningful global service. The initiative is led by Dr. Robert “Tanner” Bivens, who joined EIU in 2024, and has been working to connect students with opportunities that stretch beyond the classroom.
The program is built around four major components recognized by the national Peace Corps: sector-specific skills, foreign language development, intercultural learning, and professional readiness. Students complete targeted coursework, hands-on volunteer service, and ongoing mentorship that aligns with their area of interest. Four students: Yarianis Vargas, Alex Konopka, Nicolette Reed, and Brianne O’Toole, are already working through the curriculum and say the experience is helping them picture how their future careers might shape up.
Much of the momentum behind the program comes from Bivens’ desire to make global-service pathways feel accessible. He often shares that, as a student himself, he once felt unsure about how to step toward opportunities like the Peace Corps. That feeling shaped his commitment to developing a program that gives students a clear route, plenty of encouragement, and practical preparation. Since taking on leadership of the initiative, he has overseen its redevelopment, helped secure institutional approval, and organized early events such as networking sessions with returned Peace Corps Volunteers and service-learning workshops. The program officially opened to student applications in Fall 2025.
Students who enroll complete at least 50 hours of volunteer community service tied to their chosen sector, following national guidelines. EIU’s new program mirrors that mission by helping students gain the confidence and global awareness needed to take on such roles.
Visit www.eiu.edu for more information.
