College of Public Health Celebrates Peace Corps Week

February 28 – March 6, 2021 marked Peace Corps Week and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the agency that was signed into order by former President John F. Kennedy on March 1, 1961. In honor of Peace Corps Week this year, the College of Public Health at East Tennessee State University celebrated by hosting a lecture by Johnathan Tremblay, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) who served in Ethiopia. Tremblay is not only a current student in the Master of Public Health program with a concentration in health services administration, but also a Paul D. Coverdell Fellow with the College of Public Health.

“I am very proud of our many returned Peace Corps Volunteers.  Their real world experience brings a perspective that benefits all of us—faculty, staff and students,” says Dean Wykoff of the College of Public Health.

The Paul D. Coverdell Fellows program, one of the many benefits of serving in the Peace Corps, provides tuition assistance and scholarships for RPCVs who pursue graduate study in the College of Public Health. Fellows in the College of Public Health have the option to complete a Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Health Administration (MHA), or Doctor of Public Health (DrPH). Coverdell Fellows and Global Health Initiatives Coordinator, Dr. Megan Quinn said, “Coverdell Fellows not only complete their applied practice experience (APE) in an underserved area of the United States, but also have the opportunity to mentor undergraduate students in the Peace Corps Prep program, connect with other RPCVs, and share their experiences with faculty, staff, and students in the College.” There are currently 13 Coverdell Fellows completing Master of Public Health and Doctor of Public Health programs.  

Tremblay’s lecture titled “Cultivating Connections: a perspective on Peace Corps service and the conflict in Ethiopia” focused on his experience in Ethiopia and the current genocide occurring in the Tigray region. Tremblay provided insight regarding onboarding with Peace Corps, completing language school, and building connections in his community.  He shared information on how he and his wife, who served at the same time, built rapport with local community members and other Peace Corps volunteers. Tremblay went on to bring awareness to the current genocide occurring in the Tigray region and the timeline of events thus far.

“I am grateful for the ETSU Coverdell Fellows program because it has provided me the opportunity to connect with other RPCVs, potential volunteers, and my fellow students to raise awareness for Ethiopians in this time of crisis”, Tremblay said. “I feel I have, in a way, been able to extend my service by honoring the third goal of service, to strengthen Americans’ understanding of the World and it’s peoples.”