Welcome

About the KSU Peace Corps Fellows Program
KSU provides two graduate student assistantships to Peace Corps Fellows enrolled in the Career Growth M.B.A. or M.A.C.C. programs, and each GRA receives a stipend of $2,000 per semester (during the Fall and Spring semesters over a 2 year period). Graduate Research Assistants pay student fees and insurance, but their tuition is waived. This work is performed in conjunction with the International Centre in the Coles College of Business to serve the Maya Heritage community projects described below. The Fellows will receive academic guidance from the Director of the International Centre, the Director of the Graduate Business Programs, the KSU Fellows/USA committee, and an assigned supervisor with the community partner. These mentoring relationships focus on the needs of the Fellows and the Maya community, and serve as a means to solicit feedback on the program for continuous improvement. Fellows are evaluated on their ability to work effectively and appropriately with the Maya, and with the local educational, health, social and governmental agencies of North Georgia.

The Kennesaw State University Peace Corps Fellows work with Maya Native American communities in North Georgia. In their fieldwork, fellows analyze and address social, economic, and political conditions within the region brought on, in part, by these new Native American communities. The majority of the Maya population comes from Guatemala, but some come from the Chiapas area of Mexico. At home, the first language is usually one of the Maya languages, and although most men speak Spanish in addition to Maya, nearly half of the women who have come to Georgia do not. Maya children born in the United States might grow up with a mixture of Maya, Spanish, and English, leaving many of them unprepared in any language for the demands of school. At school, Maya children are sometimes assumed to be native Spanish speakers, and thus placed in Spanish languages classes, where they do poorly. Misunderstandings between the Maya and Georgian schools and governmental agencies can create difficult and unnecessary situations.

Various state agencies, including law enforcement, healthcare providers and public schools as well as nonprofit organizations and local businesses benefit from the Fellows program aimed at analyzing issues and finding solutions. Fellows are part of the Maya Heritage Community Project (MHCP) at Kennesaw State University (KSU), working with faculty, students, and local organizations, including the Maya organization of Maya Pastoral, Inc. The MHCP educates Maya about U.S. law, health, and safety; and educates faculty and students about the ancient and modern culture of the Maya. To date, various programs of the MHCP have included health and safety seminars for the Maya, and while helping governmental and nongovernmental agencies with language translations and cultural awareness. The Maya Heritage Community Project links the academic mission of the university and the economic and social interests of Georgia.

Through initiatives such as the Peace Corps Fellows Program, KSU promotes responsible global citizenship in ways that help develop an understanding and appreciation of the history and culture of the world’s many peoples and nations, an ability to communicate and interact across cultures, the valuing of social justice, and a commitment to sustainable development. KSU’s Career Growth Master’s in Business Administration program provides a world-class curriculum allowing customization and focus on personal and professional goals. Students are prepared for success in a business climate of innovation and globalization as provided by an applied curriculum and mentoring philosophy. The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

For more information contact, Dan Paracka (770) 423-6732 or Alan Lebaron (770) 423-6589.