FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, February 27, 1997

Frances Bond Named Director of Peace Corps Fellows Program

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 27—Peace Corps Director Mark Gearan has appointed Frances T. Bond to be the new director of the Peace Corps Fellows program.
For the last three years, Bond has been associate director of the program, which enables returned Peace Corps volunteers to earn a master\'s degree while applying their skills and experience to projects in under-served American communities.,
Peace Corps Fellows at 25 universities throughout the United States receive scholarships or reduced-cost tuition to enroll in two-year graduate programs in education, nursing, public health, business, community development, and other fields. In return, they make a two-year commitment to serve communities near the participating university, working in under-staffed urban schools, public housing communities, rural towns, and on Indian reservations.
"The Fellows program is a tangible example of how the Peace Corps is applying the unique skills and experiences of its returned Volunteers to tackle problems here at home," said Gearan. "By sharing with U.S. communities the lessons learned from 36 years of international development work, the Peace Corps is truly fulfilling its legacy of service. Because of her extensive experience and dedication, I believe Fran Bond is the perfect choice to lead this vital program."
In her new role as director of the Fellows program, Bond aims to increase the "institutionalization" of Fellows programs at respective universities. Participating universities will be encouraged to develop their own funding sources, thereby ensuring the long-term sustainability of the program. Bond also intends to expand community-enhancement programs at participating universities.
Bond, who lives in Baltimore, brings nearly 30 years of experience in higher education to this position. She has a Ph.D. in Human Development, Research, and Guidance Counseling from the University of Maryland, and prior to her work with the Fellows program, she served as the Associate Dean of the College of Education at Towson State University for 13 years. At Towson State, she was also the Chairperson of the Department of Early Childhood Education for seven years, and prior to that served an eight-year tenure as a faculty member in the College of Education.

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