Want to spend a year or two after graduation making a difference in the country and/or world? Committing to full time service and/or public service fellowships after graduating from college has grown increasingly popular in the past 40 years. In fact, many of today's distinguished leaders in fields including politics, business, and journalism have completed such terms of service through national and international programs. As critical needs become more pervasive and apparent, young idealists armed with their college educations are joining these programs to meet these needs, gain real-world experiences, and hone their own skills. Alumnae of these programs not only gain the satisfaction of having contributed to the public good, but may leave with that edge needed to attain acceptance into lucrative grad programs and professional positions in their fields.

As these programs grow increasingly selective, let the Lindy Center support you in preparing for the application process. It's never too early to start!

Post-Graduation Service Programs | Public Service Fellowships | Alumni In Service | Service & Your Resume

Post-Graduation Service Programs

	Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. Whether your service makes a community safer, gives a child a second chance, or helps protect the environment, you'll be getting things done through AmeriCorps. www.americorps.gov/
	The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship. www.peacecorps.gov/
	Jesuit Volunteers make a commitment to serve where the need is greatest, to work with people who are marginalized by society and to live in apostolic community with other JVs. In all, about 250 JVs each year work in the United States and in seven countries around the world. www.jesuitvolunteers.org/
	The mission of Teach for America is to build the movement to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting our nation's most promising future leaders in the effort. www.teachforamerica.org/
	As tutors, mentors and role models, City Year's diverse young leaders help children stay in school and on track, and transform schools and communities across the United States, as well as through international affiliates in Johannesburg, South Africa and London, England. Just as important, during their year of service corps members develop civic leadership skills they can use throughout a lifetime of community service. www.cityyear.org/
	Through BVS, Brethren Volunteer Service, people give their time and skills to help a world in need. Volunteers work at issues greater than themselves, recognizing that their efforts may not immediately solve deep-rooted problems. Yet everyone can be part of the on-going work to advocate for justice, work for peace, serve human need, and care for creation. http://www.brethren.org/genbd/bvs/
	Cross-Cultural Solutions is a not-for-profit international volunteer organization that operates volunteer programs in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Peru, Russia, Tanzania, and Thailand. Our programs offer a unique opportunity for participants to work side-by-side with local people, on locally designed and driven projects. Our volunteer programs are designed to facilitate hands-on service and cultural exchange in the aim of fostering cultural understanding. As an international volunteer, you will participate in meaningful community development and gain a whole new perspective of the world. http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/
	Lutheran Volunteer Corps: Since 1979, more than 1,200 men and women have joined the Lutheran Volunteer Corps to work for justice, live in intentional community, and simplify their lifestyle, while exploring their spirituality. Grassroots, community-based agencies across the country count on Lutheran Volunteers to provide essential services in the areas of education, public safety, human needs, and the environment. Many programs offer the opportunity for hands-on direct service while others involve coordination, development and management of projects. http://www.lutheranvolunteercorps.org/template/index.cfm
	The Emerson Hunger Fellows Program is a year-long fellowship that trains emerging leaders in the fight against hunger. The program provides twenty participants with a broad understanding of the problem of hunger, the skills necessary to contribute to a solution, and the personal experience that puts faces and names to these issues. http://www.hungercenter.org/fellowships/emerson/
	The Vincentian Service Corps is for men and women who want to give one year of their lives to serve the poor, live in community with other Corps members, and experience a simple lifestyle. http://www.vscorps.org/
	In partnership with the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, lay women and men of Mercy Volunteer Corps, enter into relationship with people who are economically poor or marginalized. In a spirit of mutuality, volunteers cultivate mercy and justice in the world by embracing compassionate?service, social justice, spirituality and a?simple lifestyle?in community. http://mercyvolunteers.org

Public Service Fellowships

Undergraduate Research and Enrichment Programs (UREP) is a resource for students who want to find opportunities in public service and public policy as undergraduates and beyond. Their website has a searchable database for fellowships and their criteria to assist you in your search. For more information and assistance in applying for these opportunities, students should visit/contact UREP.

Alumni In Service

The following profiles feature Drexel alumni that have engaged in public service programs following graduation. Feel free to contact them directly for questions/support related to post-graduation public service opportunities.

Shelby Drayton, Class of 2013

My name is Shelby Drayton and I graduated from Drexel in 2013 with a Bachelors degree in Behavioral Health Counseling. During my years at Drexel I worked with the Lindy Scholars Program as an advisor and a program coordinator. After graduation I moved to San Antonio, Texas to work with an Americorps program known as City Year.

City Year’s goal is to reduce the dropout rate and help to get students back on track for graduation. The program itself works with 3rd-9th grade students who are at risk of dropping out based on three early warning indicators known as the ABC’s: poor Attendance, disruptive Behavior, and Course failure in math and English.

I work specifically in a 7th grade math classroom with about 10 students throughout the day. I also have 3 lunch groups in which we talk about how to become a better leader in our home, school, and community. I manage a caseload of students and conduct weekly check-ins to see how they are doing with attending classes and getting there on time. I serve as the Afterschool Coordinator for my team in which I get to organize and oversee content and lessons for the afterschool program that we run at the school.

Though I am only halfway through my first year, I can see the growth and development in myself, my coworkers, and my students. Because of this positive experience I plan to serve another year with City Year San Antonio as a Team Leader.  As I continue with the program I look forward to growing into more of a Servant Leader.

Yours in Service,
Shelby Drayton 

Clinton Burkhart, Class of 2011

I am Clinton Burkhart, Drexel Class of 2011.  I graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and have use it every day at work as a high school science teacher in the South Bronx, NYC.  I have been teaching science all over NYC for two years and have taught not only just biology but chemistry and physics as well.

My love affair with education and raising the achievement gap among urban youth started during my time at Drexel.  I worked to help build the Lindy Scholars program when it started in 2008.  From 2009-2011 I helped build the program by not only tutoring as a Lindy Scholar Advisor, but I was student coordinator until I graduated in 2011.  Also in 2011 I had the distinct pleasure of speaking during the ceremonies for the inauguration of President Fry about the Lindy Scholars Program and how we were raising the achievement of the students that we tutored and mentored.

My work now as a teacher in NYC, and especially in the South Bronx (the poorest school district in the country!) has been especially rewarding.  Being able to combine my two passions, science and education, in a way that serves other people and (I hope) makes a true difference in the world today is something that I feel truly lucky to have found.  It isn't without it challenges but that only helps to strengthen my zeal that this is a cause worth fighting for.

I thank my lucky stars and the terrific staff at the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement (past and present) who with their service and support of me during my time at Drexel has led me to a place where I know that I am making a difference in so many lives.

Yours in Service,
Clinton Burkhart 

Starbuck Ballner, 2008
AmeriCorps*NCCC

My name is Starbuck Ballner, I'm a 2008 recipient of a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Drexel's LeBow Business School. In 2009 I was selected to a Corps Member position in AmeriCorps NCCC, the National Civilian Community Corps, a federal service program for 18-24 year olds. I applied to AmeriCorps NCCC because I knew it would grant me the opportunity to develop my own service projects, travel the country, and experience a diverse engagement of service fields. During my 10 months of service, my team was assigned to; lead volunteers and development community revitalization projects in New Orleans, clean up homes after a flood in Tennessee, engineer bunk beds for a summer camp in Virginia, construct hiking trails in Washington, learn wild land fire fighting practices in a state forest in Maryland, and build low income family homes in Maine. My experience working within a diverse team with various skills, abilities, and backgrounds in partnership with local community non-profit organizations led me to my current position as a Project Coordinator with All Hands Volunteers, an international non-profit that manages volunteer projects in communities affected by natural disasters.  Email: starbuck.ballner@gmail.com

Justin Bradley
AmeriCorps*VISTA and State

My name is Justin Bradley and I graduated from Drexel in 2009 with a degree in Psychology and minors in Political Science and Economics.  While at Drexel, I participated in the Center for Civic Engagement's Drexel Community Scholars program working on a project to engage students in developing service projects.  Shortly after graduating, I left the City of Brotherly Love to do a year of AmeriCorps with Habitat for Humanity of East King County near Seattle where I worked with volunteers to build decent, affordable homes for families with a low-income.  Upon finishing up my year of service, I went after the big money... with another year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA with GRID Alternatives, a non-profit based in Oakland, California that uses volunteers to install Solar Electric systems for homeowners with a low-income across the state of California.  I helped develop a national expansion plan that I'm proud to say will begin next year with GRID Alternative's first project outside of California!  I currently work for an awesome solar leasing company in Oakland called Sungevity and I still maintain a few service projects on the side including a non-profit called Power to the People that installs solar electric systems on rural schools in Nicaragua and Tanzania.  In addition to being a wonderful experience, my three years of national service through AmeriCorps prepared me for my career in ways no school or training could have.  I feel I had a real impact on the organizations and communities I worked in and I grew greatly both professionally and personally.  Email: jab982@gmail.com

Joel Gerstman
Peace Corps

Hello, my name is Joel Gerstman.  I graduated from Drexel in 2009 with an undergraduate degree in Finance.  As of right now I am serving a 2 year stint in the Peace Corps in a village in southern Thailand.  I joined Peace Corps for probably much the same reason anyone would decide to join, namely to help people, live in a foreign country, and challenge myself to be able to adapt to a new language and new way of living.  My previous work experience in finance jobs left me largely unfulfilled and yearning to do more meaningful work.  In Thailand, I've helped in various community development roles in my village, including organic farming promotion, youth development activities, safe sex and drug education, and disaster relief work.  The experience has helped me to get a great insight into development work at the grassroots level, while also giving me the opportunity to build wonderful lifelong relationships with many of the locals here.  I don't yet know what I'll do after returning home in March 2012, but I am certain my experience as a Peace Corps volunteer will benefit me greatly in whatever lies ahead. Email: joelgerstman@gmail.com

Service & Your Resume

Click here to view the presentation "Maintaing & Utilizing Your Service Network: An Important Benefit of Volunteering is Building Your Network," developed by the Steinbright Career Development Center.