Nicole Choppin joined the Peace Corps with a clear goal: to fully immerse herself in a culture completely unlike her own. Drawn to the program’s emphasis on language training, long-term service, and community integration, she found herself in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, ready to learn, live, and grow alongside the people there.
Now back in the U.S. and pursuing her MSSW at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work, Nicole is continuing that spirit of service through the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program. The fellowship provides Returned Peace Corps Volunteers with tuition support, a stipend, and the opportunity to keep making a difference in underserved communities. We spoke with Nicole about what drew her to international service, how those experiences shaped her path to social work, and the insights she’s carrying forward.
Q: What inspired you to join the Peace Corps, and where did you serve?
Nicole: I was inspired to join the Peace Corps because I wanted to experience how someone in a community and culture totally unlike my own lived and experienced life. I had done a few short stints abroad at the time, but the Peace Corps was unique because of the length of time in-country, the language training, and the complete integration into a local community. I served in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia.
Q: How did your Peace Corps experience shape your decision to pursue social work?
Nicole: After the Peace Corps, I initially became a teacher, since that was my role during my service. I tried to get into international development work but couldn’t land a position, so I returned to teaching and did that for six years. Eventually, I realized that many of the challenges I witnessed — both in the U.S. and in Indonesia — were tied to broader issues like
societal inequality, trauma, and injustice. Social work felt like the right path to begin addressing those root causes, and maybe even take my work abroad again someday.
Q: Why did you choose UT’s College of Social Work for your graduate studies?
Nicole: I chose UT because of the Coverdell Fellowship. Some schools offer scholarships to returned Peace Corps volunteers, and UT not only provided full tuition and a stipend, but they were also the most responsive and welcoming during the application process. That made accepting the offer an easy choice. I was also excited to get to know a new place.
Q: What has your experience as a Coverdell Fellow been like so far?
Nicole: It’s been phenomenal. I have a graduate research assistantship with Dr. Mary Gitau, and we’ve been working on fascinating research projects together. I never thought I’d be involved in research, but it’s been a great experience — it’s made research feel much more approachable and less intimidating.
Q: What’s next for you after graduation?
Nicole: I’m not sure yet. I could see myself staying in Tennessee or going back to Maryland and working in an agency, possibly as a therapist. I’d love to work with the Hispanic or immigrant population in some capacity.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share about the Peace Corps or your journey?
Nicole: There’s so much to say about the Peace Corps — it’s a life-changing experience, and I’d recommend it to anyone. But I also think it’s important to be honest about the power dynamics involved. Peace Corps service often benefits the volunteer more than the host community. Going into it thinking you’re going to “save” a community is naive and feeds into a colonial or white savior mindset. Local communities don’t need to be saved — they already have a wealth of knowledge and experience. The real value is in the cultural exchange. If you approach the experience with humility, mutual respect, and a mindset of learning from each other, it can be incredibly meaningful for everyone involved.