The Faculty of Philology at the University “Ukshin Hoti” Prizren welcomed two Peace Corps Volunteers, who will contribute to the academic development and professional support of the Department of English Language and Literature, as part of projects awarded to the Faculty in cooperation with the Peace Corps.

Douglas Upton, a Peace Corps Volunteer, serves as an Advisor for Needs Assessment and Evaluative Review at the Faculty of Philology. He is engaged in a six-month project aimed at evaluating the opportunities and prospects of the Master’s programs in the Department of English Language and Literature. Mr. Upton is a Stanford University graduate and brings over 25 years of experience in fostering innovation and collaboration in higher education, particularly in academic mobility and best practices in international education.

Travis Holland, an American writer and Peace Corps Volunteer, is engaged to support academic activities in English literature. He is an established author, with his works published in prestigious literary journals such as Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, and Five Points. His debut novel, The Archivist’s Story, was nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award and has been translated into eleven languages. The book has received numerous recognitions, including Guardian Readers’ Pick (2007), Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers Award, and was selected as one of the Best Books of the Year by Financial Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and Metro.co.uk. In 2008, he received the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award.

During their visit to the university, the volunteers were welcomed in a meeting by Prof. Assoc. Dr. Mentor Alishani, Rector of the University “Ukshin Hoti” Prizren; Prof. Ass. Dr. Luan Vardar, Prorector for Teaching and Academic Affairs; Prof. Assoc. Dr. Serdan Kervan, Prorector for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement; and Prof. Assoc. Dr. Sermin Turtulla, who has led the Peace Corps collaboration projects and played a key role in facilitating the volunteers’ academic engagement.

University leadership expressed their appreciation for the contributions of the volunteers and highly valued the collaboration with the Peace Corps, considering it an important opportunity to strengthen academic capacities, advance internationalization, and enhance the quality of teaching and research at the Faculty of Philology.

The University “Ukshin Hoti” Prizren values the engagement of the volunteers and the support of the Peace Corps in professional development for staff and students, as well as in advancing academic standards at the institution.