With 78 alumni currently in service, George Washington was able to again secure the top place on the Peace Corps’ list of medium-sized schools producing volunteers. Since the Peace Corps’ inception in 1961, 1,094 GW alumni have served in the corps.
“It is terrific that GW is once again the top-ranking medium-sized university for Peace Corps volunteers,” said Amy Cohen, executive director of GW’s Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service. “Our students are deeply committed to service and to working with others to make a positive impact on the world.”
The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing schools annually according to the size of the student body. Small schools have less than 5,000 undergraduates, medium-sized schools have between 5,001 and 15,000 undergraduates and large schools have more than 15,000 undergraduates. The rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2011 data as of Sept. 30, 2011, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers. This is the fourth year in a row that GW has ranked first in its category.
“Colleges and universities prepare thousands of talented undergraduate and graduate alumni for Peace Corps service every year,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams. “These alumni go on to serve as Peace Corps volunteers, applying the skills and knowledge they acquired during their studies to promote world peace and friendship and improve the lives of people around the world.”