The George Washington University is No. 4 among medium-sized schools on the Peace Corps’ 2014 list of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities, with 41 alumni currently serving as volunteers.
GW has consistently been at the top of the Peace Corps Top Colleges list, holding the No. 3 position in 2013 and the top spot among medium schools from 2009 to 2012. Since the Peace Corps was established in 1961, nearly 1,140 GW graduates have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers.
“GW students are lifelong learners, committed to building mutually beneficial relationships across diverse cultures and using their education to make the world a better place,” said Amy Cohen, executive director of the Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service. “We are proud to see the enthusiasm with which so many of them embrace Peace Corps service year after year.”
Chloe Lew, B.A. ’10, is serving as a Peace Corps health volunteer in Nicaragua. She has been teaching and living in a boarding house with 16 underprivileged adolescent girls from rural communities and has been developing ChatSalud, a mobile health initiative that connects Nicaraguan youth to sexual and reproductive health information through text messaging.
She said the GW campus “radiates commitment to social justice and activism,” which further fueled her passion for service.
“My experience at GW provided me invaluable exposure to the international development field through my academic studies and access to the plethora of relevant NGOs and agencies conveniently located in D.C.,” said Ms. Lew. “Some things cannot be taught in a classroom, nor can they be learned in a standard post-graduate job. Peace Corps is a unique opportunity to compliment your education with practical experience in a challenging, cross-cultural setting.”
Peace Corps volunteers live and work at the community level, promoting a better understanding between Americans and the people they serve, while at the same time becoming global citizens. When they return home, volunteers bring knowledge and experiences that give them a competitive edge for 21st-century jobs and advanced educational opportunities.
Scott Kumis, the Peace Corps recruiter for GW, plans on attending the GW Career Fair Feb. 27 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Marvin Center. To contact Mr. Kumis, students may call 202-692-1049 or email [email protected].
The Peace Corps lists the top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. Medium colleges and universities have between 5,000 and 15,000 undergraduates. Listings are calculated based on fiscal year 2013 data as of Sept. 30, 2013, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.