George Washington University holds the No. 1 spot as a producer of Peace Corps volunteers among medium-sized schools on the program’s 2018 list of colleges and universities.
GW has consistently ranked in the top five for the past 12 years. This year is also the sixth time in the past decade that GW has ranked first on the Peace Corps’ list of medium-sized schools, which includes colleges and universities with 5,000 to 15,000 undergraduate students.
There are currently 50 GW undergraduate alumni serving as Peace Corps volunteers across the world, including in Central America, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia, as shown in this interactive map provided by the Peace Corps. Since the agency was founded in 1961, a total of 1,260 GW students have served in the Peace Corps. GW also ranks fourth among graduate schools on the 2018 list with 15 total volunteers.
“Our students are deeply engaged in research, learning and service in partnership with our community in D.C. and beyond,” said Amy Cohen, executive director of the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service. “Our students have had a chance to couple their academic, cultural and civic interests with service in the real world, and Peace Corps provides an excellent opportunity to deepen their engagement and impact.”
GW is one of four medium-sized universities in Washington, D.C., to make the list, with American University earning the No. 2 spot, Georgetown University at eight and Howard University at 14.
For the first time since 2012, Washington, D.C., also regains the top spot on per capita rankings with 60 volunteers who list the District as their place of residence. The Washington metropolitan area ranks as the No. 2 volunteer-producer overall with 403 D.C.-area residents currently volunteering.
“As Peace Corps volunteers, recent college and university graduates foster capacity and self-reliance at the grassroots level, making an impact in communities around the world,” said Acting Peace Corps Director Sheila Crowley. “When they return to the United States, they have new, highly sought-after skills and an enterprising spirit that further leverages their education and strengthens their communities back home.”
Those interested in becoming a Peace Corps volunteer can learn more about service opportunities by connecting with a recruiter or from the Peace Corps’ website
