AU ranked in the top four of universities producing the most Peace Corps volunteers for the fourth year in a row.
The University ranked third among medium-sized universities, according to the 2012 Peace Corps Top Colleges List.
AU was also ranked third for the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers from graduate school.
Peace Corps volunteers from AU have increased steadily over the last seven years with 63 undergraduate alumni serving abroad last year. Fifty-five alumni served in 2010, up from 34 in 2006.
George Washington University ranked first among medium-sized universities with 78 volunteers. Western Washington University, in Washington state, placed second with 73 volunteers.
Over 860 AU alumni have volunteered with the Peace Corps since its inception in 1961, according to the Peace Corps’ Mid-Atlantic Regional Office.
College of Arts and Sciences 2007 alumna Kate Marsh is currently working as a teacher trainer in Cambodia. She said the idea of joining the Peace Corps became reality while she was at AU.
“I’m pretty sure attending American was the first step on my road to being a Peace Corps volunteer,” she said in an email. “I spent hundreds of hours volunteering on campus and in the greater D.C. community with like-minded people, which shaped my mindset about the value of volunteering, of giving one’s time and skills to others.”
Stephen Chapman, the public affairs specialist of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, said he believes AU’s high rank is due to the school’s passion for service.
“I’ve been on the AU campus a lot, and the students are very service-oriented, particularly with interests in government and international careers,” he said.
The Peace Corps attracts students who wish to work abroad and immerse themselves in meaningful work, according to Bridget O’Connell, the Career Center’s director of outreach and marketing.
Interests include HIV/AIDS education and prevention, economic development and agriculture on behalf of marginalized people.
“We’re thrilled with the 2012 ranking and we look forward to hosting Peace Corps recruiters for an information session next Monday,” O’Connell said.
