Middlebury Among Peace Corps’ 2015 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Middlebury College is among the top schools in the Peace Corps’ 2015 rankings of volunteer-producing colleges and universities across the country. This year the College ranked third among small schools, with 16 alumni currently volunteering worldwide. The ranking is a significant jump for Middlebury, which was No. 14 last year. The Peace Corps categorizes small schools as those with less than 5,000 undergraduates.
Middlebury alumni are currently serving in Botswana, China, Jordan, Madagascar, Malawi, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, and Togo. They work in many sectors, including agriculture, education, environment, health, and community economic development.
“The Peace Corps provides an indispensable opportunity for young people out of college to put their unique skills to work making a difference for communities around the world,” said Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet.
Alumni from more than 3,000 colleges and universities nationwide have served in the Peace Corps since the agency’s founding in 1961, including 494 Middlebury alumni.
“Studying global health in particular increased my interest in development and health, which in turn spurred me to apply to the Peace Corps,” said Benjamin Wagner ’13, a health extension volunteer in Nepal. Wagner has been working with local women to establish six mushroom collectives. “The mushrooms will improve their families’ nutrition and increase their income,” he added.
Hillary Chutter-Ames ’13 serves as an agricultural extension volunteer in Togo working on food security issues. “Middlebury emphasizes strong writing and research skills, as well as public speaking and presentation – all have helped with my work in Togo,” she explained.
Two additional Vermont schools were included in the 2015 national rankings. The University of Vermont ranked No. 7 nationally among medium size schools, and Saint Michael’s College ranked No. 20 among small schools.
Vermont is the top Peace Corps volunteer-producing state in the nation on a per capita basis. Forty-nine residents of the Green Mountain State are currently serving in the Peace Corps.
This year’s rankings follow a 22-year application high for the Peace Corps.
Below are the top five colleges in the small colleges and universities category and the number of alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers. View the complete 2015 rankings of the top 25 schools in each undergraduate category here.
Small Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:
Less than 5,000 undergraduates
1. Gonzaga University (20)
2. Carleton College (17)
3. Middlebury College (16)
3. University of Puget Sound (16)
5. Macalester College (15)
*Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2014 data as of September 30, 2014, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.
About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps sends the best and brightest Americans abroad on behalf of the United States to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. Volunteers work at the grassroots level to develop sustainable solutions that address challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their service, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, nearly 220,000 Americans of all ages have served in 140 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.peacecorps.gov.