Middlebury Named a Top Peace Corps Producer Once Again
Middlebury College has once again been recognized as a leader in global service. The Peace Corps has ranked Middlebury No. 7 among small colleges and universities on its 2026 list of top volunteer-producing schools, a distinction that reflects the college’s longstanding commitment to service, language learning, and global engagement.
Even more exciting for our community: Grace Mtunguja ’26, a Spanish and Political Science double major and CCI Ambassador, is among the newest Peace Corps recruits preparing to serve abroad.
Over the past fiscal year, nine Middlebury graduates served in nine countries, including Armenia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Togo. Since the Peace Corps was founded in 1961, 549 Middlebury alumni have served as volunteers around the world. Peace Corps Acting Director Richard E. Swarttz emphasized the impact of partnerships with colleges and universities that inspire students to pursue meaningful service after graduation. Volunteers work alongside local communities in agriculture, education, health, youth development, the environment, and community economic development. The organization’s mission continues to resonate decades after its founding. As Swarttz noted, Peace Corps service remains “the toughest job you’ll ever love.”
For many students and alumni, the path to Peace Corps service begins in the classroom. Alumna Summer Eaton ’25, currently serving in Viet Nam as an English education volunteer, credits Middlebury’s liberal arts approach with shaping her journey.
Middlebury College emphasizes developing well-rounded global citizens. This academic flexibility exposed me to diverse cultures and fields of study and nurtured my curiosity about languages and global communities.
Her experience reflects what makes Middlebury a strong Peace Corps partner: a culture that encourages students to explore broadly, learn deeply, and serve thoughtfully.
This year’s ranking feels especially meaningful for the Center for Careers and Internships. Grace Mtunguja ’26, who works as a CCI Ambassador, has been accepted as a Peace Corps recruit. Grace’s academic interests in Spanish and Political Science, and her commitment to supporting fellow students through her work at CCI, make Peace Corps service a natural next step. She joins a global network of volunteers dedicated to cross-cultural collaboration and community-driven change.
The Peace Corps’ annual rankings highlight schools that consistently produce graduates committed to service and global impact. For Middlebury, the No. 7 ranking among small schools underscores the college’s deep-rooted culture of civic engagement and international connection. As the Peace Corps looks ahead to its goal of supporting 8,000 volunteers in service by 2030, Middlebury students and alumni continue to play a meaningful role in advancing that mission.
For students considering their own post-graduation paths, Grace’s journey is a powerful reminder: your Middlebury experience can take you anywhere, and make a difference everywhere.
About the Peace Corps: The U.S. Government’s premier international volunteering agency, the Peace Corps sends passionate and skilled Americans abroad to collaborate on projects that advance both American and host country priorities. This year, the agency commemorates 65 years of promoting world peace and friendship through volunteer service while partnering with America250 to encourage more Americans to give back. Since 1961, the Peace Corps has played a vital role in advancing U.S. global engagement through the work of close to 250,000 volunteers serving in 144 host countries. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov and follow the agency on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.