Connecticut College ranked a top producer of Peace Corps volunteers
For the third time, Connecticut College has earned a spot on the Peace Corps' annual ranking of top small colleges producing volunteers.
The College ranks No. 13 on the list, with 10 alumni currently serving in Botswana, Ethiopia, Georgia, Mexico, Paraguay, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, Tonga and Ukraine. In 2010 and 2011, the College held the No. 15 and No. 13 positions, respectively.
“Peace Corps service is an unparalleled leadership opportunity that enables college and university alumni to use the creative-thinking skills they developed in school to make an impact in communities around the world,” Acting Peace Corps Director Sheila Crowley said. “Many college graduates view Peace Corps as a launching pad for their careers because volunteers return home with the cultural competency and entrepreneurial spirit sought after in most fields.”
Conn students are taught to get close to the day-to-day challenges of local communities and connect their studies to community-building organizations like the Peace Corps.
“We are working to ensure that students develop a nuanced understanding of the intersections among language, culture, history and religion and their impact on the world in which we live,” Dean of the Faculty Abigail Van Slyck said about preparing students for global careers. “Citizenship in today’s global society requires nothing less.”
Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, 234 Connecticut College alumni have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers.
March 1, 2017
