The Peace Corps ranks University of Georgia at No. 5 among large schools on the agency’s list of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities in 2020. There are 64 Bulldogs currently volunteering in countries around the world.
UGA made a big leap to No. 5 from last year’s spot at No. 13.
“UGA’s commitment to the Peace Corps is ongoing,” said Yana Cornish, director of global education. “The recent growth of participation in the UGA Peace Corps Prep Certificate program has prepared our students and given them a competitive edge which in turn, has had a positive impact on the number of UGA graduates applying to serve with the Peace Corps.”
Since the agency’s founding in 1961, over 710 alumni from UGA have served abroad as Peace Corps volunteers. The university’s Peace Corps Prep program provides undergraduates with an opportunity to integrate coursework with hands-on experience and professional development and prepare them for international development fieldwork and potential Peace Corps service.
Elysia Moon is a UGA alumna who received a Bachelor of Arts in international affairs from the School of Public and International Affairs in 2017. She is currently serving in the Dominican Republic.
Elysia Moon. (Submitted photo)
“My time at University of Georgia helped develop my passion for service, cross-culturally and internationally. Between the challenges of international affairs classes and the experience of four years working in Recreational Sports, UGA prepared me to be an inclusive, enthusiastic self-starter and instilled a dedication to service that I’ve put into practice here in the southwest Dominican Republic. But the most palpable thing I’ve brought from UGA was my love of connecting with people through dance from my time in the UGA Ballroom Performance Group, a love that brings me together with my community,” Moon said.
The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. Below, are the top five schools and the number of alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers.
Large Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:
More than 15,000 Undergraduates
- University of Wisconsin, Madison – 79
- University of Florida – 70
- University of Virginia – 68
- University of Maryland, College Park – 66
- University of Georgia – 64