Elon University is listed in the 2007 Peace Corps Top Colleges and Universities ranking of alumni who are currently serving as volunteers with the organization. Elon has 15 alumni currently serving around the world as Peace Corps volunteers, which ranks the university 24th in the small colleges and universities category. Details...
This marks the first time Elon has appeared in the rankings.
“I’m so pleased that our alumni have taken such an active role in the Peace Corps,” said Debby Wall, assistant director for employer relations and experiential education in the Elon Career Center. “The Peace Corps requires a commitment beyond serving in the local community, where you can be somewhat comfortable,” said Wall, who coordinates Peace Corps recruiting visits to campus. “This involves going around the world and sometimes being in uncomfortable surroundings and situations. This ranking is a testament to our alumni and their commitment to service.”
Wall said the university has cultivated a strong relationship with the Peace Corps, which has been beneficial for the organization and Elon students. “We’ve had a long-standing partnership with the Peace Corps, and they send a representative to campus at least four times each year,” Wall said.
Schools were ranked according to the size of their student body. Elon is included in the category for schools with less than 5,000 undergraduates. The University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Wash., led the category with 30 alumni volunteers. Other schools of note in the category include Dartmouth College, Wake Forest University, Middlebury College and Pepperdine University.
George Washington University in Washington, D.C., led the medium-size colleges and universities category (5,001-15,000 enrollment) with 68 volunteers, while the University of Washington led the large colleges and universities category (more than 15,000 undergraduates) with 110 volunteers.
The Peace Corps promotes a better understanding between Americans and people in the 139 countries where volunteers have served. More than 187,000 volunteers have served 27-month commitments in the Peace Corps since the organization was founded in 1961.