Among medium-sized colleges and universities, Elon ranked No. 25 for the number of Peace Corps volunteers it produced in 2019.
Elon University ranked No. 25 among medium-sized schools on the Peace Corps’ 2020 list of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities, with 16 Elon alumni currently volunteering in countries around the world. This is the third year in a row that Elon has ranked among the top 25 volunteer-producing schools.
“These schools are institutions that emphasize being global citizens and service-minded students,” said Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen. “I am excited to know the graduates coming from Peace Corps’ Top Colleges are using their skills to make a positive impact on their communities at home and abroad.”
Since the agency’s founding in 1961, more than 140 alumni from Elon have served abroad as Peace Corps volunteers. Additionally, the state of North Carolina ranks No.13 among states with the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers. There are 229 volunteers from the Old North State currently serving worldwide and over 4,740 North Carolinians have served in the Peace Corps since the agency’s founding in 1961.
Jennifer Eidum, director of Elon’s Peace Corps Prep Program and assistant professor of English, said the face that Elon has remained on the list of top producers since first appearing in 2018 is recognition to the university’s commitment to supporting students for this experience.
“I’m thrilled that Elon is once again recognized as a top Peace Corps-producing institution,” Eidum said. “I am pleased that since we emerged on the list of top 25 in 2018, we have remained there. I believe that is due to the emphasis Elon places on global engagement and engaged learning practices.”
In fall 2018 Elon expanded options within its Peace Corps Prep Program to include Agriculture, Community Economic Development, Education, Environment, Health and Youth in Development.
“With the growth of the Peace Corps Prep program across all six Peace Corps sectors, I look forward to seeing even more Elon students consider the Peace Corps as a post-graduation option,” Eidum said.
The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. View the complete 2020 rankings of the top 25 schools in each category here.