WWU named #1 all-time producer of Peace Corps volunteers in the nation for medium sized colleges and universities

Bellingham, WA — The Peace Corps today released the 2024 rankings of the top volunteer-producing colleges and universities across the country, and Western Washington University was ranked the No. 1 school nationally among medium-sized schools of between 5,000-15,000 students in all-time volunteers. 

Western, with 932 volunteers since the Peace Corps was established in 1961, led the category, followed the University of Notre Dame (843), University of Vermont (833), Yale University (790), University of Montana (760), Cal Poly Humboldt (758), American University (751), The College of William & Mary (662), University of New Hampshire (633) and Dartmouth College (605). 

“Western students and alumni are exceptionally committed to putting their education and their energy toward making a difference in the world, and this recognition shows how deep that commitment truly runs.  That same commitment is echoed by the faculty and staff of Western who share and foster the same service ethic in our local and global communities,” said WWU President Sabah Randhawa. 

Service in the Peace Corps is a life-defining, hands-on experience that offers volunteers the opportunity to travel to a community overseas and make a lasting difference in the lives of others. 

Jerry Smith, Western's Peace Corps recruiter and a former Peace Corps volunteer, echoed Randhawa’s thoughts about what being recognized in this way says about the Western community. 

"I am humbled by the number of faculty who have been Peace Corps volunteers and are open to me presenting in their classrooms. I'm also impressed by the ‘service ethos' that our students exhibit across the variety of majors they are pursuing, and how that so often translates to Peace Corps service,” he said. 

To see the entire 2024 Peace Corps rankings, click here. To find out more about the Peace Corps office at Western, go to https://peacecorps.wwu.edu/.