Denison University once again has earned a place on Peace Corps’ annual Top Volunteer-Producing Schools list. With thirteen volunteers currently in service, the college ranks No. 10 among small colleges and universities. This is the third consecutive year that Denison has ranked among the top 15 small schools. Since 1961, 281 Denison alumni have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers.
“Global learning is infused throughout our curriculum, and we are thrilled that our alumni take that learning out into the world through service in the Peace Corps,” said Denison University Vice President Laurel Kennedy. “In their Peace Corps work, our alumni take on new roles, work in diverse teams, deepen their resilience and expand their skill sets. They return to their lives with better understanding of their own capabilities and of what is possible in the world.”
“Peace Corps service is a profound expression of the idealism and civic engagement that colleges and universities across the country inspire in their alumni,” said Acting Peace Corps Director Sheila Crowley. “As Peace Corps volunteers, recent college and university graduates foster capacity and self-reliance at the grassroots level, making an impact in communities around the world. When they return to the United States, they have new, highly sought-after skills and an enterprising spirit that further leverages their education and strengthens their communities back home.”
Civic engagement and global learning are integrated throughout Denison’s outstanding liberal arts education. With small classes, a low student-to-faculty ratio and more than 160 student-led organizations, Denison students acquire foundational skills in leadership, critical thinking, problem solving and communication. Eighty percent of the college’s students have the opportunity to learn off campus, either through traditional study abroad programs, or through internships and classes with off-campus components. Denison’s transformative college education gives students the skills, values, habits, networks and experiences needed to launch into successful lives.
The Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad on behalf of the United States to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, Volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 230,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide.