AU was recently ranked 13th in a national ranking of colleges and universities whose alumni joined the Peace Corps.
According to the list released by the Peace Corps last month, AU shares the 13th spot in the "medium-sized colleges and universities" category with Boston College, Tulane University and the University of Pennsylvania. Each of the schools has 31 alumni who volunteered. AU's presence on this list is not new. Last year it was 16th on the list with 25 volunteers, and it held the No. 1 spot in 1999 and 2000, when the University was in the "small colleges and universities" category. Sarah Johnston, a regional recruiter for the corps, believes D.C.'s diversity and interest in international affairs is a reason so many from the area have volunteered. She also believes AU's environment fosters volunteerism.
"AU has a long-term focus and commitment to international study, and students are more focused on domestic issues and areas outside the United States," Johnston said.
The corps is a two-year commitment, and generally a college degree is required. Lochlann Boyle, a career advisor in the School of International Service, feels joining the corps can be a good decision for many students who have graduated.
"For undergraduate students going straight to graduate school, and a lot of international development students who don't have any international experience, the Peace Corps is a great way to get international experience," Boyle said.
Boyle suggested that students who don't want to make a long-term commitment to the corps but who want a taste of international experience should try a one-year or six-month program instead.
Freshman Melinda Camacho wants to volunteer with the corps as soon as she graduates. She's been interested in the corps since she was 10 years old.
"As a child I always wanted to travel, and traveling and helping people seemed like the best of both worlds," Camacho said. She also said that AU's long tradition with the corps was a crucial factor in her decision to enroll at the University.
Corps representatives will be on campus March 2 for a National Peace Corps Week event and will be at the spring Job and Internship Fair on March 18.
