Clark University ranks No. 18 on the Peace Corps 2011 rankings of colleges and universities in the small size category. There are currently seventeen (17) undergraduate alumni serving as Peace Corps volunteers. This is the second time that Clark University has made the national rankings; the first time was in 2007.
Clark alumni are currently serving as volunteers in Armenia, Benin, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Eastern Caribbean, Ethiopia, Ghana, Paraguay, Philippines, Romania, South Africa, Uganda, Ukraine and Zambia. They are working in sector areas including Agriculture, Education, English, Health and Youth Development.
“The Peace Corps’ dedication over the past 50 years to promoting education, engagement, and understanding around the world is clearly aligned with Clark’s own mission,” said Clark University President David Angel. “We are pleased to see the ongoing commitment our alumni have made as Peace Corps volunteers to changing the lives of people around the world.”
Since 1961, 204 Clark alumni have served as Peace Corps volunteers. Today, Peace Corps volunteers work in 77 countries in the areas of education, youth and community development, health and HIV/AIDS, business information and communication technology, agriculture and environment.
In 2010, Clark University’s Graduate School of Management (GSOM) became a partner with the Peace Corps’ Fellows/USA program. At the GSOM, returned Peace Corps volunteers can work toward an MBA degree in a variety of concentrations, including social change. The social change track comprises courses in social entrepreneurship, environmental policy and community development. Participating Fellows receive at least a 50 percent reduction in tuition with the possibility for further merit aid.
“For the last 50 years, colleges and universities across our country have been an integral part of the Peace Corps family, from developing young leaders, to hosting trainings and teaching the importance of lifelong learning,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams. “In 1961, President Kennedy created the Peace Corps in response to the passion of university students, and today we continue to be inspired by the enthusiasm, dedication, and creativity of the thousands of Americans now serving overseas. Colleges instill a commitment to public service among their students and share our belief that, together, we can work to make the world a better place.”
The rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2010 data as of September 30, 2010, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers. The number in parenthesis represents the number of alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers.
About the Peace Corps: President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961, by executive order. Throughout 2011, Peace Corps is commemorating 50 years of promoting peace and friendship around the world. Historically, more than 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps to promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 host countries. Today, 8,655 volunteers are working with local communities in 77 host countries. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.
Since its founding in 1887, Clark University in Worcester, Mass., has a history of challenging convention. As an innovative liberal arts college and research university, Clark’s world-class faculty lead a community of creative thinkers and passionate doers and offer a range of expertise, particularly in the areas of psychology, geography, urban education, Holocaust and genocide studies, environmental studies, and international development and social change. Clark’s students, faculty and alumni embody the Clark motto: Challenge convention. Change our world. www.clarku.edu