ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan has moved up two spots to No. 4 on the list of colleges and universities that produce the most Peace Corps volunteers.

U-M, which made the list for the 17th consecutive year, is the fourth all-time producer of Peace Corps volunteers, with 2,684 alumni having served since the agency was created in 1961.

Currently, 60 U-M alumni are in the field with the Peace Corps, including Jackson McCauley, an Ann Arbor native, who is in Ecuador as an education volunteer teaching English to students between the ages of 14 and 18 years old.

U-M inspired Jackson McCauley (right) to serve in Peace Corps Ecuador. Image courtesy: Peace Corps

“The idea is not to have my own class for two years, but rather to plan with the teachers and co-teach different classes,” McCauley said. “In this way, we get to implement new strategies and activities, improve the general level of English teaching, and reach the greatest number of students.”

U-M was also No. 4 on the Peace Corps’ list of the top-producing graduate schools.

James Holloway, vice provost for global engagement and interdisciplinary academic affairs, said U-M is proud of the dedication students show to contribute to the world.

“As a public university, our goal is to contribute to the people of our state and of the world,” he said. “These new Peace Corps volunteers will do both.”

Royster Harper, vice president of student life, whose division hosts the Peace Corps on campus, added that this is yet another example of U-M’s global reach.

“It is to our graduates’ credit that they choose to serve others, to embed themselves into new cultures, and to channel their confidence and independence toward making a difference,” she said.

The university offers Paul D. Coverdell Fellows graduate programs for the agency’s volunteers who have completed their service. They can earn an advanced degree, with financial assistance, in design, fine arts, information studies, landscape architecture, nursing, social work, public policy or natural resources and environment.

The university also offers students interested in the Peace Corps to complete 27 months of significant international experience while completing a master’s degree in social work or information.

Peace Corps works with U-M to host two on-campus recruiters who share their personal experiences as volunteers and provide information about applying for service.

“The International Center is proud to be the U-M point of access for this extraordinary opportunity and we are so pleased about this new cohort of Peace Corps volunteers,” said Judith Pennywell, director of the International Center.

More information:

• Peace Corps at U-M
• Facebook page for Peace Corps at U-M
• The top-25 list of colleges and universities (PDF)