GENEVA — Hobart and William Smith is ranked No. 3 in the small schools category on the Peace Corps’ 2025 list of Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities.
The Colleges said eight alumni currently serve in seven countries worldwide: Ecuador, Eswatini, Guatemala, Kenya, Morocco, North Macedonia, and Paraguay.
“We are proud of our alumni who dedicate themselves to the mission of the Peace Corps, bringing their expertise and compassion to communities worldwide,” said HWS President Mark Gearan, who directed the Peace Corps during the Clinton administration. “This recognition as a top volunteer-producing institution reflects the enduring commitment of our students to make a positive impact in the world.”
Since the Peace Corps was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, HWS has produced 232 alumni who have served abroad as volunteers.
“Colleges and universities from across the nation are providing us their talented alumni to serve in countries around the globe,” Peace Corps CEO Allison Greene said. “These top-ranked schools understand the transformative power of public service and human connection. The Peace Corps builds invaluable intercultural communication skills, a broadened worldview and adaptive leadership qualities needed in the American workforce today.”
Ahmed Wise, a 2024 graduate, is serving in Western Kenya as a community health volunteer. Wise has worked at the local maternity ward and at the Comprehensive Care Clinic, focusing on HIV prevention.
“As much as I am teaching, I am learning just as much,” Wise said. “I have learned new languages (Kiswahili and KiLuhya), how to cook new foods, and how to be quiet and open to new ideas. While I have many job functions here in Kenya, my number one job is to exchange cultural stories about life in the U.S. and to learn more about different cultures in rural Kenya.”
Julia Cianflone, another 2024 graduate, is in Paraguay, where she serves as a community environmental promoter.
“Paraguay has been incredible. I’ve met amazing people and really become part of a community,” she said. “The work has been rewarding, even if it moves at a different pace than I’m used to. I’ve loved just being outside — whether it’s going for a walk or sitting under a tree with Tereré. Every challenge has pushed me to grow; I already know I’ll look back on this time with so much love.”
As of May 9, four students from the graduating Class of 2025 have been accepted into the Peace Corps: Robert Clyde, who will serve in Paraguay; Joey Tello Galicia, in Costa Rica; Aiden Greiff, in Senegal; and Justin Rosa, in the Dominican Republic.
