HWS News
7 April 2026 • Alums HWS #2 among Peace Corps’ 2026 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges
With 15 alumni serving, HWS earns number-two-spot on Peace Corps’ list.
Hobart and William Smith is ranked No. 2 in the nation among small-sized schools on the Peace Corps’ 2026 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list.
During the past fiscal year, 15 HWS alumni served in 12 countries around the world, including the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eswatini, Guatemala, Kenya, Morocco, North Macedonia, Panama, Paraguay, the Philippines, Senegal and Viet Nam.
“We are grateful to partner with colleges and universities across the nation who instill the value of national service in their students, inspiring them to pursue their purpose post-graduation,” says Peace Corps acting Director Richard E. Swarttz. “In more than 60 countries, Peace Corps volunteers are working side by side with communities helping to address real needs through agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health, and youth in development projects.”
In 1995, President of Hobart and William Smith Mark D. Gearan was appointed the 14th Director of the Peace Corps, where he led the agency’s expansion into South Africa, Jordan and Haiti, and launched the Crisis Corps to deploy returned volunteers in response to global emergencies.
“I am thrilled that so many of our students want to pursue the Peace Corps, carrying forward a long tradition of service that reflects the very best of Hobart and William Smith,” says Gearan. “Their willingness to engage with communities around the world, to listen, learn and lead with purpose speaks to the power of an HWS education and our enduring commitment to preparing students for lives of consequence.”
“Sixty-five years after our founding, the Peace Corps is still going strong,” Swarttz adds. “Peace Corps service is still the toughest job you’ll ever love, and we want Americans of all backgrounds to challenge themselves to grow personally and professionally-as a volunteer.”
Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, 251 HWS alumni have served abroad as volunteers. Other colleges on the “Top Small Colleges and Universities” list include Colorado College, Kenyon College, Macalester College and Carleton College.
Peace Corps volunteers collaborate with community members on locally-prioritized projects, gaining skills and experience while fostering mutual understanding and promoting American values. Countries and communities around the world continue to partner with the Peace Corps as the agency aspires to attract and support 8,000 volunteers in service by September 30, 2030. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit peacecorps.gov to learn more about the Peace Corps and apply for service.
The U.S. Government's premier international volunteering agency, the Peace Corps sends passionate and skilled Americans abroad to collaborate on projects that advance both American and host country priorities. This year, the agency commemorates 65 years of promoting world peace and friendship through volunteer service. Since 1961, the Peace Corps has played a vital role in advancing U.S. global engagement through the work of close to 250,000 volunteers serving in 144 host countries.
