From Staff Reports

UNC Asheville has been ranked by the Peace Corps as one of the top-producing colleges for alumni now serving as volunteers in the organization.

Specifically, the university is rated No. 11 among small schools in the nation.

“UNC Asheville students and alumni strive to apply their undergraduate liberal arts education in meaningful ways, and service with the Peace Corps is a wonderful example of the worldwide impact that we have,” said UNC Asheville Provost Joseph Urgo. “Peace Corps volunteers do vital work in communities around the globe, and our graduates find it a fulfilling extension of the civic engagement and hands-on experience that they gain on our campus.”

According to the Peace Corps, UNC Asheville now has 10 alumni serving around the world. This is the first year that UNC Asheville has been included in the ranking.

“The Peace Corps is a unique opportunity for college graduates to put their education into practice and become agents of change in communities around the world,” Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “Today’s graduates understand the importance of intercultural understanding and are raising their hands in record numbers to take on the challenge of international service.”