FAMU is Peace Corps’ No. 3 top volunteer-producing HBCU

The Peace Corps announced that Florida A&M University (FAMU) ranked No. 3 on the 2017 list of top volunteer-producing historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This is the second consecutive year that FAMU has placed among the top five HBCUs in the nation.

There are currently seven Rattlers volunteering around the world in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Morocco, Benin, Zambia, and Rwanda. Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, 83 FAMU alumni have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers.

“Historically Black colleges and universities cultivate a commitment to community-oriented education that inspires their graduates to pursue international service and make an impact abroad with the Peace Corps,” Acting Peace Corps Director Sheila Crowley said. “Each year, a growing number of HBCU alumni join the Peace Corps with important experiences and perspectives that give communities overseas a better understanding of the diversity of the United States.”

Service in the Peace Corps is a life-defining, hands-on leadership experience that offers volunteers the opportunity to travel to a community overseas and make a lasting difference in the lives of others. College graduates with Peace Corps volunteer experience gain cross-cultural, language and community development skills that build upon their education and give them a competitive edge for career and advanced education opportunities.

“I attended the best HBCU in the world, Florida A&M University,” said Jeremy Hannah, a 2015 graduate who is currently serving as a volunteer in Ukraine. “Finding my place to help, wanting to put myself in new territory to grow, and taking a leader’s poise for the things I want to do has all been an asset for me here thanks to Florida A&M University.”

The Peace Corps has recruiters across the country that visit HBCUs and work closely with prospective volunteers. By hiring dedicated diversity recruiters and hosting diversity-focused recruitment events, the agency aims to build an inclusive volunteer force and ensure that all Americans know about service opportunities with the Peace Corps.