The University of California, San Diego climbed eight spots on the
annual list of “Peace Corps Top Colleges and Universities,” released
today (Feb. 1). With 67 alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers, UC
San Diego ranks 14th among all large universities, up from 22nd last
year. UC San Diego and the Peace Corps, both turning 50 this year, have
partnered to bring 678 UC San Diego alumni as volunteers.
“During our milestone 50th anniversary year, it’s an honor to
have the university’s legacy of community service recognized by the
Peace Corps,” said Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. “We are committed to
advancing the health and wellbeing of our community and world through
education, research, patient care, community engagement and public
service.”
The contributions of UC San Diego’s students to local, national and
global communities on issues range from poverty to homelessness and
environmental justice — a commitment recognized by the Washington Monthly,
which ranked UC San Diego the top college in the nation according to
rankings measuring “what colleges are doing for the country.”
Daniel Pavitt is one of the 67 UC San Diego grads currently serving
overseas. A 2010 graduate with a degree in communications and a
four-year member of the men’s soccer team, Pavitt is teaching English in
Cape Verde, an island nation off the western coast of Africa. “Primarily, I want to help those who are less fortunate. Accompanying
that feeling is my love for traveling, which is something in my opinion
that can really refine any person into who they want to be,” Pavitt
said.
“For the last 50 years, colleges and universities across our country
have been an integral part of the Peace Corps family, from developing
young leaders, to hosting trainings and teaching the importance of
lifelong learning,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams. “In
1961, President Kennedy created the Peace Corps in response to the
passion of university students, and today we continue to be inspired by
the enthusiasm, dedication and creativity of the thousands of Americans
now serving overseas. Colleges instill a commitment to public service
among their students and share our belief that, together, we can work to
make the world a better place.”
California has always been a top producer of Peace Corps volunteers. More Californians have served in the Peace Corps, in fact, than any
other state. With 1,134 Californians currently serving and more than
27,000 since 1961, California has more than twice as many as the nearest
state, New York.