Sean Mahoney '19 serving with Peace Corps Panama (Image provided)
Peace Corps announced today that SUNY Geneseo ranked No. 8 among medium-sized schools on the agency’s list of top 25 volunteer-producing colleges and universities in 2020. There are 25 alums currently volunteering in countries around the world.
For the past six years, Geneseo has consistently ranked within the top 25 medium-sized schools. This year marks the highest ranking for the College since entering the ranks in 2014. The College made a significant leap from 2019, previously coming in at No. 13.
“These schools are institutions that emphasize being global citizens and service-minded students,” said Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen. “I am excited to know the graduates coming from Peace Corps’ Top Colleges are using their skills to make a positive impact on their communities at home and abroad.”
Since the agency’s founding in 1961, 309 alumni from Geneseo have served abroad as Peace Corps volunteers. This year, New York State ranked No. 2 among top volunteer-producing states, with 14,494 volunteers.
Sean Mahoney ’19, a psychology major and a minor in biology, is currently serving in Peace Corps Panama as a public health facilitator concentrating on water, sanitation and hygiene education.
“Three weeks after graduating from SUNY Geneseo, I moved to Panama to begin my service in the Peace Corps,” said Mahoney. “During my time at Geneseo, I often participated in volunteer work with a service fraternity and had the opportunity to study abroad twice, which greatly impacted my views of the world and how I saw my future. Thanks to my experiences at SUNY Geneseo and abroad, I felt prepared to become a Peace Corps volunteer and adapt to a lifestyle far different from my life back in New York.”
The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. Below, find the top five schools in each category and the number of alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers.
The Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad on behalf of the United States to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, the environment and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today's global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries worldwide.
For more information, visit the SUNY Geneseo Peace Corps website or the national Peace Corps website and follow on Facebook and Twitter.