Matthew Cordon did not face a traditional job search when he graduated from the University with a political science degree last May. The “real world” he was set to experience would be quite different than that of many of his peers. Cordon decided to make the 27-month commitment to join the Peace Corps. Cordon is currently serving in Giurgiulesti, Moldova, a small village in Eastern Europe.

Cordon is one of 48 University alumni currently serving in the Peace Corps. The University is the No. 21 producer of Peace Corps volunteers of among schools with an undergraduate population over 15,000. For the 20th year in a row, the University of Wisconsin at Madison is the top producer of Peace Corps volunteers with 104 Wisconsin alumni among the 7,810 volunteers currently serving in the field.

Although a degree is not a requirement to serve, Nathan Arnold, a Peace Corps spokesperson, said candidates with the necessary skills usually come from colleges and universities.

“Recruiting at universities is the best way to reach the talent we need,” Arnold said. “The people have the time, energy and skill base to go over seas for two years.”

Cordon said the University adequately prepared him for the experience and provided him with the skills he has found necessary so far.

“As a generalization, I think students at U of I tend to have a good sense of social responsibility and a willingness to help others; one need only walk through the Quad to see some type of fundraising or social demonstration to see these characteristics in our students,” he said via email.

Imelda Moise, the campus Peace Corps representative, explained that the diversity of the campus, as well as the programs offered also contribute to the success and volume of students as Peace Corps volunteers.

“The education that volunteers are getting here is a tremendous advantage to be a Peace Corps volunteer,” she said.

Information sessions are offered each semester where Moise said the application process is explained, as well as the mission of the Peace Corps and expectations of volunteers. Other methods of recruiting on campus include sending e-mails to professors that support the Peace Corps to forward to their students, posting fliers, giving short talks in classes and having a presence at various campus career fairs, Moise said. The recruiting aims to inform students about the benefits of the experience.

“People go and find themselves in situations where they are learning,” said Moise, who formerly trained Peace Corps volunteers in Zambia.

Cordon heard about the opportunity to join the Peace Corps through a flier he received in the mail.

Moise said the University’s goal is 50 Peace Corps applicants each year, although some choose not to follow through with service during the six to nine month application processes.

Since his arrival in Moldova on Sept. 16, Cordon said his experience has been positive and he expects it to prepare him for his future endeavors.

“I had been debating on whether to go to grad school or law school first, but I knew that if I didn’t do it after I graduated, it would be harder to do it once life’s responsibilities started coming at me as I got older, so I told myself to just do it now,” he said. “I would like to study international relations and possibly work with the U.N. one day, so it just made more sense to join now.”