Hobart and William Smith Colleges

18 May 2025 • Service Four Members of the Class of 2025 Join Peace Corps By Barb Eidlin

HWS seniors will serve two-year positions in Africa, South America and the Caribbean, continuing HWS’ long-standing commitment to service abroad.

Robert Clyde '25, Aiden Greiff '25 Justin Rosa '25 and Joey Tello Galicia ’25 have accepted two-year placements with the Peace Corps, where they will serve in Paraguay, Senegal, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, respectively. Their assignments offer opportunity to begin careers aligned with their academic and personal passions while continuing their commitment to public service.

“It is with pride that I watch these seniors continue the tradition of service and global engagement that are hallmarks of our campus,” says President Mark D. Gearan. “I am confident that Aiden, Justin, Robert and Joey will face the challenges ahead with resilience and make a meaningful difference in the communities they serve.”

Gearan, who led the Peace Corps as Director from 1995 to 1999, notes the enduring connection between HWS and the international service program. Since its founding in 1961, more than 250 HWS graduates have served as Peace Corps Volunteers around the world.

Robert Clyde ’25 — Paraguay

An environmental studies major, Clyde will work on environmental promotion and sustainable development in Paraguay. His interest in the Peace Corps was sparked by the impact of the program, its environmental focus, and personal ties to the region.

“When I was about 10, I lived for a year in Trelew, Argentina, in Eastern Patagonia. The warmth of the community and the culture made a lasting impression. Since Paraguay and Argentina share cultural and geographic connections, the decision felt natural,” Clyde says.

Clyde credits his academic experience, particularly the course “Community and Urban Resilience” with Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Whitney Mauer, for deepening his interest in the social impacts of climate change. Conversations with President Gearan and reading Dear Exile by family friend Kate Montgomery also influenced his decision to apply. A semester abroad in Lisbon further shaped his global perspective.

“I see it as a privilege to take on challenges that most Americans may never encounter, especially with the benefit of a college education,” he says. “Joining the Peace Corps allows me to both serve a cause I care about and broaden my worldview.”  

Aiden Greiff ’25—Senegal

Graduating with majors in international relations and Asian studies with a Middle East and North Africa concentration, Greiff will be stationed in rural Senegal, where he will support agricultural development through seed testing and farm management outreach.

“Food security and agricultural productivity go hand in hand especially in Senegal, where 70% of the population works in agriculture,” he explains.

Greiff’s global experiences, including a Maymester in Sikkim, India, and a semester abroad in Tunisia, exposed him to the challenges posed by poverty and systemic disruption. These experiences, combined with mentorship from Professor of International Relations Stacey Philbrick Yadav, helped shape his decision to serve.

“By high school, I already knew I wanted to help people,” Greiff says. “Seeing firsthand the impact of food insecurity in places like West Bengal and the migration challenges in Tunisia reinforced that goal.”

Justin Rosa ’25 — Dominican Republic

Rosa, a political science major, will serve as a Spanish Primary School Literacy Promoter in the Dominican Republic, where he’ll focus on enhancing younger students’ reading comprehension and literacy skills.  

The placement is personal for Rosa, who is of Dominican descent.

“I only visited the country as a young child, so this feels like an opportunity to reconnect with my heritage while making a real difference,” Rosa says. “My mother was passionate about education in the Dominican Republic and that inspired me even more.”

On campus, Rosa was a Writing Fellow at the Center for Teaching and Learning and that position, he says, makes the Peace Corps the next natural step.

“It’s a path that felt different from the typical postgraduate route,” he says. “I wanted something meaningful, where I could continue teaching and give back.”

Joey Tello Galicia ’25 — Costa Rica

Tello Galicia, a double major in History and Anthropology, will serve as an English teacher in Costa Rica supporting local education initiatives and youth development programs.

“I am eager to contribute to grassroots efforts that improve well-being and expand opportunities for young people,” he says.

On campus Tello Galicia worked as an Orientation Coordinator, a Tutor with the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, a Teaching Fellow for the Anthropology Department and the Center for Teaching and Learning and as a clerk within the Office of Student Engagement.

He credits his advisor, Associate Professor and Chair of Anthropology Chris Annear, with encouraging him to think critically about how to apply his academic background in meaningful, real-world ways.

“His global perspective and commitment to justice, along with the support I received from HWS staff involved in civic engagement, helped me see the Peace Corps as a natural next step,” Tello Galicia says.

Tello Galicia also studied Italian and spent a semester abroad in Italy, experiences that deepened his interest in global inequality and cultural exchange.

“I’m especially excited to bring insights from my anthropology studies and my work in education and service into the classroom,” he says, “while learning from the perspectives of my host community.”

Beyond HWS’ history of volunteerism with the Peace Corps, community engagement and service learning are longstanding pillars of social and academic life on campus. All HWS students participate in service projects, both locally and in communities around the world, contributing more than 80,000 hours of community service annually.