MADISON – Ashton Thiele​ of ​Oconto​ has been accepted into the Peace Corps. Thiele will depart for Mongolia on June 5 to begin training as an English teacher. 

Thiele​ is a 2026 graduate of ​UW-Madison​ with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies and a double minor in Eastern European/Central Asian studies and African studies. UW-Madison is ranked number one among large schools on the Peace Corps’ 2026 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list.
“I’ve wanted to become a Peace Corps volunteer since meeting a recruiter at the Folk Fair in Milwaukee when I was 11,” ​Thiele said.
“Growing up in Wisconsin, I am going to thrive in the freezing cold temperatures of Mongolia.”

As an English teacher, ​Thiele​ will develop and implement teacher and student-focused capacity-building strategies.

The son of Jennifer and James Thiele of Oconto, Thiele​ ​joins the 94 Wisconsin residents currently serving in the Peace Corps. More than 6,210 Wisconsin residents have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. 

Peace Corps volunteers serve in host communities for two years following three months of training and receive a living stipend, housing, extensive language and technical training and financial benefits that can include graduate school fellowships after service.  
Interested individuals are encouraged to apply online. Visit www.peacecorps.gov to learn more about Peace Corps volunteer service in 60 countries. 

About the Peace Corps

The U.S. Government’s premier international volunteering agency, the Peace Corps sends passionate and skilled Americans abroad to collaborate on projects that advance both American and host country priorities. This year, the agency commemorates 65 years of promoting world peace and friendship through volunteer service while partnering with America250 to encourage more Americans to give back.

Since 1961, the Peace Corps has played a vital role in advancing U.S. global engagement through the work of close to 250,000 volunteers serving in 144 host countries. For more information, visit www.peacecorps.gov.