CIEE at 60
2007 was the 60th anniversary of the founding of CIEE. Since 1947, our mission has been “to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world”. Throughout our history, we at CIEE have had the unique opportunity to serve this mission. In the largest sense, we can help make the world a better place for all and share a collective sense of fulfillment in our contributions to society.
While much has changed since our beginnings 60 years ago, much remains the same. As at the beginning, we continue to fulfill the needs of today’s global citizens—students, educators, host families, and institutions in the U.S. and abroad by providing quality educational experiences. We believe that the growth and learning of our participants will impact our world not just today, but also in the future. We are proud of our programs, our support of advocacy in the field, and we remain strong believers in the advancement of knowledge among educators and practitioners through research, International Faculty Development Seminars, the CIEE Annual Conference, and a variety of publications.
We have celebrated our 60th anniversary in a variety of ways; from the commissioning of a mural called “Six Decades” now on display in our new offices in Portland, Maine to the publication of a brochure highlighting the impact CIEE has had on our participants.
In the years ahead, with our mission always at the forefront of our intentions, we remain optimistic that the best is yet to come. Please join us in celebrating our history and our collective prospects for the future.
Please click here to read the complete brochure, and here to view the timeline of CIEE.
Our long history was documented by Ludmila Mikhailova in 2002 as part of her doctoral research. We're pleased to present her work in its entirety below. Also included is the introductory letter by Stevan Trooboff, CIEE
President and CEO, which accompanied the publication.
A History of CIEE:
Council on International Educational
Exchange 1947 –1994
For the purposes of this publication, the history of the
Council on International Educational Exchange has been outlined
in three periods: (1) the early years of the organization,
from 1947 to 1960; (2) the 1960s and 1970s, focusing on
program expansion; and, (3) the period from 1979 to 1994,
the years of CIEE under Executive Director Jack Egle.
The content was gathered from CIEE archival materials and
an extensive list of sources (see Bibliography). We welcome
additional recollections from those who have known and participated
in CIEE activities throughout the years.
The name of the organization—Council on International
Educational Exchange—has changed over the years. Founded
as the Council on Student Travel in 1947, the organization
in its early years was known as "the Council." In
1967, the organization’s name changed to the Council
on International Educational Exchange, or CIEE. For the
purposes of this publication, the organization is referred
to as "the Council" or "the Council on Student
Travel" (CST) until 1967, and thereafter as "CIEE."
We extend our sincere gratitude to Ludmila Mikhailova,
who spent countless hours pouring over boxes of files, viewing
hours of taped interviews, and interviewing CIEE colleagues
today for their retrospective views. Her tireless and enthusiastic
dedication never wavered throughout this process.
On behalf of all of us at CIEE, we hope you enjoy this
archival history of our organization and the related development
of the field of international education over the past half
century. Today more than ever, we reaffirm our commitment
to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and
develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and
culturally diverse world.
Sincerely,
Stevan Trooboff
President and CEO
Copyright © 2004 by the Council on International Educational
Exchange (CIEE)