About CIEE
The World is our Classroom. Join Us.
Founded in 1947, CIEE is the world leader in international exchange, delivering the highest-quality programs that increase global understanding and intercultural knowledge.
CIEE provides participants with skills, competencies, and experiences that elevate their ability to contribute positively to our global community.
Hear from Daniel Mulhall, Former Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, who at age 19 spent a summer in Kansas City, Missouri for the Summer Work Travel Exchange Visitor Program
History
In the years immediately following World War II, a number of organizations and institutions emerged in the U.S. and abroad that were dedicated to promoting peaceful coexistence and respect between nations through student and teacher exchange programs. It soon became clear that these organizations needed expert assistance in coordinating their efforts. To fulfil that need, CIEE (or the Council on Student Travel, as it was then known) was founded in 1947 and, in its first year of operation, attracted the participation of 32 member organizations.
These were primarily U.S. nonprofits and cultural agencies that were engaged in sponsoring groups of students who wanted to travel to Europe for educational purposes. By the mid-1950s, the Council on Student Travel (CST) was facilitating travel by U.S. students to study in Europe and bringing international students to the U.S. At the same time, CST established operations abroad and began sponsoring conferences on student travel for administrators, educators, and teachers.
In the 1960s, CST emerged as the locus of strategic and policy discussions on the future direction of intercultural education. In recognition of this strategic shift, in 1967 the Council on Student Travel changed its name to the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). Over the past seven decades, CIEE has continually redefined its focus to meet the changing needs and expectations of students, faculty, staff, and institutions, solidifying its leadership as the world’s premier international educational organization.
In 2006, we opened our Outbound Centre in Dublin. At the centre we run a wide range of Study Abroad programs for US undergraduate students including direct enroll options at Trinity, DCU and UCD, CIEE's Open Campus program, Semester long and short-term summer internships, a range of faculty led and custom programs for US universities, a Teach Abroad program , short-term CIEE taught programs in January and in Summer, a Summer High School program and a year round High School Abroad program.
Over the years, we have hosted thousands of Americans in Ireland.
James P. Pellow, Ed.D. (President & CEO, CIEE) and Daniel Mulhall (Former Ambassador of Ireland to the United States)
Marie Royce (Former Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs) and James P. Pellow, Ed.D. (President & CEO, CIEE)
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Core Values
We believe in excellence and integrity. We provide the highest-quality programs and services, lead by example, and go the extra mile to serve our students and partners. We believe in respect. We embrace and celebrate diversity. We practice open and honest communication. We believe in inclusion. We strive to open doors for people from all backgrounds to CIEE programs and to CIEE. Finally, at CIEE we believe in problem solving. We develop innovative and practical solutions to help expand access to international exchange opportunities.
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Access
At CIEE we recognise that access to J1 and cultural exchange opportunities can often be unaffordable for students. By offering these programs directly in Ireland, we aim to make international experiences more accessible. This initiative allows us to offer lower introductory fees, enabling participants to benefit from a wider range of opportunities without the financial burden typically associated with such programs. Our commitment to access ensures that more students can participate in transformative cultural exchanges, fostering global understanding and enriching their educational journeys.
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Mission
To help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.
Meet Our Dedicated Team
The right support for your American aspirations
Sheelagh Daly
Ireland Director of Sales, CIEE
With over 30 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry, I have spent more than two decades specializing in BridgeUSA Programs. As a former Head of Operations in the cultural exchange space, I managed all aspects of these programs, overseeing sales, operations, and stakeholder management. My passion for cultural exchange stems from my own early experiences living in Los Angeles and extensive global travel. I’ve seen firsthand how transformative working abroad can be for young people; broadening perspectives, challenging biases, and fostering cultural understanding.
Graham Higgins
Senior Manager, Sales and Operations, CIEE
I studied Tourism and Marketing in college, and one of the highlights was spending nine unforgettable months in Munich, Germany on the Erasmus Program. That experience lit a fire in me for travel and adventure. Soon after, I kicked off my career with an internship at a student travel company in Ireland and what was supposed to be a short-term gig turned into an incredible ten-year journey in the BridgeUSA programs! Along the way, I discovered how much I love helping young people explore the world and create life-changing memories of their own. Now, I’m thrilled to bring that same energy and passion to CIEE and keep the adventure going.