Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú

1960's

Cyril Taylor,Roger Walther and Doug Burck founded the Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú (Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú) in 1964. The genesis of the concept came from Cyril's soon-to-be wife Judy, a high school French teacher hoping to take her class to France for the summer on an educational travel program. When she couldn't find a U.S organization operating this kind of program, she discovered a void in the marketplace—and Cyril, Roger and Doug were inspired to take action.

Then coworkers in brand management at Procter & Gamble, the three took leave to create Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú, a study abroad and educational travel organization. Initially, they leased the campuses of nine European universities that were closed during the summer months, then networked with high school language teachers to promote summer programs abroad and recruit students.

In 1965, the first group of students traveled abroad with Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú, and the rest, as they say, is history! Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú grew rapidly through the remainder of the decade, emerging as a leader in cultural exchange and international education.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú founded in 1964

1964

Cyril Taylor, Roger Walther and Doug Burck start the Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú (Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú) in Cincinnati, Ohio.

1965

The first group of Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú students—a total of 1,500 participants—traveled overseas on high school study abroad programs.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú R.F. Kennedy

1967

The Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) public charity, is created with the assistance of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Camp America program established in 1969

1969

Camp America program is established as an inbound exchange program for international students to visit the U.S.

1970's

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú experienced substantial growth in the 1970s. In addition to the creation of a College Study Abroad program, expansion included new international offices and programs for cultural exchange. Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú headquarters moved from Ohio to Greenwich, Connecticut.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú purchased Richmond College, founded in 1843 and a constituent institution of the University of London. Now incorporated as Richmond, the American International University in London, it is a not-for-profit educational institution in the state of Delaware and recognized 501(c)(3) public educational charity under U.S. law. Richmond is the first university in the U.K. or the U.S. to be fully accredited by the higher education authorities of both countries.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú purchases Richmond College

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú purchases Richmond College to support study abroad programs in Surrey, England, just outside of London.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Study Abroad Established

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú creates College Study Abroad program with offerings in Europe, Asia and South America for U.S. college & university students.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Study Abroad Expend

Programs expand – Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú builds international presence with offices in London, England & Greenwich, Connecticut.

Richmond campus opens in the Kensington

Richmond, The American International University in London opens a second campus in the Kensington area of London.

1980's

The eighties were another decade of innovation and success for Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú. Now a well-respected leader at the forefront of the field, Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú created new programs for cultural exchange and steadily improved opportunities for international travel and education.

Study Abroad Programs established

1980

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Customized, Faculty-Led (CFL) study abroad programs enable colleges and universities to enrich curriculums and provide lower cost alternatives to traditional study abroad programming.

1981

Academic Year in America (AYA) is established.

Au Pair in America established

1986

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú launches a new concept called Au Pair in America. The program is a first in the nation to provide cultural exchange and live-in child care for American families. It is an instant success.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú acquires ELS and ACIS

1988/1989

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú High School Study Abroad merges with newly acquired American Council for International Studies (ACIS), providing educational travel services for middle and high school groups.

1990's

In the nineties, strategic expansion and acquisitions strengthened Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú's international presence and global leadership. Continued focus on innovation and the rising popularity of study abroad programs combined together creating a banner decade at Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú.

In the mid-1990s, Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú created Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) to offer insurance to study abroad students. CISI is a notable success, becoming popular with other study abroad providers as well as universities and colleges offering study abroad programs. At the tail-end of the century, headquarters moved from Greenwich to Stamford, Connecticut.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú South Africa

1994

The first Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú website is launched.

GIJK (Germany) and Au Pair Discover (South Africa) join the Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú family.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú opens offices in Poland and Australia.

College and High School Study Abroad programs expand to Australia and South Africa.

CISI incorporated

1996

Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) is established.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú headquarters

1999

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú headquarters moves from Greenwich to Stamford, Connecticut.

2000's

Like other organizations worldwide, Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú experienced the rollercoaster economy of the first decade in the new millennium. Bolstered by increased program participation through 2008, the global recession was successfully weathered under the leadership of President and CEO, William L. (Bill) Gertz, a former Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú marketing executive. By decade's end, enrollment levels were back on the rise.

2000

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú celebrates the enrollment of the 1,000,000th program participant.

2001

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú acquires international insurance organization CareMed.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú acquires the Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG), an educational organization for gifted and talented students.

2005

William L. (Bill) Gertz becomes President and CEO of Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú.

2010's

The 2010s were a time of celebration for Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú. Several programs reached milestone anniversaries in this decade, with more on the way. Today, we look forward with the same spirit of innovation and dedication to international travel, education and cross-cultural exchange that inspired Cyril, Roger and Doug to start Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú more than fifty years ago.

2010

SIG becomes a separate, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

2011

Au Pair in America celebrates its 25th anniversary at a gala reception hosted by the Assistant Secretary of State in Washington, D.C.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú is named among the Top Places to Work in Connecticut by Hearst Newspapers in an annual survey.

2013

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Founder and Chairman, Sir Cyril Taylor, announces his autobiography, "Sir Cyril: My Life as a Social Entrepreneur."

2014

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú celebrates 50 years of bringing the world together.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú headquarters moves to 1 High Ridge Park in Stamford, CT.

2015

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú is again named among the Top Places to Work in Connecticut by Hearst Newspapers in an annual survey.

The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation (CTCF) is formed to provide resources for the future for Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú, Richmond University and other organizations and charities in the field.

2018

Sir Cyril Taylor passes away and is succeeded by William L. Gertz.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú looks ahead to continued innovation as a leader in educational and cultural exchange programs.

2020's

The 2020s had a tumultuous beginning with the global pandemic causing decreased participation on international exchange organizations. In the time since, we have persevered and rebuilt, even launching Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Professional Pathways, a new intern and trainee program. Celebrating our 60th anniversary in 2024, Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú embraces the future, and reaffirms our role as a cultural influencer and industry leader on the global stage.   

2020

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Abroad (formerly Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Study Abroad) brings together three world-class programs for college students already offered by Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú, under one umbrella: the traditional Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Study Abroad programs, Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Customized Faculty-Led programs and Global Experiences International Internship programs.

2021

Academic Year in America (AYA) celebrates its 40th anniversary of placing international students with American host families.

2022

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú and CIEE establish Ping-Taylor Professional Fellows Grant, Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú and CIEE donating $100,000 over the next three years, allowing higher education administrators and faculty to attend annual conferences.

2023

Jack Burg becomes President and CEO of Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú.

Au Pair in America named Top Au Pair Provider for third consecutive year by Verywell Family.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Abroad named 2023’s Top Rated Study Abroad Provider by GoAbroad and 2023’s Best 2023 Intern Provider by Go Overseas.

2024

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Professional Pathways is launched, providing J-1 visa sponsorship for international interns and trainees pursing professional opportunities with businesses across the U.S. This division of Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú supports U.S. companies, immigration firms, universities, partners, students, and professionals at all levels.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú celebrates 60 years as a pioneer in cultural exchange and educational travel.

Â鶹¾«Æ·¹ú²ú Organizational affiliations