As we close out 2025, American Councils does so with a strong sense of purpose and deep appreciation for the community that makes our work possible. In a year marked by change and challenge across the international education landscape, the dedication of our staff, trustees, volunteers, partners, donors, and alumni enabled American Councils to create meaningful and measurable opportunities for tens of thousands of people around the world. In 2025, we are proud to have expanded access to international study, strengthened language and professional skills, and helped build durable relationships between the United States and partners around the world. Reflecting on the lessons of the year, one truth remains clear: our work has never been more relevant or more necessary.
Over the past year, American Councils supported the academic and professional aspirations of thousands of American and international participants of all ages through transformative international education, professional development, and cultural exchange programs. American students pursued rigorous study abroad experiences, developing advanced foreign language proficiency and the cultural fluency required for careers with global reach. At the same time, we supported international students coming to the United States to spend a year living with American families and studying in U.S. high schools, forging lasting personal relationships and gaining firsthand experience of American society. In both cases, these programs created enduring networks that connect individuals, institutions, and communities across borders.
In addition to student programming, American Councils expanded its work in professional development, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship. We supported American, Ukrainian, and Uzbek entrepreneurs seeking to grow businesses, expand trade, and drive innovation. We trained young leaders from Kiribati in workplace and English language skills essential to competing in an evolving economy. We welcomed university leaders from around the world eager to learn from U.S. higher education institutions at the forefront of innovation. Across Central Asia, we also provided hundreds of professionals with advanced English language training, expanding their ability to work effectively with U.S. partners in business, government, and U.S. partners in business and government.
This impact is only possible because of the remarkable community that sustains American Councils’ mission. Our work is strengthened by the leadership and trust of the U.S. Congress and the Department of State; by families who open their homes to students; by volunteer readers who help select each new cohort; by alumni who carry forward the values of exchange; and by our dedicated staff and Trustees who have guided the organization through a challenging and dynamic period. We are equally grateful to our private donors and foundations, whose generosity has made possible more than 320 scholarships for Americans to study abroad in recent years while increasing opportunity to transformative international experiences that directly benefit both the United States and our partner countries.
We also recognized individuals and institutions whose commitment exemplifies the long-term value of international education. We were proud to name Dr. Seth Bernstein, an alumnus of the Russian Language and Area Studies Program, as the 2025 David P. Patton Distinguished Alumni Awardee. Dr. Bernstein’s distinguished career as a historian of the Soviet Union and post-Soviet states, combining rigorous scholarship with innovative digital methods, demonstrates how immersive international education continues to shape research, teaching, and public understanding decades later.
In addition, American Councils was honored to recognize the Judith Ehm Foundation as the recipient of the Visionary in International Education Award. Through its partnership with American Councils, the Foundation has enabled the expansion of the Korean Intensive Summer Language Program, supporting dozens of American students in developing advanced language skills and cultural expertise in one of the world’s most strategically important regions. This partnership reflects a shared belief that critical language learning and cultural engagement are essential investments in America’s future and international capacity.
As we look ahead, the lessons of 2025 reinforce what American Councils has long understood: investing in people through education, language acquisition, and professional exchange yields dividends that extend far beyond individual participants. The alumni, partners, and institutions connected through our programs form a living network of scholars, educators, entrepreneurs, and leaders who collaborate across borders and contribute to economic growth, innovation, and mutual understanding.
At a time when the world faces complex challenges and rapid change, American Councils remains committed to advancing international education as a powerful tool for connection and shared progress. We are deeply grateful for the partnership of our supporters and confident in the enduring value of this work. Together, we will continue to ensure that opportunity remains at the heart of what America offers the world.