New ECA Assistant Secretary confirmed

On May 18, Catherine Dillon was confirmed by the Senate as the new Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Assistant Secretary Dillon was confirmed 46-43 as part of a group of 49 nominations.  

In her new role, Assistant Secretary Dillon will lead the U.S.’ global efforts to engage individuals through academic, cultural, professional, sports, film, music, and youth exchanges.   

The Alliance congratulates Assistant Secretary Dillon on her confirmation and looks forward to working with her and collaborating to promote international exchange programs. 

Alliance endorses bipartisan Congressional International Exchanges Caucus

The Alliance for International Exchange is proud to serve as the inaugural endorsing organization of the bipartisan Congressional International Exchanges Caucus, launched today by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), and U.S. Representatives Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ, 2) and Ami Bera (D-CA, 6). 

The Caucus was created to bolster engagement and support for international exchange programs, particularly those administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) within Congress, and will serve as a platform for members to: 

• Learn from Americans about the impact of international exchange programs on their states and districts; and  

• Ensure ECA’s long-term programmatic sustainability and success by offering exclusive opportunities to engage with Administration officials on the latest topics impacting international exchange programs. 

The Alliance commends the bipartisan, bicameral partnership on display in the creation of this caucus and looks forward to working with its members to promote international exchange programs.

ECA’s Account Is Full: What Is Apportionment And Why It Matters To Exchanges

Sometimes, to fully understand what’s happening behind the scenes, we need to dive into some arcane topics that aren’t part of our normal vocabulary. In this instance, I’m talking about apportionment.  

Apportionment is the practice by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of transparently making deposits into the accounts of federal agencies, which was codified into law in the FY22 appropriations bill. This year, because of this transparency, we know that the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has received its full FY26 apportionment, as well as its FY25 rollover funding and other unspent funds, which means they have over $1 billion in their coffers this year. Let me explain. 

In February, the bipartisan FY26 National Security, State Department, and Related Programs (NSRP) appropriations bill passed into law. We were grateful to see not only a positive funding line for ECA ($667M), but also strong oversight measures. One of those measures was a provision that signaled that the Alliance’s months of advocacy and conversations with the Hill had paid off.

Congress included oversight language with the aim of reigning in OMB, namely: 

• Provided further, That funds appropriated under this heading shall be apportioned to the Department of State not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

In addition to the existing law requiring that OMB publicly post its apportionments online, Congress was now saying that for ECA, OMB is also required to deposit ECA’s funds no later than 60 days after the passage of the bill. This requirement was clearly a response to the issues we raised all year and was included in the bill as added insurance to guarantee ECA received all its appropriated funds by a specific deadline. 

With that bit of oversight enshrined in law, I began to sit on the OMB apportionment website every day, refreshing it to see if they’d apportioned ECA’s funding. On the 60th day, they did. You can see ECA’s apportionment broken down here.

This chart is revealing in several ways. It shows: 

• ECA had $293,255,849 in carryover from FY25 (“Actual-Unob Bal: Brought forward, Oct 1”), which is a significant amount in comparison to a typical year. This number is certainly due to the hold OMB placed on 22 of ECA’s programs that prevented them from moving forward. 

• OMB apportioned the full FY26 appropriation ($667,000,000) to ECA but also shaved the statutory $25,000,000 rescission that was written into the bill off the top. This is standard in any appropriations bill, though usually the rescission is more piecemeal and program-by-program. 

• All in all, ECA has over one billion dollars at its disposal in FY26. 

This is just one extremely important example of our advocacy in action. We identified how OMB was obstructing ECA in spending its appropriated funds. Using Alliance member data and our own intelligence-gathering, we educated Congress about ECA’s typical award process and what was going wrong in 2025. Congress responded by putting requirements into law for OMB to ensure ECA had its funding in a timely manner in 2026.  

While we’re still monitoring the role OMB is playing in reviewing programs’ Congressional Notifications, ECA has access to its full FY26 funding along with FY25 carryover. Once those CNs are released from OMB review, the bureau should be positioned to package and distribute awards quickly. 

The oversight language included in the FY26 enacted NSRP bill clearly worked as intended, and the language should remain in all future Department of State appropriations. It demonstrated bipartisan intent to see ECA’s programs continue, and ensured OMB followed the letter of the law. To remove it in FY27 or future fiscal years would suggest that the threat of OMB interference is gone, and that is simply not the case. As we mentioned in our commentary about the House’s FY27 mark, the support for funding ECA remains strong, but those important oversight measures are missing. We encourage Congress to agree again on a bipartisan basis to include those measures in their final FY27 bill. 

Thirty-eight Senators sign letter supporting robust FY27 exchange funding and funding protections

On April 30, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and thirty-seven fellow Senators sent a letter on behalf of educational and cultural exchange programs to the Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Senate Committee on Appropriations leadership.  

The annual appropriations letter calls on the Senate Appropriations Committee to: 

• Fund exchanges at $700.95 million for FY27; and  

• Retain oversight language from FY26 to ensure appropriated funds are released in a timely manner and are utilized consistently with Congressional intent. 

Below is a list of all thirty-eight letter signers. The Alliance is grateful to all the Senators who signed on and their offices for their support of Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) exchange programs. 

• Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) 

• Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) 

• Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) 

• Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) 

• Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) 

• Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) 

• Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)   

• Senator Christopher Murphy (D-CT) 

• Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) 

• Senator Christopher Coons (D-DE) 

• Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) 

• Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) 

• Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) 

• Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) 

• Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) 

• Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) 

• Senator Angus King (I-ME) 

• Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) 

• Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) 

• Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) 

• Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) 

• Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) 

• Senator Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH) 

• Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) 

• Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) 

• Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) 

• Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) 

• Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) 

• Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) 

• Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) 

• Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) 

• Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) 

• Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) 

• Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) 

• Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) 

• Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) 

• Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) 

• Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) 

New J-1 visa appointment availability data signals concern for Summer 2026

Recent data collection conducted by the Alliance within our membership (see note below for more on methodology) shows that nearly 25,000 J-1 BridgeUSA participants set to arrive this summer are at risk of not getting a visa interview. A lack of visa interview capacity in key sending countries remains an acute threat to BridgeUSA programs and U.S. communities as we draw closer to the start of the summer season. 

• An estimated 19,400 expected Summer Work Travel (SWT) participants (23% of total expected summer participants) are at risk of not securing visa interviews, representing an estimated $66 million loss in direct economic contributions to U.S. host communities. 

• An estimated 5,200 expected Camp Counselor (CC) participants (16% of total expected participants) are similarly at risk of not securing visa interviews, which would result in an additional $9.1 million in lost economic impact. 

These challenges are particularly acute in key sending countries including Australia, China, Colombia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Serbia, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, where collectively 13,590 appointments are still needed. 

If these appointments do not come through, U.S. seasonal economies and tourism dependent communities, and U.S. summer camps across the country will feel the impact.  

This problem began in late 2025 when a Department of State cable instructed Embassies to fully prioritize B1/B2 tourist visas for the World Cup at the expense of other nonimmigrant visas, including J-1s. Earlier this year, U.S. Embassies in key BridgeUSA sending countries across announced reduced J-1 visa interview capacity by anywhere from 50-90%. 

The Alliance continues to coordinate the exchange and business communities to press Congress and the Administration on the importance of BridgeUSA programs to U.S. public diplomacy and U.S. local economies.  

We’re using this new data to continue to make the case for our two primary asks of the Bureau of Consular Affairs: 

• We ask that Consular Affairs instruct Embassies to place priority emphasis on J-1 visa interviews. We support the issuance of World Cup visas to all eligible tourists and ask that Consular Affairs reprioritize J-1 visas for eligible participants for this summer and beyond given how critical they are to U.S. seasonal communities, camps, schools, families, and economies.   

• We ask that Consular Affairs provide more staff support for J-1 visa issuance, specifically for back-end online presence screening of J-1 visa applicants. We ask that the Department of State provide additional staff time and resources to assist Embassies with the back-end vetting of J-1 applicants’ online presence. This could be additional staff sent to Embassies and/or a central staffing mechanism that enables additional staff not at post to perform online vetting research while Consular officers are concurrently performing interviews at post. 

NOTE: In this data collection, Alliance member organizations who sponsor the Department of State’s BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel (SWT) and Camp Counselor (CC) programs shared their most recent visa processing data. These respondents account for an estimated 60% of total participants in both the SWT summer season and CC categories, respectively, making these findings broadly indicative of the current conditions. Total data presented here is extrapolated from these results to give a full program picture, based on State Department data for the programs from 2025 and expected participation for 2026.

House appropriations subcommittee bill funds ECA at $647 million for FY27

In a rejection of the Administration’s recent budget request, the House National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP, formerly SFOPS) Subcommittee proposed funding the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at $647 million. In addition to the topline funding number, the bill: 

• Specifically mentions funding the Fulbright Program at no less than $287.8 million; 

• Retains language ensuring that the Secretary of State consults with Congress no later than 30 days after the bill is enacted on the allocation of program funds;  

• Retains language ensuring that any major program changes planned by the Department of State must be run by Congress and; 

• Retains a provision that any regulatory changes made by the executive branch to BridgeUSA exchange programs must be done pursuant to the congressional requirements of formal rulemaking specified in the Administrative Procedure Act.   

While nearly three times the $215 million proposed in the President’s Budget Request, this funding still falls well short of the $667 million enacted for FY26, and the $700.95 million the Alliance has requested for FY27. There are also notable protections included in the FY26 enacted bill that are absent in this one, including: 

• No specific mention of funding levels for flagship ECA programs including the Gilman Program, International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), and Young Leaders Programs; and 

• No language requiring funds be sent to ECA by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) no later than 60 days after the bill is enacted. 

We appreciate the committee’s continued bipartisan support for exchanges in a challenging fiscal environment but must keep pushing throughout the appropriations cycle to secure the robust funding  and oversight these programs require. We look forward to supporting collaboration between the House and Senate to ensure exchanges are fully funded and protected in FY27.  

The full bill text can be viewed here. Language on ECA funding and provisions can be found on pages 4, 5, and 125. 

President’s FY27 budget proposes 68% cut to Department of State exchange programs

Not surprising, but disappointing. The White House’s FY27 Presidential Budget Request (PBR) proposes defunding and decimating Department of State international exchange programs. 

Released last week, the PBR proposes funding the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at $215 million for FY27, a 68% topline cut from the FY26 enacted level. The complementary Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ) provides further detail on how these cuts would be enacted, proposing the elimination of 15+ programs and slashing funding for countless more. 

If enacted, the cuts proposed would inhibit American excellence at home and on the world stage. 

• Eliminating the Gilman Program denies American undergraduates with high financial need the ability to study or intern abroad, both of which are attractive experiences to employers. 

• Eliminating the Stevens Initiative prevents the creation of leadership opportunities for rising American generations. 

• Eliminating American Overseas Research Centers prevents American scholars from conducting research on critical issues of U.S. national importance in 29 countries around the world. 

• Cutting funding for the Fulbright Program by almost 80% limits the number of accomplished American students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals that receive scholarships to study, teach, conduct research, and contribute to finding solutions to complex global challenges. 

• Slashing and eliminating funding for Young Leaders programs in Africa, South-East Asia, and the Americas denies the U.S. opportunities to engage with the next generation of leaders in countries and regions critical to U.S. national security. 

• Cutting funding for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) by more than 50% decreases the U.S.’ capacity to build long-term relationships between Americans and international leaders in government, business, academia, and other fields. 

These programs provide countless benefits to the U.S. and Americans at an incredible return on investment. 90% of the Department of State international exchange program budget is spent on Americans traveling abroad or by international participants while in America. 

Continued threats to exchange funding jeopardize short- and long-term program success. But the exchange community has the tools and proven track record to push back against threats like the FY27 PBR. Last year, we sent 20,000+ letters to Congress urging them to reject the FY26 PBR, which proposed a 93% cut to Department of State international exchange programs, and to fund exchanges at no less than $741 million. Thanks to our efforts and strong bipartisan support on the Hill, Congress soundly rejected the proposed cut and, in a significant signal of Congress’ continued support for ECA exchange programs amid a broader environment of sweeping funding cuts, funded exchanges at $667 million. 

While the President’s Budget Request shows a concerning lack of commitment to one of the U.S.’ most effective public diplomacy tools, the Alliance is prepared and ready to once again take action and show Congress and the Administration just how important exchanges are to Americans across the country. 

Nominee for ECA Assistant Secretary takes the stage during Senate confirmation hearing

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) held a confirmation hearing today for Catherine Dillon, the nominee for Assistant Secretary of State at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the Department of State. If confirmed, Ms. Dillon will lead the U.S.’ global efforts to engage individuals through academic, cultural, professional, sports, film, music, and youth exchanges. 

Introduced by Representative Virginia Foxx (R, NC-5) as a professional who will always meet the moment to ensure U.S. success on the global stage, Ms. Dillon pledged to lead “this vital component of the U.S.’ foreign policy.” She said she would do so by focusing on four core priorities: 

1. Strategic alignment: Ensuring all exchange programs and initiatives clearly advance America First priorities.

2. Fiscal stewardship: Applying fiscal scrutiny to all programs to ensure adequate return on investment. 

3. Championing American excellence: Capitalizing on the upcoming FIFA World Cup and LA 2028 Olympics to showcase American innovation, education, and opportunity. 

4. Prioritizing safety and security of exchange participants: Ensuring the health and safety of American participants and ensuring vetting of international participants. 

Following her opening statement, several Senators took the opportunity to ask Ms. Dillon about her commitment to following the laws that govern educational and cultural exchange programming and funding. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) asked Ms. Dillon if she would commit to following the letter of the law and ensure programs remain nonpolitical and funded as authorized by Congress, to which she agreed. There was specific mention of the Fulbright Program and American Spaces in questions from Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), to which Ms. Dillon responded by confirming the importance of both programs to U.S. foreign policy, especially in combatting Chinese influence. 

Ms. Dillon’s nomination will now be further reviewed by the SFRC, who will then vote on whether to send her nomination to the full Senate for final approval. 

The Alliance thanks Ms. Dillon for her willingness to serve in this role and the members of Congress who underscored the vital work of ECA and its continued importance to U.S. foreign policy. 

The full hearing recording can be viewed here. 

Making J-1s a Priority: The Importance of J-1 Visa Appointment Availability to the U.S. in Summer 2026

We’re less than three months out from the start of the summer season for U.S. businesses and communities, and one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the U.S. has a J-1 visa appointment availability problem. 

Over the past month, U.S. Embassies in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Thailand, and Turkey, all key BridgeUSA exchange program sending countries, announced they will reduce J-1 visa interview capacity by anywhere from 50-90%, with more countries potentially following suit.  

If this trend continues, summer 2026 could see a sharp decline in Summer Work Travel and Camp Counselor participants, triggering consequences that extend far beyond the programs themselves. Seasonal businesses and tourist destinations across the U.S. could face serious staffing shortages, making it harder to operate and serve customers without the support these participants provide alongside American workers. Local economies stand to lose more than $45 million in annual spending generated by Summer Work Travel participants. And these impacts may only be the beginning, with broader and less predictable consequences already on the horizon. 

As the U.S. prepares for the FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th birthday celebration this year, ensuring participants secure the J-1 visa interview appointments they need to support U.S. communities and economies this summer is vital, and many in Congress agree.  

Last week, fifteen members of Congress joined Representatives Jeff Van Drew (R, NJ-2) and Bill Keating (D, MA-9) in sending a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to ensure that sufficient consular resources are in place worldwide for the timely visa processing of J-1 exchange visitors in 2026.  

We at the Alliance join Congress in calling on the U.S. Department of State to ensure J-1 visas are prioritized this year and respectfully recommend the following activities: 

• We ask that Consular Affairs instruct Embassies to place priority emphasis on J-1 visa interviews. A Department of State cable was issued to Embassies in late 2025 instructing them to fully prioritize B1/B2 tourist visas for the World Cup, while deemphasizing the issuance of J-1 visas. We support the issuance of World Cup visas to all eligible tourists and ask that Consular Affairs reprioritize J-1 visas for eligible participants for this summer and beyond given how critical they are to U.S. seasonal communities, camps, schools, families, and economies.  

• We ask that Consular Affairs provide more staff support for J-1 visa issuance, specifically for back-end online presence screening of J-1 visa applicants. We ask that the Department of State provide additional staff time and resources to assist Embassies with the back-end vetting of J-1 applicants’ online presence. This could be additional staff sent to Embassies and/or a central staffing mechanism that enables additional staff not at post to perform online vetting research while Consular officers are concurrently performing interviews at post. 

It is important to note that many Embassies around the world have been responsive to the needs of the program by extending the number of months for J-1 visa interviews. While appreciated and necessary, this alone is not sufficient to provide the needed number of visa interviews to give U.S. businesses the necessary seasonal boost they expect. We’re grateful to our members, partners, and champions on the Hill for continuing to advocate for a multiprong approach to address this issue and ensure need is met. 

If you or your organization has information you’d like to share regarding J-1 visa appointment trends you’re seeing, please contact info@alliance-exchange.org.

Exchange programs take center stage in Under Secretary Rogers’ first appearance before Congress since confirmation

Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 5, 2026, where lawmakers on both sides of the aisle brought U.S. Department of State international exchange programs to the forefront of their questioning and remarks.  

In her opening statement, Under Secretary Rogers spoke about the importance of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and praised ECA’s programs as powerful public diplomacy tools. She called ECA “a cornerstone of American public diplomacy” that amplifies U.S. influence and credibility through long-term relationship building. The Under Secretary highlighted exchanges as key to fulfilling this Administration’s goals of spreading U.S. global interests and bolstering national security: 

“These efforts not only expand the reach of U.S. diplomacy but also generate measurable impact — strengthening alliances, opening markets, and supporting American security and prosperity.” 

During her remarks and in responses to questioning, Under Secretary Rogers affirmed that ECA’s international exchange programs benefit American students and scholars and help Americans connect with international leaders. She cited programs like Fulbright, Gilman, and IVLP as programs that achieve U.S. foreign policy goals. 

Numerous Members of Congress highlighted the importance of exchanges in their remarks and asked pointed questions about the status of ECA’s FY25 and FY26 grants and funding and the need to ensure ample J-1 visa appointment availability.  

Reps. Ami Bera (D, CA-6), Johnny Olszewski (D, MD-2), Madeleine Dean (D, PA-4), Gabe Amo (D, RI-1), and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D, CA-37) all highlighted the funding and grants challenges that ECA has endured over the past year. Several of them raised the issue of OMB holding the FY25 awards for many of ECA’s exchange programs last year, demonstrating the visibility this issue has gained on the Hill.  

Under Secretary Rogers repeatedly noted that those held programs are “on track,” with specific discussions taking place around the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). While it’s true that OMB has released its hold on that funding and ECA approved most of the programs for continuation, the programs have yet to see any movement on funding or a resumption of activities. 

Under Secretary Rogers characterized OMB’s involvement in ECA grants as an “interagency process” that she couldn’t comment extensively on. Rep. Dean requested a full report from ECA on the held awards, what their funding amounts will be, and confirmation that the awards will be processed for FY26. 

Several members also raised questions about the FY26 grants process, asking the Under Secretary about her intentions to ensure that ECA’s appropriated funds are distributed in a timely manner and used consistent with Congressional intent. The Under Secretary acknowledged multiple times that she and ECA will “follow the law” as laid out in the FY26 appropriations bill.  

Rep. Bill Keating (D, MA-9) raised the issue of visa appointment availability for BridgeUSA program applicants this year. Rep. Keating noted the importance of BridgeUSA programs on local and seasonal economies, like in his district that encompasses Cape Cod, and expressed his concern about growing reports of limited visa appointment availability. While Under Secretary Rogers did not directly address the question, she signaled strong support for BridgeUSA programs, noting that her office is working with Congress on legislative initiatives designed to strengthen the programs.  

The Alliance extends its thanks to Under Secretary Rogers and all the Members who spoke on the importance of international exchange programs and continue to ask the questions necessary to ensure the future success of these vital programs. 

The full hearing recording can be viewed here. 

Recently released State Department data shows concerning dip in BridgeUSA participation in 2025

BridgeUSA exchange program participant data for 2025 was just released, and the numbers tell a concerning story.  

BridgeUSA participant numbers dipped to 275,000, an 8.8% decrease from 2024, and the first decline in participation in more than five years. This is a departure from recent participation trends, as 2021-2024 saw a steady increase and almost complete rebound from the 2020 plummet in program participation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The dip in 2025 participation signals that BridgeUSA programs are facing a variety of intersecting challenges. While demand for the programs – from both participants and hosts – is holding strong, exchange organizations have to contend with headwinds from several directions to convert that demand into participation.   

Program Participation Decreases Nearly Across the Board 

Nearly every major program category experienced a decline in 2025. The across-the-board declines suggest that participation barriers are not isolated to a single program type but are impacting the BridgeUSA portfolio more broadly. 

• Research Scholar, Teacher, and Au Pair saw some of the steepest decreases:  

• Research Scholar saw a nearly 27% decrease to 17,622 (down from 24,067 in 2024). 

• Teacher saw a 22% decrease to 5,276 (down from 6,780 in 2024). 

• Au Pair declined 13.2%, to 16,840 (down from 19,408 in 2024).  

• Camp Counselor was the only category to see even a slight increase, up to 32,470 (from 32,079 in 2024). 

• SWT saw a 2.5% decrease to 104,609 (down from 107,228 in 2024). 

• Intern saw a 9.8% decrease to 16,877 (down from 18,719 in 2024). 

• Trainee saw 12.3% decrease to 8,605 (down from 9,821 in 2024). 

• Secondary Student (High School) saw a 6.3% decrease to 17,863 (down from 19,077 in 2024). 

Impact on Top Sending Countries 

Many countries that have historically sent strong numbers of participants saw decreases from 2024 to 2025, such as: 

• Germany: -11.42% 

• Turkey: -15.5% 

• Colombia: -25.7% 

• Mexico: -7.67% 

• China: -9.34% 

Top Receiving U.S. States Also Impacted

The declines are felt domestically as well. Most U.S. states saw a reduction in their number of exchange participants, including those that typically host the largest numbers of participants, including: 

• New York: -5.51% 

• Pennsylvania: -6.54% 

• Florida: -7.17% 

• Massachusetts: -8.41% 

• California: -11.75% 

These decreases across the country could affect local economies and communities that rely on the cultural, educational, and economic contributions of BridgeUSA participants. 

What’s Driving the Decline? 

Several factors likely contributed to this drop in participation: 

• New social media vetting procedures of J-1 visa applicants, implemented in June of 2025, are significantly increasing the time it takes to adjudicate a visa for any given applicant. This additional time is squeezing consular resources and creating fewer available visa interview slots. 

• Immigration enforcement concerns may be discouraging prospective participants from committing to programs. 

• Political and economic uncertainties in the U.S. may be influencing both applicants and host organizations. 

Looking Ahead 

BridgeUSA programs have long served as a cornerstone of both U.S. public diplomacy efforts and economic success. Reversing these declines will require coordinated efforts from government agencies, partner organizations, and host communities to ensure that the U.S. remains an attractive and accessible destination for young people and professionals worldwide. 

Alliance endorses American Decade of Sports Act

The Alliance for International Exchange is proud to endorse the bipartisan American Decade of Sports Act sponsored by Representatives Kamlager-Dove (D, CA-37) and Huizenga (R, MI-4) in the House and Senators Rosen (D-NV), Young (R-IN), Padilla (D-CA), and Curtis (R-UT) in the Senate.  

This bill harnesses the excitement surrounding the multitude of international sporting events taking place in the United States in the next decade by directing the Department of State to develop a 5-year sports diplomacy strategy and creating a new Office of Sports Diplomacy to implement the new strategy. Working through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the strategy will guide U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, coordinate with U.S. host cities and states, engage key diaspora communities, and promote American sports culture, alongside U.S. industry and tourism, to international audiences.

This bill puts sports diplomacy at the forefront of U.S. diplomatic activity surrounding the major events coming in the next decade and strengthen U.S. soft power and enhance its global leadership. 

The Alliance commends the bipartisan, bicameral work done to advance this bill. 

National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill funds exchanges at $667 million for FY26

On Sunday, January 11, the House Appropriations Committee introduced the Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026. This bill is the product of negotiations between House and Senate appropriators, and key to advancing full-year funding for FY26. The legislation provides $667 million for educational and cultural exchanges, a significant signal of Congress’ continued support for ECA exchange programs amid a broader environment of sweeping funding cuts. 

The Alliance for International Exchange appreciates the substantial work and bipartisan compromise reflected in this package. While the $667 million allocation falls below the FY24 enacted level of $741 million and the $700.95 million included in last summer’s House bill, it nonetheless represents a strong commitment to sustaining exchange programs. The bill’s inclusion of specific topline funding levels for programs such as Fulbright, Gilman, IVLP, and the Young Leaders Initiatives is an especially encouraging sign. 

The Alliance also applauds the inclusion of strengthened oversight language (see below and page 194 of the bill text) to ensure close cooperation between Congress and the State Department on program funding and implementation. 

• Secretary consultation: “That not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations on the allocation of funds made available under this heading by program, project, and activity.” 

• Substantive modification: “That any substantive modifications from the prior fiscal year to programs funded under this heading in this Act, including program consolidation and closures, changes to eligibility criteria and geographic scope, and implementing partners, shall be subject to prior consultation with, and the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations 

• Apportionment: “That funds appropriated under this heading shall be apportioned to the Department of State not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.” 

The bill was marked up in a House Rules Committee hearing, which is the first step in Congress’ committee consideration of a bill after the two chambers have agreed on text. The hearing was held on Tuesday, January 13 at 2:00 PM ET. The Alliance is continuing to monitor the bill’s progress and its impact on exchange programs. If the bill passes, it will ensure funding for the Department of State and ECA programs through September 30, 2026. 

Read the full bill text, along will statements and supplementary documents, below: 

• Bill text is available here (ECA section on page 194).  

• An explanatory statement for the bill is available here (pages 8-9 outline exchange program funding and additional considerations). 

• A summary of the bill is available here. 

• House Appropriations Committee press release 

Statement on another inaccurate portrayal of BridgeUSA international exchange programs by the New York Times

The Alliance for International Exchange is deeply disappointed in the New York Times’ second inaccurate and reductive portrayal of U.S. Department of State BridgeUSA international exchange programs (first in September, and again in an article released on Christmas Day).  

We are dismayed and disheartened by the negative experiences of the small group of individuals featured in these stories. Their experiences, however, are far from representative and do not reflect that the vast majority of the 300,000 individuals who participate in BridgeUSA programs annually have positive, life-changing experiences that improve their lives and careers and strengthen the United States’ global influence.  

BridgeUSA programs are cultural exchanges programs that benefit international participants and the country alike. 

According to a 2025 State Department survey of Summer Work Travel program participants: 

• 98% of non-native English-speaking respondents indicated improving their English-language abilities. 

• 95% of respondents indicated that they increased their knowledge of United States culture. 

• 95% indicated being satisfied with their program sponsor. 

• 95% reported that their work conditions were safe. 

• 94% indicated having an overall positive program experience. 

• 91% said their job duties were what they expected. 

• 90% were satisfied with their job placement. 

In addition, data from the Alliance’s 2025 BridgeUSA Impact Report shows that 96% of Summer Work Travel Program alumni and 94% of Intern and Trainee Program alumni recommend the program to family and friends back home.  

As we noted in our response to the first Times article, BridgeUSA programs are governed by a comprehensive set of community-supported State Department regulations, as well as robust compliance mechanisms and oversight. These regulations require numerous key safeguards, including but not limited to: rigorous vetting of host employers, clear prohibitions on job placements in unsafe or inappropriate roles, and structured support systems for participants. These regulations and compliance activities continuously improve program administration and experiences.  

The health, safety, welfare and success of all program participants is the exchange community’s number one priority.  

Oversight of BridgeUSA programs today is even more robust than it was a decade ago, and that evolution reflects a shared, community-wide commitment to the safety, success, and cultural enrichment of every participant. In addition to creating positive, life-changing experiences for participants, BridgeUSA international exchange programs represent the most cost-effective tool in the United States’ public diplomacy toolbox, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars reinvested back in American communities.   

The Alliance and its members will continue to partner with the State Department to advance the goals of these important programs while ensuring the wellbeing of participants.  

Community in Action: The 2025 Alliance Annual Conference in Photos

The 2025 Alliance Annual Conference brought together 250+ leaders, practitioners, and policymakers from across the international exchange community for two days of learning, collaboration, and forward-looking discussion. 

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Alliance Executive Director Mark Overmann

Alliance Board Chair and AFS-USA President & CEO Tara Hofmann

McCarry Leadership Awardee Leydi Lucas and Nominator Clare Overmann

Michael McCarry, McCarry Leadership Awardee Julia Stewart, and Nominator Meriem Guetat

McCarry Leadership Awardee Suzanne Kolasa and Nominator Rich Baader

We kicked off this annual gathering with opening remarks from Alliance Executive Director Mark Overmann and Alliance Board Chair and AFS-USA President & CEO Tara Hofmann (read Tara’s remarks and reflections on the importance of advocacy here), and celebrated the three emerging international education and exchange leaders that received this year’s McCarry Leadership Awards. 

• Suzanne Kolasa, Spirit Cultural Exchange 

• Leydi Lucas, Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) 

• Julia Stewart, Amideast 

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The afternoon got into all things advocacy. A highlight of the first day was a Bipartisan Hill Staffer Panel, offering insights into legislative priorities affecting international exchanges and public diplomacy programs. This was followed up by a Policy Chat IRL, a live version of the Alliance’s popular Friday series. Led by Adrienne Jacobs (Alliance for International Exchange), Kate Eltrich (KAE Strategic), and Will Nordwind (Venable), this panel discussion took a deep dive into the latest developments in federal funding, regulations, and executive actions shaping the field. We also heard video remarks from Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME, 1). 

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We started Day 2 strong with a block of concurrent sessions focused on empowering practitioners and advancing the exchange field. 

In From Interest to Action: Securing Private Sector Investment in Exchange Programs, Scott Massey (anu), Ashley McNeil (AHLA), and Christine Shiau (Aspen Institute’s Stevens Initiative), and Jim Golsen (Meridian International Center) explored how exchange organizations can showcase to businesses where there are opportunities to collaborate and demonstrate the tangible value of exchanges to the private sector to move from business interest to action and secure real investment from the private sector. 

Simultaneously, Leading through Uncertainty with Jen Wilson (Jen Wilson International) guided participants through organizational best practices for navigating disruption with clarity and empathy.  

Another concurrent session, Participant Support in 2025, featured Allison Jennings (IREX), Jung Ran Lim (Cultural Vistas), and Jessica Kissell (Greenheart International) who shared firsthand insights on preparing participants for arrival in the U.S., supporting mental health throughout programs, and navigating the ripple effects of new immigration policies. 

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Attendees joined peers to get into the weeds on programmatic best practices for a wide range of exchange program categories. 

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The conference closed with Action Alert: Building our 2026 Advocacy Strategy, a forward-looking discussion featuring Marcelle Benedicta (Greenheart International), Theresa Furman (Meridian International Center), Phil Simon (Cenet), and Erica Stewart (NAFSA). Together, they reflected on the past year’s advocacy lessons and outlined strategies to strengthen engagement, mobilize consistent support, and communicate effectively amid a shifting political landscape. 

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We’re grateful to all the attendees, speakers, and sponsors that made this gathering possible. Special thanks to our Visionary Sponsors AIFS and InterExchange. 

Why Advocacy Matters: Reflections from Alliance Board Chair Tara Hofmann

I am truly honored to serve as the new Board Chair of the Alliance for International Exchange.

I want to thank Jennifer Clinton, President and CEO of Cultural Vistas, for her leadership as Chair for the past four years. As Vice Chair, I had a front row seat watching her navigate what has been the most challenging period of time in the Alliance’s history. Her steady hand and her ability to “see through the trees” have significantly contributed to all of our organizations still being here and being aligned in our advocacy efforts.

I want to begin by recognizing the extraordinary dedication of our members, our partners, our staff, and our Alliance team — people who, in every sense, represent the beating heart of the international education and exchange field. You have faced a year unlike any other, marked by headwinds that have tested our endurance, our creativity, and, at times, our faith in what’s possible.

Yet, I am filled not with worry, but with conviction. Conviction that what we do matters more today than perhaps at any point in recent memory.

Tara Hofmann, AFS-USA President & CEO and newly-appointed Alliance Board Chair at the 2025 Alliance Annual Conference.

In my recent article in Foreign Affairs, I wrote about what happens when people come face to face across cultures — when they live, study, and work side by side, not as headlines or stereotypes, but as human beings.

These exchanges are not soft diplomacy; they are soul diplomacy — the kind that changes how people see the world and each other.

Whether it’s

• a high school student discovering a new way of thinking about freedom and responsibility.

• a Fulbright professor conducting research abroad.

• an undergraduate arriving in the United States for the first time and finding their way on a new campus.

• a young professional sharing dinner with a local family through IVLP.

• an au pair learning to navigate life within a new household.

• a teacher bringing a fresh global perspective to a classroom full of curious middle schoolers.

• a Work & Travel student stepping into their first real job at a bustling amusement park.

• or a trainee returning home with new skills that will transform a local business —

Each of these experiences, and countless others like them, strengthen the fabric of peace and understanding, one person at a time.

“These exchanges are not soft diplomacy; they are soul diplomacy — the kind that changes how people see the world and each other.”

— Tara Hofmann, AFS-USA President & CEO and Alliance Board Chair

That is the work we do. That is what we defend. And that is what unites every member of the Alliance for International Exchange.

This past year has challenged all of us — not just organizationally, but philosophically. New regulations, policy uncertainty, and shifting political winds have tested our resilience and our ability to adapt.

But they’ve also reminded us why advocacy matters — not just in Washington, but in every community where exchange participants live, study, and work. The Alliance’s recent commentary said it well: “Home is where the impact is.”

Our stories don’t start or end in D.C. They begin in host families, on college campuses, in workplaces, and in communities where people from around the world discover a shared humanity. When those stories are told — locally, authentically, and passionately — we build understanding from the ground up. That is how we endure.

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As I begin my tenure as Chair of the Alliance, I see our task not as reinventing the Alliance, but as reinvigorating the movement it represents.

We must:

• Stand shoulder to shoulder — across every sector and program category — to present a united front in the face of uncertainty.

• We must amplify visibility — because the more people know about our programs, the harder they are to dismantle or dismiss.

• We must invest in local advocacy — ensuring that mayors, business owners, teachers, and families understand that exchanges aren’t just global; they’re profoundly local in their impact.

• And most importantly, we must stay true to our purpose — that what we do is not transactional, but transformational.

I see this next chapter for the Alliance as one of renewed clarity. We are not just managing programs; we are sustaining a vision of the world that values curiosity over fear, empathy over division, and collaboration over isolation.

The challenges before us are significant — but so is our resolve. We are part of something that transcends politics and policy cycles. We are custodians of a legacy built on belief: belief in the transformative power of human connection.

Our responsibility now is to protect and expand that legacy, to nurture the next generation of bridge builders, and to ensure that our programs — every single one of them — continue to open hearts and minds across borders.

Let this be our rallying cry:

“No matter how turbulent the moment, we will continue to make the case for exchange — boldly, collaboratively, and relentlessly. Because when the world becomes more divided, our work becomes more essential.”

As we gather under the banner of the Alliance, let’s recommit ourselves to that purpose — to advocacy that is grounded in unity, integrity, and hope. Let’s lift each other up, share our stories widely, and remind this nation — and the world — that the United States is at its best when it opens its doors, not when it closes them.

Thank you for your leadership, courage, and belief in this mission. Together, we are the voice of global exchange — and the future we are shaping is one that the world desperately needs.

Alliance Welcomes Newest Board of Directors Members

Dan Bullock

President, Partner, and Co-Founder
International Residence Hall

Dan Bullock is the President, Partner, and Co-Founder of International Residence Hall (IRH), the largest independent BridgeUSA housing provider in the United States. Since co-founding IRH, Dan has helped grow the organization to serve communities across Wisconsin, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Alabama. IRH focuses on providing safe, affordable housing designed specifically for Exchange Visitors, creating welcoming and inclusive environments that help participants thrive while living and working in the U.S.

In addition to his work with IRH, Dan serves as President of Holtz Companies, guiding a group of businesses in hospitality, construction, and workforce housing. His career spans leadership roles in several industries, teaching positions in higher education, and service with numerous community and nonprofit organizations.

A native of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Dan earned his bachelor’s degree in Administrative Management from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and an MBA with honors from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. He brings a lifelong commitment to hard work, community, and helping others succeed.

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Lisa Choate

President & CEO
American Councils for International Education

Lisa Choate was appointed President and CEO of American Councils for International Education in February 2024. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Choate served as Executive Vice President of American Councils, a leadership role she has held since 2012. With 35 years’ experience managing and guiding the organization, Ms. Choate’s executive management and leadership responsibilities date back to 1987 when she opened the organization’s first office in Washington, DC.  

Throughout her career, Ms. Choate has been a driving force in leading American Councils successful efforts with funders to develop and expand a number of flagship initiatives including the U.S. Department of State’s Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) and Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) programs for secondary school students; the Congressional Office for International Leadership’s Open World program and other professional programs; as well as programs for Americans to study and teach critical languages such as the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) and Startalk programs. Under her direction, these programs, many of which started as pilot programs, have grown to become well-established, foundational programs that promote mutual understanding and support opportunities for promising individuals from different communities around the globe. Ms. Choate has also spearheaded efforts across the organization to develop and implement strategies, plans, and negotiations leading to the administration and evaluation of a wide range of international exchange programs.  

Ms. Choate is an American Councils alumna, having studied for an academic year at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow. She holds a Master’s degree in Education and Second Language Acquisition from Boston University and an A.B. from Bryn Mawr College in Russian Language and Literature. 

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Marcie Schneider

President
Intrax

Marcie Schneider has served as President of Intrax since 2014, bringing more than 30 years of leadership experience in international and cultural exchange. She oversees Intrax’s eight Domestic BridgeUSA programs and four international offices in the UK, Chile, Germany, Japan, and South Korea. Under her leadership, Intrax continues to strengthen its global reach and impact in fostering meaningful cross-cultural connections. 

Marcie has long been a respected voice in the field. She previously served as Vice Chair of the Board of the Alliance for International Exchange and is honored to serve once again as a current member of the Alliance Board.  In this role, she continues to advocate for policies and programs that expand opportunities for exchange and promote mutual understanding worldwide. 

Passionate about both mission and growth, Marcie combines her commitment to connecting people and cultures with a strategic focus on revenue development, staff leadership, and program excellence. She firmly believes that the world becomes a better place when individuals from around the globe come together to share experiences and perspectives. 

Marcie’s academic background spans the U.S. and abroad, with a B.A. and two Master’s degrees in Business, Psychology, and Literature. Having studied overseas, lived abroad, hosted exchange participants, and traveled to more than 80 countries, she embodies the spirit of cultural exchange both personally and professionally. For Marcie, cultural exchange is not just a career—it is a way of life. 

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Bradley Smith

President & CEO
PAX Laurasian Exchange

Bradley Smith’s entire career has supported U.S. public diplomacy efforts by “Creating Communities that Transcend Culture”– the explicit purpose of the not-for-profit operating foundation he co-founded in 1990 as The Laurasian Institution. Since 2012, he has also led PAX – Program of Academic Exchange. 

While Laurasian focuses its work on cultural and educational interactions with Japan and East Asia, PAX facilitates inbound U.S. high school exchange experiences for students from 70+ countries to “Open doors. Embrace culture. Become family.” 

In April of 2015, the boards of Laurasian and PAX joined together to enhance their missions under the umbrella of PAX Laurasian Exchange, which Bradley heads as President and CEO. In this capacity, he coordinates the efforts of staff located in offices in New York, Seattle, and Tokyo as well as remote staff throughout the United States. 

Born in Lake County, Illinois, Bradley was brought up in a small town in the southeast corner of Iowa. During the Reagan administration, he caught the international bug while serving in a unit of the Attorney General’s office at the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. This unit was responsible for U.S. asylum policy and review of its implementation. He served under Attorneys General Meese and Thornburgh. 

Bradley moved to Japan in 1989 to open a liberal arts college associated with his alma mater, Eureka College. He served two years as a Vice President there before creating The Laurasian Institution. Over the last 30 years he has served on numerous advisory bodies, boards, and mentoring programs. Traveling extensively, Bradley has visited 60+ countries and currently divides his time between New York and Tokyo where he lives with his wife, a Japanese national. 

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Robyn Walker

CEO
Cultural Exchange Network (Cenet)

Robyn Walker’s international journey began in 1987, when she studied abroad on the island of Malta. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Robyn moved to Tuscany, where she spent six months as an intern. She returned to Malta to complete her graduate degree in education, and then began teaching at Malta’s Verdala International School. Five years later, she relocated to Copenhagen, where she taught for the next 12 years, first at the International School and eventually at the bi-lingual Copenhagen Euro-School. Robyn joined Cenet in 2005 and has served as its Executive Director since 2008. She was appointed to the role of CEO in 2024. Robyn is almost fluent in Danish and frequently returns to Copenhagen, where she still maintains a home. 

October 2025: Potential Impact of a U.S. Government Shutdown on International Exchange Programs

As of 12:01 this morning (Wednesday, October 1), the U.S government fully shut down for the first time since 2019.  

A shutdown happens when Congress fails to pass legislation to fund the government, whether in the form of final appropriations bills or a temporary CR. In this case, neither of these options were enacted by 11:59 PM last night, resulting in a full government shutdown affecting all federal activities covered by discretionary funding. A shutdown is temporary, but how long it would continue and its specific impact on federally funded programming is uncertain.   

Below is a primer on how international exchange programs might be impacted during that time.   

U.S. government offices will be closed or at limited capacity 
There are notable differences between the Department of State shutdown guidance issued yesterday and those from previous shutdowns. Unlike in the past, this guidance specifically does not allow staff to continue working if their programs operate on available balances (i.e., unspent prior year funds, which is common for Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) programs). The guidance specifically says that all appropriated accounts, including those with no-year, rollover funds, must cease operations when the shutdown begins. This guidance seems designed to create as many furloughs as possible across the Department. 

Even so, there should be exceptions. While “non-excepted” staff will likely be furloughed, staff deemed “excepted” will continue to work on certain activities. ECA was tasked with determining who will be excepted and who will need to be furloughed, as well as what operations and activities can continue and what must be paused.   

Here is a detailed article about potential government-wide furloughs under this Administration’s plan. 

OMB is seeking permanent layoffs but it’s unclear if and how this will unfold 
Complicating matters even further, last week the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent a memo instructing federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force (RIF) plans for mass permanent layoffs during a government shutdown, rather than the norm of furloughing staff. We know that ECA made the argument to OMB that their work is essential due to ongoing activities and having participants on program, but we don’t know if or how OMB will go about mass permanent layoffs.   

Participants will feel the impact in different ways  
Exchange participants currently in the U.S.:   

• Their visa and status in the U.S. should be unaffected.   

U.S. citizens currently outside the U.S.:   

• Americans who are abroad on an exchange program should be advised that, during a shutdown, U.S. embassies may only be open to provide services to Americans in distress.   

Exchange participants with approved visas, awaiting travel dates:   

• The Department of Homeland Security will likely continue operations, so these individuals can plan to arrive in the U.S. according to their current schedules – but participants are advised to check in with their exchange organization and/or airline before traveling.  

• SEVIS (Student & Exchange Visitor Information System) will also likely continue operations, so arriving participants can register as instructed.   

• The Social Security Administration will likely suspend processing original or replacement cards, so arriving exchange participants will likely need to wait until the government reopens to apply for a Social Security number.   

Exchange program applicants awaiting visa approval or interviews:    

• Applicants awaiting visa approval should anticipate delays in visa processing.   

• Applicants awaiting a visa interview or scheduling a visa interview should anticipate that there may be delays in the process.   

• It’s advisable to check https://www.usembassy.gov/ for updates about the status of the shutdown and to contact the local U.S. embassy or consular office for more details, especially once the shutdown is over. 

Statement on inaccurate New York Times article on international exchange programs

The Alliance for International Exchange is deeply disappointed by the inaccurate and reductive portrayal of U.S. Department of State BridgeUSA international exchange programs in a recent New York Times article. We are dismayed and disheartened by the negative experiences of the individuals featured in the story. Their experiences, however, are far from representative and do not reflect that the majority of the 300,000 individuals who participate in BridgeUSA programs annually have positive, life-changing experiences that improve their lives and careers and strengthen the United States’ global influence. 

In fact, data from the Alliance’s 2025 BridgeUSA Impact Report shows that an overwhelming majority of alumni have positive experiences and recommend the programs to their family and friends upon returning to their home countries. 

BridgeUSA programs are governed by a comprehensive set of community-supported State Department regulations, as well as robust compliance mechanisms. These regulations and compliance activities continuously improve program administration and experiences. The health, safety, welfare and success of all program participants is the exchange community’s number one priority.  

BridgeUSA’s comprehensive and evolving set of regulations prioritize participant health, safety and welfare, as well as program quality and meaningful cultural exchange. Over the past decade, the Department of State has significantly strengthened oversight of these programs. Targeted reforms in the early and mid-2010s added critical protections across many program categories, including Intern, Trainee, and Summer Work Travel (SWT). 

These regulations require numerous key safeguards, including but not limited to: rigorous vetting of host employers, clear prohibitions on job placements in unsafe or inappropriate roles, and structured support systems for participants. 

Oversight of BridgeUSA programs today is even more robust than it was a decade ago, and that evolution reflects a shared, community-wide commitment to the safety, success, and cultural enrichment of every participant. 

Data has continually shown that the vast majority of exchange participants have positive experiences in the U.S. In a 2018 Intern and Trainee programs report commissioned by the Alliance, 95% of surveyed participants said they had a good or very good experience in the U.S. More than 85% of SWT alumni also reported being satisfied with the support they received from their U.S. sponsor organization, and with their host employers (82%). Fast forward to the Alliance’s 2025 impact study on the programs, and these numbers still hold, highlighting the positive experience both programs continue to provide for international exchange participants.  

In addition to creating positive, life-changing experiences for participants, BridgeUSA international exchange programs represent the most cost-effective tool in the United States’ public diplomacy toolbox, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars reinvested back in American communities.  

The Alliance and its members will continue to partner with the State Department to advance the goals of these important programs while ensuring the wellbeing of participants. 

Introducing the 2025 McCarry Leadership Awardees

Suzanne Kolasa

Director of Professional Programs, Spirit Cultural Exchange

Suzanne Kolasa is the Director of Professional Programs at Spirit Cultural Exchange, managing the Intern, Trainee, and Teacher Programs. She has worked with Spirit since 2012, starting her career working on the Summer Work and Travel Program before moving into new and developing programs.

Suzanne started her cultural exchange journey with a semester abroad in Granada, Spain while pursuing her degree at Valparaiso University, where she studied Spanish and International Economics and Cultural Affairs. As Director of Professional Programs, she focuses on creating experiences that encourage exchange participants to broaden their professional and personal horizons while cultivating an environment where team members feel inspired and motivated.

“It is truly an honor to receive the 2025 McCarry Leadership Award. Over the past 13 years, I have been mentored and inspired by an unbelievable group of colleagues and teammates at Spirit Cultural Exchange. Working alongside them has reinforced my belief that cultural exchange and travel is a transformative and necessary experience. I am excited to continue learning from the Alliance and collaborating with colleagues across our field to shape the future of exchange programs; ensuring they remain accessible, impactful, and essential to our interconnected world.”

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Leydi Lucas

Senior Manager of Membership Operations and Engagement, Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA)

Leydi Lucas is the Senior Manager of Membership Operations and Engagement at the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA). She began her career in K–12 education, holding both instructional and administrative roles, before transitioning into international higher education. An immigrant and native Spanish speaker, Leydi’s cultural and linguistic experiences guide her commitment to advancing equity, access, and inclusion across educational communities. 

At AIEA, Leydi manages membership operations and engagement for leaders in international education from more than 20 countries and organizes international delegations for the association’s annual conferences, collaborating with participants from 10 different countries during her four years with the organization. Committed to continuous learning and professional growth, she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Training and Development at North Carolina State University. 

“Being named a McCarry Leadership Award recipient is an incredible honor that affirms my passion for equity, access, and community-building in international education. This recognition inspires me to continue creating pathways for more inclusive leadership and to contribute to the growth of the field by uplifting diverse voices. I look forward to deepening my connections with other leaders and working together to strengthen the future of international exchange.”

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Julia Stewart

Program Officer, Amideast

Julia Stewart is a Program Officer at Amideast, where she supports students from the Middle East and North Africa in pursuing undergraduate studies in the United States. Her work spans programmatic support, scholarship administration, donor stewardship through impact reporting, and alumni engagement, with a focus on fostering meaningful educational exchange and long-term impact.

Julia is an alumna of the University of Virginia, where she earned a double major in Global Studies – Middle East & South Asia and Foreign Affairs. She is also an alumna of the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program in Jordan and the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) for Arabic. Prior to joining Amideast, she interned with Sister Cities International and the U.S. Department of State.

“I am incredibly honored to receive the McCarry Leadership Award. As an exchange alumna, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative international exchange experiences can be: not only for individual participants, but for the communities they return to and the global networks they help build. It’s been a privilege to learn and grow in a field centered in the mission of bridging communities and creating opportunities. I am excited to grow my involvement with the Alliance and continue to learn, grow, and advocate alongside the passionate individuals and organizations working to shape the future of international exchange.”

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