41st Annual Conference

Dates: October 22-24, 2025
Location: Chicago, Illinois

CSIET 2025 | Gratitude: The Ripple Effect

The 41st Anniversary of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) was held in Chicago, Illinois. The conference, themed “CSIET 2025: 40 Years Cultivating Excellence Gratitude: The Ripple Effect,” aimed to spread positivity in and around International Student Exchange in light of recent challenges. The conference delved into current practices/trends, and announced new mental wellness model practices, and explored future possibilities in international exchange student programming.

We are deeply grateful to those in our community who traveled from near and far to join us in rippling the gratitude from Chicago. The opportunity to reconnect, reflect on our shared commitment to fostering global understanding, and engagement in meaningful discussions made the conference a success. Participants included CSIET member programs, schools, government representatives, international recruitment agencies, and vendors that support our mission and uphold our standards. We extend special thanks to our session speakers, who generously shared their expertise and practices, enriching our community as we continue to cultivate excellence in international exchange.

Keynote Speaker:

David Causer, Global Education Concepts

Dave Causer serves as President of Global Educational Concepts (GEC), a designated sponsor of the U.S. Department of State’s BridgeUSA J-1 Visa program. Under his leadership, GEC has facilitated cultural exchange opportunities for more than 30,000 international visitors, strengthening global understanding through Public Diplomacy. Dave is an active advocate for exchange programs, frequently traveling to Washington, D.C. to engage with policymakers and promote the value of international educational exchanges. He also serves on the Board of the Alliance for Educational Exchanges.

In addition to his role at GEC, Dave is President of Southwestern Advantage, a company recognized by Forbes as offering “the number one internship in the USA for training.” Over 120,000 university students have participated in the program, which has produced a distinguished network of alumni, including two U.S. Senators, four Governors, and the current Speaker of the House. Other notable alumni include the founders of Habitat for Humanity, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and leaders of hundreds of civic and faith-based organizations worldwide.

A Special Thanks to the Conference Planning Committee

• Oliver Rodriguez, The Lemon Tree Education
• Sam Scott, Youth for Understanding USA
• Danielle Allenbrand, United Studies
• Ed Lane, Secutive
• Kellie Iacovella, Terra Lingua
• Shana Wentzell, UCEUS
• James Manning, Amerigo

Checking Out These Fun Conference Pictures:

Have pictures from the conference you’d like to share? Email Samantha (Samantha@csiet.org). We’d love to add them here!

Conference Agenda