Commemorating a Century
Founders Stephen Duggan, Sr. and Nobel laureates Elihu Root and Nicholas Murray Butler envisioned IIE as a central coordinating hub to establish political, economic, and cultural collaboration among students, scholars, and institutions worldwide. IIE was one of the first institutes to advocate for international exchange. We pioneered some of the earliest and most effective scholar and student exchanges between the United States and countries around the world.
IIE has a century-long legacy of working with foundation, government, and corporate partners to develop and manage some of the world’s most prestigious educational and cultural exchange programs, including the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Program and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Language Flagship. Over the decades, we have expanded our work to additional facets of international education, including STEM research, education, and training.
IIE has grown from three people in 1919 to more than 600 in 2023, united by our founders’ steadfast belief in the power of international education. For a look back at moments that commemorated our centennial anniversary in 2019, download our Centennial Report. Your continued generosity will help expand access to education and to create pathways not only to individual growth and opportunity, but also to development, stability, and sustainable peace.