News & Announcements

A Tribute to David Parry Dave Parry, a born educator, had a career in academics before acquiring Academic Travel Abroad in 1972. An eternal student, he was driven by an intense intellectual curiosity and thirst for knowledge, and devoured books to seemingly no end. Once at ATA, the teacher within continued to emerge as Dave reliably instilled solid values of respect, integrity, loyalty, and strength in all he hired and trained. But the teaching didn’t end there. Those of us who were lucky enough to travel with him quickly discovered Dave’s “inner study leader”—we became diligent students as he lectured on World War II, the Czars of Russia, the Cold War, East Berlin, the economic principles of John Maynard Keynes, and so much more—all while hiking a mountain or hopping on a train. And so it is fitting that Dave Parry holds a place in ATA’s history that is as great and venerable as the larger-than-life historical figures he knew so much about. He was a “lion of a man,” in every respect. Dave was also a natural diplomat, always masterfully communicating (even through interpreters!) and managing to find common ground during the most difficult of meetings. His ability to navigate a cultural divide was a testament to his respect and appreciation of humanity and all its diversity. Whether it was downing a glass of vodka at 10am to celebrate a Russian ship captain’s birthday or urging a Chinese Vice Premier to lower prices post-Tiananmen Square, Dave charmed and persuaded with a keen sense of humor that translated into every language. Hiking mountains with Dave was when you would see his inner child emerge, full of wonder and mischief! His eyes sparkled and his pace quickened as he embarked on a hike, eager for adventure. All his worries melted away as he stood in awe before vistas of sparkling mountain lakes, verdant rolling pastures and meadows of wildflowers against brilliant blue skies. While most hikes were official R&D for the business, these adventures into nature were also how Dave re-charged and was able to power through the stresses of leading a travel company. Dave possessed a warmth and caring that everyone who has worked for him had the chance to witness.  He often went above and beyond what any employer is expected to do to help someone in need—allowing telecommuting after the death of a parent (at a time well before telecommuting was permitted or even acknowledged by most companies), offering to share his 65th birthday with a free hike for a few lucky lottery winners, providing personalized travel guidance to an employee embarking on a honeymoon, allowing all staff to leave work to attend the funeral for a colleague’s father, and more. And then there is his resilient legacy at Academic Travel Abroad. With his brilliant wife, Susan, Dave built an organization that has thrived for 70 years through thick and thin. Since the early days of faculty-led student trips and Pan Am charters to Europe, ATA has now become a powerhouse of educational travel programs that span the globe and serve a variety of organizations and demographics. Dave led the company through many ups and downs, from OPEC and Chernobyl to Tiananmen Square and the Gulf Wars, from 9/11 to the Great Recession. A few weeks before his passing, Dave called Kate Simpson and noted “I was born in 1933, and this is the WORST I have ever seen!” referring to the current pandemic. But even then, he knew ATA would prevail and thrive again. Like Dave himself, ATA is a versatile, nimble organism that thrives on change and challenges. 2020 is Dave’s 87th year and ATA’s 70th. Through our work, we celebrate him. The legacy continues.

Juneteenth, #PullUpForTravel On this Juneteenth, we support the Black Travel Alliance and respond to their call to #PullUpforTravel. Academic Travel Abroad provides cultural and educational group travel experiences for leading media, cultural, and educational institutions in the US. We also operate study abroad programs for high school, gap, and college students through our study abroad division, CET Academic Programs, and organize delegations of professionals for international exchange through our brand Professionals Abroad.   Compiling the data for the following applicable KPIs was an important exercise for us as an organization, and we share it transparently as part of our ongoing commitment to confront systemic racism in our own work.  Employment Current number and percentage of Black people in management and on staff. Staff 6 out of 82 (7%) Managers 3 out of 62 (5%) Paid Advertising/Marketing Campaigns Black representation (number and percentage) in TV, radio, print and digital channels including social media in 2019. CET featured Black students and Black student-created content in 36 out of 92 social media posts (39%) from 2017-2020. 1 of 4 Instagram takeovers were hosted by Black students in 2019. CET features 366 photos showcasing students across 40 web pages marketing our study abroad programs. Of the 366 photos, 58 (15.85%) featured Black students. *Academic Travel Abroad does not run paid advertising or marketing campaigns for its programs created for partner organizations. Philanthropy Charitable contributions and support (i.e. mentorship and intern programs, etc.) to Black charities and community groups. ATA has donated $1.6 million to the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) since its inception in 2010. FEA’s mission is to diversify participation in study abroad by providing scholarships and support to minority, first-generation, and high financial need students. 30% percent of FEA scholars are Black while only 6% of the general study abroad population is Black. In evaluating this data, we recognize that we have work to do in improving Black representation on our staff, in our management, and in our marketing campaigns. Moving forward, we intend to use these KPIs as a starting baseline for action as we take real steps toward racial equity within our own organization.

We are in awe of the courageous communities across the U.S. (and the world!) taking action against police brutality, racial inequity, and other forms of systemic racism that target and harm Black communities. We are inspired by the crowds rising up in the streets, those donating money, time, and resources from home, and everyone taking this all to heart and educating themselves, their families, and their friends. We grieve for those that we’ve lost over the years and those lost recently: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and Nina Pop among too many others. But it is not enough to be in awe, we must all do the work. We, at Academic Travel Abroad, are committed to the long-term unlearning of biases within our own organization, as well as listening to and amplifying the voices of Black students, travelers, partners, and colleagues in educational travel and international education. As a first step, we are matching staff donations to organizations of their choice. We are also encouraging our staff to use their philanthropy leave to find their own meaningful ways to contribute to ongoing efforts. We don’t have all the answers, but we are committed to standing in solidarity with Black communities and doing our utmost to work toward a more equitable future.

Message from ATA Owners About COVID-19 Dear Partners, We are only a few months into 2020, and what a year it has been. Academic Travel Abroad is celebrating its 70th year in 2020, and like everyone else in the world, did not envision that this year would unfold in this way. We have experienced and persevered through many crises over the last seven decades including Chernobyl, Tienanmen Square, two Gulf Wars, 9/11, SARS, the Arab Spring, and the Great Recession. COVID-19 is truly unprecedented, yet previous crises have taught us that ATA and its study abroad division, CET Academic Programs, will survive to thrive again, made stronger through this test of endurance. It should come as no surprise, but many of our core truths have been reaffirmed during this time: our teams both in the U.S. and overseas perform brilliantly under great duress, approaching their work methodically, lucidly, and with compassion. Our suppliers and host universities abroad are integral to our ability to weather this storm through their flexibility, sacrifice, and support. And our partners in educational travel and study abroad continue to impress us with their professionalism, collaboration, and humanity throughout our joint handling of this crisis. We are forever grateful for all of you. After this extraordinary pause in human mobility, it is our hope that the lessons gleaned from this crisis will include a revitalized thirst for knowledge and exploration, a deeper compassion for this planet and all living creatures, an appreciation for the power of human connection, and a sincere reverence for life itself. Rest assured, we will be here and ready to help you and your travelers explore this new world when it welcomes us once again. Wishing you all around the world both health and peace, Kate Simpson Chase Poffenberger Mark Lenhart