API to offer volunteer abroad, teach abroad, work abroad, and intern abroad programs!

It is our pleasure to announce that Academic Programs International (API) has acquired the Austin-based experiential travel organization Cultural Embrace.

For the past decade, Cultural Embrace has specialized in offering teach, work, intern, and volunteer experiences in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania. Founded by Emlyn Lee with the intention of promoting communication and interaction between people of different nationalities and cultures, the Cultural Embrace programs encourage participants to celebrate cultural diversity and provide a valuable service to their host communities. The addition of the Cultural Embrace programs to the API program portfolio will provide even more opportunities for our students to develop intercultural competence and continue their journey toward global citizenship.

Emlyn Lee brings over 17 years of international experience including teaching, working, volunteering, and managing operations in over 80 countries in six continents.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Emlyn and Cultural Embrace into the API family,” says Jennifer Allen, President and Founder of API. “This addition will help us continue to improve the rich cultural and educational experiences that we are able to provide our students abroad.”

“I am excited to be bringing Cultural Embrace to the API team” says Emlyn, “and I look forward to a wonderful collaboration that will allow more people to travel and be engaged with our world.”

The Spring 2012 session will be a time of transition as we seek to integrate our systems. We anticipate that as of the Summer 2012, the Cultural Embrace programs will be fully incorporated into the API structure and known as Cultural Embrace by API. Beginning today, January 23, we will welcome Emlyn to API as of Managing Director of Cultural Embrace by API and Vice President of Outreach.

We look forward to the changes ahead!