Michael Steinberg, Ph.D.
Dr. Michael Steinberg is a pioneer in international education whose 40-plus year career at IES Abroad shaped the very definition of study abroad. Joining the organization in 1976, he rose to become Executive Vice President for Academic Programs, leading innovations that set the global standard for excellence in education abroad. From launching academic centers in more than 35 cities worldwide to co-authoring the influential IES Abroad MAP and MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication, Dr. Steinberg has elevated the academic rigor and cultural depth of study abroad programming. He has served as Chair of the Forum on Education Abroad’s Standards Committee, co-developed national health and safety guidelines, and contributed extensively to ethical standards and professional publications in the field. Honored with NAFSA’s Education Abroad Leadership Award, Dr. Steinberg is regarded by peers as a “gigantic reference point” in the history of international education—an admired mentor, thought leader, and tireless advocate for cross-cultural understanding and academic excellence.
“I believe it is essential that young Americans understand that we are part of a larger world. I also know from my own experience that study abroad is an opportunity for students to experiment, to grow, to become more independent, and to develop the ability to meet new challenges...I studied abroad twice myself. I spent a summer in Paris studying French, and a year in Germany working on my doctoral dissertation. I look back on those stays abroad as two of the most meaningful times of my life.”Michael Steinberg, Ph.D.