Inspiration, Innovation & Big Wins
The vibes were high, and our collective Zoom hearts were full at our second Building Our Future Together webinar - and for good reason. Over 100 partners, colleagues, and friends from across the globe tuned in to see how the CEA CAPA, CIS Abroad, and Barcelona SAE family are coming together like the ultimate study abroad supergroup!
Our CEO, Beth Stiller, kicked things off with just the right mix of heart and hype, reminding us that this journey is all about collaboration, optimism, and building a future where students, partners, and our group of brands don’t just coexist - they thrive together.
But first…time to celebrate!
Speaking of thriving - we kicked off the webinar by highlighting a huge reason to celebrate. We are proud to share (and assume this will surprise no one) that our own international ed legend Kris Holloway took home the Charlene Allen Award for Inspirational Leadership at the PIEoneer Awards in London! More about this exciting and well-deserved win here: Kris Holloway Honored with Prestigious Leadership Award
Building Together
Across the organization, fresh ideas are taking root. The Institutional Relations Team is growing, we’ve welcomed a new Chief Information Officer to elevate our technology and systems, and a new global housing expert is already helping us identify ways to make programs more affordable and accessible worldwide.
On the Academics side, we’re bringing together the best of each organization to continue to build offerings that are truly world-class. Additionally, our shared commitment to Access, Opportunity, and Inclusion (AOI) is stronger than ever. As a combined organization, we are proud to share that we’ve awarded over $1.3 million in scholarships and $750,000 in flight credits in 2025 alone to help more students experience the world than ever before.
Catalyst Grants Now Open for Applications!
And we’re not stopping there – CIS Abroad and CEA CAPA are thrilled to officially launch another $50,000 in Catalyst Grants for the 2025–26 cycle, to support universities with new consulting projects that strengthen study abroad on their own campuses and to help spark new ideas and grow global education efforts. Selected schools will receive up to $5,000 worth of consulting support, including on-campus workshops, expert guidance, and help planning meaningful projects. Topics range from building strong teams to improving the student experience. Applications are open now, with a priority deadline of November 3 and a final deadline of November 17, 2025. Projects will take place between January and September 2026.
We invite any interested partners to review the Catalyst Grant information and APPLY HERE!
Other Collaborations
Also, we were honored that Elaine Meyer-Lee (Editor of Frontiers: the Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad) joined our webinar to help us share the exciting news that CEA CAPA will co-host the 4th Annual Woolf Symposium along with Frontiers at the 2026 Forum Conference in Nashville. And more great news - you’ll be able to sign up for the Symposium at no additional charge when you are registering for the conference! Huge thanks to Elaine and our friends at the Forum for this exciting collaboration opportunity.
The Takeaway?
Our community is buzzing with creativity, collaboration, and care. We’re growing, learning, and leading together, to make global education more connected, inclusive, and impactful than ever before.
To keep up with all the exciting things happening at CEA CAPA, we recommend two things:
(a) lace up your running shoes...we’re racing into the future together! and
(b) follow along with the latest updates here: CEA Bulletin | Study Abroad Education, Training & News