Chairman,
American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS)

Bill Gertz is Chairman of the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) a leading organization in the field of international educational and cultural exchange. Bill is a native New Yorker with more than 40 years of experience in International Education.

His professional journey began at SUNY Binghamton, where he studied journalism and majored in European history. After graduation, Bill worked as a freelance writer, an investigative reporter, and an editor. Later, Bill completed the Strategic Marketing Management Program at Harvard Business School and in 2014 received an Honorary Doctorate in International Relations from Richmond, the American International University in London.

In 2005, after 20 years of dedication and hard work at AIFS, Bill was promoted to CEO and then in 2018, he was elected Chairman. During his tenure at AIFS, Bill has led, and continues to lead, many initiatives instrumental to the growth and direction of the company. Under Bill’s leadership, AIFS was named the fourth best place to work in Connecticut for mid-sized companies by Workplace Dynamics and Hearst Newspapers. AIFS programs collectively serve nearly 40,000 participants worldwide each year. These programs include Au Pair in America, AIFS Abroad, Camp America, Academic Year in America (AYA), Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI), American Council for International Studies (ACIS) and AIFS Professional Pathways.

In addition to his role as AIFS Chairman, Bill is a Trustee of the AIFS Foundation, a non-profit foundation which provides grants and scholarships to underserved students and creates inspiring educational materials for the field of international education.

Bill previously served as Chair of the Alliance for International Exchange, a coalition of 90 cultural exchange organizations throughout the United States. Active in the field of gifted education, Bill was a Trustee for the National Society for the Gifted & Talented and previously served on the State of Connecticut Board of Gifted and Talented Students. Bill also served on the Board of Trustees for the Westport School of Music. Currently, Bill is a Trustee of the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation (CTCF), a UK charity which provides grants, scholarships, and international opportunities to underserved students around the world.

In 2010, Bill organized the Diversity in International Education workshop in Washington, D.C. and in 2017, he created and launched the Fearless Global Citizen campaign, a movement empowering youth to travel and embrace cultural diversity. In 2019, Bill received the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Centennial Medal, which honors the leadership and achievements of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to international education. In addition, in 2023, Bill was recognized as one of the Top 50 Voices in North America by The PIE News for Professionals in International Education and in 2024, he co-authored “A Family Guide to Study Abroad”, published by IIE. In the fall of 2024, Bill reconnected with his love for poetry and gathered his personal collection of thought-provoking poems spanning 50 years into a book entitled “Broken Dreams”, published by Atticus Publishing.

Currently residing in Fairfield, Connecticut, Bill lives with his wife Evelyn, a classical guitarist. Bill and Evelyn have two children and two grandchildren. When Bill isn’t writing or traveling, he can be found cooking, listening to an eclectic array of music and collecting modern art.

Session:

Why the US is still open for business through BridgeUSA