PAX Mission & Credentials

PAX's Mission

PAX- Program of Academic Exchange is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to increase mutual respect among the people of the world, to foster an appreciation of our differences and similarities, and to enhance our ability to communicate with one another. PAX believes that this mission is served by providing young people with the opportunity to study abroad and live with a host family for an extended period of time.

PAX's History

Founded in 1990, PAX provides young people from the United States and abroad with opportunities to live with a family in another country and to study and travel abroad. Each year up to 1100 high-school students participate in international exchange through PAX.

While PAX has a global vision, the organization works one student at a time. Committed to a quality program that is small and personal, PAX works exclusively with high school exchange. All PAX programs feature a homestay experience with a family abroad.

PAX has its headquarters in New York. The foundation works with community coordinators across the U.S. with 76 sending organizations around the world.

PAX's Credentials

PAX is U.S. State Department Designated

Exchange visitor programs are administered by the State Department. The State Department designates sponsors to administer individual programs and permits such sponsors to issue a DS2019 form, which students use to secure the J-1 exchange visitor visa. PAX is designated as an Exchange Visitor Program.

PAX is CSIET Listed

The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) has granted PAX a "full listing" in the CSIET Advisory List for the 2013-2014 academic year. CSIET establishes standards to which international student exchange programs must adhere and a process for evaluating these programs annually.

Above are Yvonne Forman, Deputy Director; Oksana Chorny, Director of Core and Sponsored Programs; Denise Magalnick, Comptroller; Michael Shanley, Director of Operations and HR, Barbara Rhymaun, Executive Director and Heidi Guerrero, Director of Compliance.

PAX Regional Directors, left to right: Ben Ulric, Jean Tatroe, Carol Craig, Christi Reynolds, Jennifer Kipperman, Lena Adely, Manaslu Gurung, Luis Fuentes and Brikena Samara.

PAX President, Bradley Smith

Bradley Smith joined PAX as President in February 2012, bringing with him 25 years of experience in the field of international education and cultural exchange in both the U.S. and Asia. In addition to his work in the U.S. Justice Department, and later as the VP of a new, small liberal arts college in Tokyo, he founded a Japanese based exchange organization, The Laurasian Institution, in 1990, with offices in Seattle, Tokyo and Beijing.

PAX Founder Libby Cryer

Libby Cryer has enjoyed a 30 year career in the field of cross cultural exchange with a focus on the Department of State designated high school programs. She assumed responsibility for PAX in 1995 and served as President until 2012.

The PAX national office is housed in the loft of an 1880's renovated warehouse alongside the Byram River in Port Chester, New York.