ELS Educational Services, Inc. Honored Dr. Scott With the “Lifetime Contributions to International Education” Award

Recognizing their innovative leadership and deep commitment to international education and global citizenship.

ELS Educational Services hosted its annual International Education Partners Appreciation Banquet on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at the NAFSA Conference in Boston, where the ELS Lifetime Contribution to International Education Awards were presented.

For over 20 years ELS has been recognizing outstanding educators and professionals who have championed international pathways in education. Mr. Mark W. Harris, President and CEO of ELS Educational Services, Inc., welcomed a diverse gathering of over 300 honored guests from the international education community and asked them to join him in celebrating the careers and accomplishments of four distinguished honorees:

DEBORAH L. PIERCE, PH.D.
Associate Vice President for International Affairs, Northern Illinois University

Deborah Pierce is the Associate Vice President for International Affairs and Adjunct Assistant Professor of French at Northern Illinois University, where she is also a faculty associate of the Title VI funded Center for Southeast Asian Studies. She leads the integrated internationalization efforts for the University, overseeing international training initiatives, study abroad, international admissions, and services to international students, scholars and faculty. A former teacher of English as a second language, she also participated in the initiative to open an ELS Center on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and continues to provide liaison between the University and the Center. Previously she served as Assistant Professor of Linguistics and Director of International Affairs at Loyola University Chicago. She holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Michigan and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Michigan State University. Dr. Pierce has served the field of international education in numerous leadership posts in NAFSA: Association of International Educators, including Vice President for Education and Professional Development and member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors from 2012 to 2014. She has also served on the national boards of the Association of International Education Administrators, the University Studies Abroad Consortium, and Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars.

MR. YOUNG-BIN MIN
Founder and Chairman, YBM

Mr. YOUNG-BIN MIN graduated from Korea University with a master’s degree in English literature. In 1961 he published “The Study of Current English” and launched a company that would lead the field in EFL, helping Korea become one of the most English-fluent countries in Asia. Over the past fifty-five years YBM has pioneered language education, testing, study abroad programs, and English educational publishing in Korea. In 1983, Mr. Min’s company, then known as Si-sa-yong-o-sa, was the first educational publisher in Korea to get permission from the Korean government to pay royalties to publish a foreign copyrighted book. That book was English 900, published in 1966 by Collier McMillan and authored by Edwin Cornelius and English Language Services. English 900 became a best seller in Korea. In 1984, Mr. Min established the first ELS Language Centers location in Gangnam, a stylish district of Seoul, entering into a franchise agreement with ELS Educational Services, Inc. The ELS franchise grew to include as many as six ELS Language Centers in Korea, and taught thousands of students.
Dr. Sunshik Min, President and CEO of YBM accepted the award on behalf of his father Mr. Young-Bin Min

MR. NECDET BILGEN
Co-Founder and President, Biltur, Inc.

Necdet Bilgen is co-founder and president of Biltur, Inc. At its inception in the spring of 1980, Biltur was the first company in the educational travel business in Turkey. Over the course of 35 years, under Mr. Bilgen’s fine leadership, Biltur has established a hallmark of integrity and professionalism. Widely acknowledged as the dean\ of educational travel in Turkey, Mr. Bilgen has earned the respect of his peers, and has become the gold standard to which all other agents are compared. In the aggregate, Biltur has helped more than 25,000 students at some of the finest educational institutions across the United States, Europe and Canada. Mr. Bilgen’s trademark is the high level of personal attention he provides to each and every student to ensure their safety and satisfaction, which is the main reason Biltur has successfully developed such a large and devoted client base over the years. In fact, Biltur has now earned the honor of working with many of the children and grandchildren of its alumni. Mr. Bilgen also greatly prizes the support of his many colleagues and friends worldwide with whom he has had the privilege of working these many years. Mr. Bilgen earned both a Bachelor’s degree and Master of Science degree from esteemed Istanbul Technical University. He has received numerous awards over the years.

DR. ROBERT A. SCOTT
President, Adelphi University

Dr. Robert A. Scott was appointed by the Adelphi University Board of Trustees as the ninth president and professor of anthropology and sociology in July 2000. During Dr. Scott’s presidency, undergraduate enrollment has grown nearly 65%; 300 new faculty and dozens of new programs and services have been added, including programs with the United Nations and faculty-led intercession and summer courses in locations around the globe. Dr. Scott has been the driving force behind Adelphi’s development as a pioneering private university and a leader in global education. Adelphi is recognized as a non-governmental organization (NGO) by the Department of Public Information (DPI) of the United Nations. With an ethnically diverse student body from 45 countries, Adelphi provides an atmosphere that encourages cultural exchange and personal and professional growth. Launched in 2006, Adelphi’s Levermore Global Scholars (LGS) program prepares next generation leaders by offering its students a first-rate academic and co-curricular program designed to give select students additional exposure to global learning and service. Adelphi under the leadership of Dr. Scott has a deep commitment to providing opportunities for international students to study in Garden City, NY. The University has a strong partnership with ELS Educational Services and ELS American Education Centers. In order to enrich the educational experience of domestic students and further demonstrate our support for international education, Adelphi’s Garden City campus also hosts the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Student Essay Contest, “Many Languages, One World,” which convenes university students from all over the world. Dr. Scott is the only American to serve in the three top posts in higher education: head of an independent university (Adelphi); a public institution (Ramapo College), and a state higher education coordinating agency (New Jersey and Indiana). He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Bucknell University and his Ph.D. at Cornell University. The honorees were presented with a crystal award commemorating the event.