OVER 100 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE
working directly with thousands of international students

Located in Nashville, TN, Global Educational Concepts, Inc. (GEC) runs HIGH SCHOOL in the USA as a designated sponsor of the U.S. Department of State’s cultural exchange programs. GEC fully supports and believes in the public diplomacy opportunities these exchange programs offer our participants, host families, and LOCAL COORDINATORS.

We seek to provide the best service and support possible to the young people who participate in our programs while adhering to the regulations that govern these programs. Our program participants can be found living, working, and training all across the U.S.

We INVEST in building people. We INSPIRE people to achieve their goals in life. We positively IMPACT the world.

As a proud member of the Southwestern Family of Companies, founded in 1855, our mission is to invest in purpose-driven people who are inspired to build principle-guided businesses that impact the world. We help people develop the skills and character they need to achieve their goals in life. Ultimately, we strive to positively impact the people and communities we serve worldwide.

MEET THE MANAGEMENT TEAM

ELLEN HOGGARD

President

High School in the USA

Global Cultural Exchanges (GCE) is pleased to announce that Ms. Ellen Hoggard will be joining our team as president of GCE effective January 31, 2022. She is a tremendous credit to the exchange community and we are honored to have her join the Southwestern Family of Companies.

Ellen has served in an executive leadership role for the Alliance for International Exchange and her seven-year tenure is the longest period of time anyone has served on the Alliance board. In addition to being arguably the strongest leader in the High School space in the country.

Linda placed her first exchange student over twenty years ago and got hooked on student exchange ever since. She has worked in nearly every aspect of exchange from being a Local Coordinator to Regional Manager and everything in between. She has been responsible for the support of over a thousand students over the years. She is a relentless supporter of her students and families. To Linda, youth exchange is a life-changing opportunity, not only for the student but for the host family and host community as well. She values helping students prepare for their exchange with proper expectations. Her travels and contacts overseas enable her to help us find extraordinary students for placement, She is responsible for our intake and preparation of these students.

She lives in Arizona and enjoys mentoring, bringing up her kids, a good laugh, and traveling.