IFSA Founder and Study Abroad Trailblazer Dies at 95
IFSA | June 4, 2026
Our team is saddened to share the news that IFSA founder David M. Gray, PhD, died on May 13 at age 95. A pioneer in the field of study abroad, Gray is believed to have made study abroad possible for more than 100,000 U.S. students.
A lifelong champion of higher education and travel, Gray鈥檚 interest in study abroad was piqued in the 1960s, when he was teaching political science at Drew University. After one student trip to London, he soon created and launched his own semester in London for Drew.
Gray鈥檚 many accomplishments include establishing the Center for Education Abroad at Arcadia University (formerly Beaver College), co-founding the 2025 伊人直播 at Butler University in 1988, and establishing the National Advisory Board for International Programs and the College Consortium for Education Abroad.
Dr. Gray鈥檚 commitment to study abroad was transformative for many. We are sincerely grateful for the vision, passion, and dedication he brought to IFSA, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family.
