Intensive English Center Celebrates 30 Years

The Intensive English Center (IEC) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a special dinner and student performances on November 7, 2018 at the Hilton Garden Inn. Dr. Jun Liu, Vice President for Global Affairs, paid tribute to the success of the IEC over the years and congratulated the IEC faculty and staff for their dedication.

Photo: IEC Director Efie Spentzos, IEC Founding Director Susan Ansara, and Founding Dean Dr. Frank Myers surrounded by IEC faculty and staff.

The Intensive English Center was established as a year-round program in the fall of 1988, after operating for almost ten years as a summer program called The Summer Institute in American Living. Ms. Susan Ansara, the founder of the program, travelled from New Mexico where she has been living to join the festivities as the guest of honor. Also present was Dr. Frank Myers, Professor of Political Science, who was the Dean of International Programs at the time the program was established.

According to Ms. Efie Spentzos, who has been Director of the IEC since 1992, the program has been a gateway to the American educational system and American culture for thousands of international students. Over the years the IEC has seen many changes to the student body, but the last few years students from Asian countries make up the majority. They usually come with conditional admission to enhance their academic language skills before they matriculate as undergraduate or graduate students at Stony Brook. The IEC will be continuing on its mission of offering quality educational programs to future generations of Seawolves!