David Young

VIF leader views supporting teachers as key to success

At age 16, David Young received a gift from his parents that would transform his life: an airline ticket to London and directions to find his older brother at college a couple of hours away in Bristol. That first experience of solo international travel – was an early introduction to the requisite skills for surviving and thriving in a foreign land. David took home a key lesson: It’s comforting to have support while abroad, but sometimes you have to learn some things on your own, often by trial and error.

“Some support is good, even necessary, but you don't want everything handed to you on a silver platter,” said David, VIF's Chief Executive Officer. “If you don't learn to read the tube [subway] map in London or if you don’t try squid in its own ink in Spain or merengue dancing in Costa Rica, you miss the whole adventure of going abroad. It’s good for people to step outside of their comfort zones. It’s the only way to expand them.”

David has put that philosophy to good use as he has helped guide the VIF Program's growth into the United States' largest cultural exchange program for teachers and schools. David is committed to VIF providing exchange teachers and host schools with comprehensive support services to ensure a rewarding experience. And he relishes the countless stories VIF participants share of their enthusiastic adventures in discovering all the United States has to offer. David has infused that spirit in VIF since joining the Program in 1990, when it had just 24 participants, following his graduation from Wake Forest University in North Carolina. With a degree in history and experiences studying and working in England, Spain, and Costa Rica, David brought a keen appreciation for international education.

David assumed leadership of VIF in 1991, and for the next six years, he led VIF's growth from what started as a small family project into a small business. His brother, Alan, rejoined VIF in 1997, and they led VIF through a new period of growth. David spent the 2002-03 school year guiding VIF's London recruitment office. Upon his return to VIF's headquarters in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, David served as Chief Operations Officer. In January 2006, David was named Chief Executive Officer for VIF.

“It is only natural, given the events taking place around the world, that many school leaders have come to view international education as a standard element of any education,” he said. “Students must learn more about the world beyond their borders, but if their teachers don't have international experiences or perspectives to share, how will that happen? At VIF, we want to provide whole-school solutions that address international education across the entire school community.”

David was awarded the Friend of FLANC (Foreign Language Association of North Carolina) award in 2001 for support of North Carolina Foreign Language initiatives in the public schools. He serves on the Board of Advisors of the Close Up Foundation in Washington, D.C. In 2003, he was named to a commission, North Carolina in the World, establishing strategies and benchmarks in foreign language instruction and international education.

An avid golfer and basketball player, David pursues a number of personal interests, including Spanish, Indian, and Latin American cuisine; travel; photography and current events. He lives in Chapel Hill with his wife, Kelly, a native of Nova Scotia, Canada, and their daughter, Myla.

Read more about Alan Young