EdOdyssey Announces Ben Polansky as First Chief Operating Officer
Boston, MA, April 15, 2025 - EdOdyssey, a boutique study abroad and educational travel provider announced the appointment of Ben Polansky to the EdOdyssey leadership team as the company’s first-ever chief operating officer. In this role, Ben will scale operations, strengthen partnerships, and lead sustainable expansion to accelerate EdOdyssey’s next stage of growth.
According to the 2024 Open Doors survey sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and The Institute of International Education (IIE), in 2022/23, the total number of United States (U.S.) students who studied abroad for academic credit increased by 49%. The addition of Ben to EdOdyssey’s leadership team underscores the company’s commitment to leading in this fast-growing space by providing authentic opportunities for students to learn and excel.
“On the heels of our 10th anniversary, EdOdyssey is proud to enter an exciting new chapter of mission-driven growth and impact—broadening our reach while staying deeply committed to providing high-quality, human-centered global education,” said Peter McGovern, CEO of EdOdyssey. “Global education is at a turning point and students, institutions, and partners want programs that are more accessible, immersive, and intentional. Ben’s leadership as COO will strengthen our ability to set the standard for impactful, student-centered study abroad experiences.”
Ben brings to EdOdyssey over 15 years of experience in global education, operations, and experiential learning. Prior to joining EdOdyssey, Ben spent the past decade leading Global Glimpse, an award-winning nonprofit that provides students and teachers from 100+ high schools with international travel and service-learning experiences. As the third full-time employee at Global Glimpse, under Ben’s leadership, the company scaled to impact over 10,000 high school students and teachers, distributing more than USD $20 million in travel scholarships to underserved communities across the U.S. and abroad.
“Growing up in a diverse community, I saw firsthand how exposure to different perspectives and opportunities can challenge students’ assumptions, help them develop as global citizens, and shape their futures,” said Ben Polansky. “Now more than ever, our young people, schools, and world need EdOdyssey, and I’m honored to be part of this next chapter of growth.”
About EdOdyssey
EdOdyssey is a boutique study abroad and educational travel provider. Founded in 2014, we work with colleges, universities, and secondary schools to create customized trips, first-year experiences, and semester study abroad programs that are authentic and educational. As a team, we possess 5 decades of experience in international education, have worked with over 8,000 students, speak 7 languages, and have traveled to 58 countries and counting.
Contact
For more information or media requests, contact:
Peter McGovern, CEO/Founder
peter@edodyssey.com
Interested in bringing EdOdyssey to your school or campus?
Learn more at www.edodyssey.com and reach out directly to info@edodyssey.com.
