The history of CEPA is deeply entwined with the Leibrecht family, whose work in international education spans three generations across Germany, France, England, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.
The Roots: Dr. Walter Leibrecht & Schiller
The family’s involvement and legacy in international education began with Dr. Walter Leibrecht (1927–2007), who pioneered American study-abroad programs in post-WWII Europe. He was an accomplished German-American theologian, academic, and professor who taught or held positions at several American and German institutions, including Columbia University, the Harvard Divinity School, the University of Chicago, and the Northwestern University’s Garrett Theological Seminary.
Inspired by the German playwright, poet, philosopher and historian, Friedrich Schiller (1759 – 1805) and his humanistic, global ideas, Dr. Leibrecht established Schiller College in 1964 at Kleiningersheim Castle near Stuttgart, Germany as one of the earliest private American universities in Europe, aimed at fostering transatlantic cultural exchange and study abroad opportunities for U.S. students. His vision was to blend American academic standards with a global, intercultural learning environment.
Seeking a flagship European campus for Schiller College, in 1972, he purchased the historic Château de Pourtalès in Strasbourg, France, when it was falling into disrepair. He renovated the castle and converted it into a student residence and academic center, housing study abroad and international students from all over the world for over 25 years.
Over the following decades, Schiller expanded rapidly, opening additional campuses in Heidelberg, Paris, Madrid, London, Engelberg, Leysin, and Florida, eventually evolving into Schiller International University (SIU) in 1981.
Through SIU, the Leibrecht family built a deep expertise in international university administration, intercultural education, and management of European campus facilities.
Foundation of CEPA
Building on this legacy of transatlantic education and experience, Walter Leibrecht’s son, Harald Leibrecht, and daughter-in-law, Ulrike (Uli) Leibrecht, established the company SIU Travel, known today as the CEPA brand.
While SIU was a traditional degree-granting institution with fixed campuses, CEPA was created to meet a growing demand from U.S. universities for tailored, short-term, and faculty-led study abroad programs across Europe.
Expansion & Growth of CEPA
In the 2000s, when Schiller International University relocated its Strasbourg campus, the Leibrecht family retained ownership of the Château de Pourtalès. Under Uli and Harald Leibrecht’s leadership, CEPA expanded its locations by opening CEPA’s first European Study Center at the historic Château de Pourtalès in Strasbourg, France.
This flagship venue provides open-enroll study abroad programs focused on European and international politics, business, and intercultural leadership. Through the years, Uli has built strong partnerships with the Université de Strasbourg, EU and European institutions, non-governmental organizations, and the local community in and around Strasbourg.
Over time, CEPA extended its faculty-led programming beyond Western Europe to include opportunities in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Peru with a focus on service-learning and cultural immersion.
Political Service & the CEPA Foundation
Harald Leibrecht brought a significant background in diplomacy, politics, and governing to the family’s education efforts.
From 2002 to 2013, Harald served as a member of the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag). In 2011, Chancellor Angela Merkel appointed him as the Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation for the German Federal Government.
Following his political career, Harald took over as President of the Board of Directors for the CEPA Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) public nonprofit created in 2013 to expand student access to international education through scholarships, grants, and global sustainability initiatives.
Planning for the Future
As succession planning began, the goal was clear: select a leader who could honor CEPA’s history while broadening its reach and impact. During the search, Uli met and got to know Chris Bradford, President of the Morehead Cain Foundation and Chairman of Terra Education.
As conversations expanded to include Terra co-founders Fred Swaniker and Peter Mombaur, their shared dedication to transformative educational experiences and meaningful, lasting institutional partnerships became unmistakable.
Guided by these aligned values and philosophy, Uli confidently selected Terra Education to carry CEPA into its next chapter.
A New Horizon for CEPA in 2026
Building the Future with Terra Education
As Executive Director and Co-Founder of Terra Education, Peter Mombaur oversees the organization’s global brand portfolio, a mission strengthened in January 2026 with the official integration of CEPA as its dedicated higher education study abroad division.
Headquartered in San Diego, Terra Education is a Certified B Corporation that designs and manages transformative international programs for high school and university students, teens, families, and active older adults.
By honoring its rich European heritage while pioneering new models of global learning, CEPA is shaping a future where immersive cultural exchange empowers the next generation of global citizens to lead, connect, and thrive.
A look back in time
CEPA is dedicated to building collaborative partnerships and creating meaningful study abroad experiences for students throughout Europe since 1997.
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