Middlebury Receives $4.2 Million Gift for Language Study

Middlebury has received an anonymous $4.2 million donation to support scholarships for language study at the Middlebury Language Schools and the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

Half of the funds – $2.1 million – will establish the endowed Jessica K. and Ronald D. Liebowitz Centennial Fellowships Fund, which will provide financial aid to students attending Middlebury’s summer Language Schools. The fund honors President Liebowitz and his wife, Jessica, and recognizes the Centennial of the Language Schools in 2015. The first fellowships will be awarded this year.

The remaining $2.1 million will establish two endowed scholarship funds at the Monterey Institute, one to honor former institute president Clara Yu and her husband, John Deppman, and the other to honor the current president, Sunder Ramaswamy and his wife, Varna. 

“We are deeply indebted to this family for its generous support of Middlebury and the Monterey Institute,” said Liebowitz, who attended Middlebury’s Russian language school. “Their commitment to providing access to our renowned language programs will make it possible for hundreds of students from around the world to study at these premier institutions.”