$11.8 million new gift from Roberta Buffett Elliott follows her earlier $101 million donation, strengthens undergraduate global education at university
Northwestern University announced today that alumna and philanthropist Roberta “Bertie” Buffett Elliott has committed $11.8 million to expand global learning opportunities for undergraduate students.
The gift deepens Elliott’s long-standing support for the University and its global mission, building on her earlier landmark $101 million donation that created the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs.
In recognition of this latest investment, Northwestern has renamed its International Studies Program the Roberta Buffett International Studies Program.
“Northwestern has a unique opportunity to set the national standard for innovation in undergraduate global education,” said Interim President and President Emeritus Henry S. Bienen. “Bertie Buffett Elliott’s transformative 2015 gift laid the foundation for global learning and research at Northwestern. We are deeply grateful for her continued generosity and vision.”
The new gift will bolster programs designed to integrate classroom study with immersive, real-world global experiences — a hallmark of Elliott’s philanthropic approach. Last year alone, more than 1,000 undergraduates participated in initiatives affiliated with the Roberta Buffett Institute, which welcomes students from every school and major, from engineering and chemistry to music and sociology.
Founded a decade ago, the institute convenes interdisciplinary teams of scholars to tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, conflict resolution and international development. It has also become a central hub for students seeking meaningful international engagement, offering experiences that help prepare them for careers of global impact.
“The connection between academic study and real-world application is central to our mission,” said Deborah Cohen, director of the Roberta Buffett Institute and Richard W. Leopold Professor of History. She highlighted the institute’s new post-baccalaureate program, which enables recent graduates to secure first-job placements abroad in fields including global health, human rights, development, and the arts.
“These are transformative programs for our students, and we’re thrilled to expand them.”
Elliott’s gift also strengthens the university’s academic offerings in global affairs.
The newly named Roberta Buffett International Studies Program, housed within the Weinberg College Center for International and Area Studies, offers both a major and a minor combining rigorous coursework, faculty mentorship, and interdisciplinary exploration across economics, history, political science, anthropology, and more.
New funding will support additional Practitioners in Residence—diplomats, policymakers, economists, journalists, and other global leaders who teach immersive, advanced seminars for up to a year. In these courses, students work directly on real-world topics such as disinformation, warfare, artificial intelligence and global arts.
“Weinberg College has enjoyed a strong relationship with the Roberta Buffett Institute since its inception,” said Adrian Randolph, dean of Weinberg College. “I am excited to further fortify that partnership through our curriculum for the benefit of all students.”