Ronald D. Liebowitz (born April 26, 1957) is the ninth President of

Brandeis University , mottoeng = "Truth even unto its innermost parts" , established = , type = Private research university , accreditation = NECHE , president = Ronald D. Liebowitz , ...

succeeding Frederick M. Lawrence. Formerly Middlebury College's 16th President, and a professor of

geography Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, an ...

, succeeding John McCardell, Jr. on July 1, 2004. On December 17, 2015, it was announced that Liebowitz would become the ninth president of

Brandeis University , mottoeng = "Truth even unto its innermost parts" , established = , type = Private research university , accreditation = NECHE , president = Ronald D. Liebowitz , ...

. Liebowitz had previously served as provost and Dean of the Faculty at Middlebury College. An expert in Russian economic and political geography, he began teaching at Middlebury in 1984. His first Middlebury experience was as a Language School student in 1980 and 1981. A native of Brooklyn, Liebowitz received his undergraduate degree from

Bucknell University Bucknell University is a private liberal arts college in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1846 as the University at Lewisburg, it now consists of the College of Arts and Sciences, Freeman College of Management, and the College of Engineering ...

in 1979 and completed his postgraduate work at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

. He received his Ph.D. in geography in 1985. Liebowitz and his wife, Jessica, have three children.

Presidency

Liebowitz was Middlebury's third faculty member to become president, following McCardell and 19th century alumnus

Ezra Brainerd Ezra Brainerd (December 17, 1844 – December 8, 1924) was president of Middlebury College, Vermont, United States, from 1885 until 1908. Born in St. Albans, Vermont, Brainerd was a graduate of the college in 1864. Brainerd assumed the presidency ...

. In his first year, he shaped the agreement that brought the

Monterey Institute of International Studies The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), formerly known as the Monterey Institute of International Studies, is an American graduate school of Middlebury College, a private college in Middlebury, Vermont. Established ...

under affiliation with Middlebury, and began a comprehensive strategic planning process. Liebowitz kicked off The Middlebury Initiative in October 2007; the largest capital campaign ever by a liberal arts college, the Initiative will raise $500 million to support the strategic plan's primary goals of financial aid and additional faculty. In 2009 ''

Time Magazine ''Time'' (stylized in all caps) is an American news magazine based in New York City. For nearly a century, it was published weekly, but starting in March 2020 it transitioned to every other week. It was first published in New York City on Ma ...

'' named him one of the 10 best college presidents. On December 12, 2013, Liebowitz announced that he would step down as president of the college effective June 30, 2015. He served at Middlebury College for over 11 years. On December 17, 2015, Liebowitz announced that he would begin serving in a leadership role at Brandeis University effective July 1, 2016. In March 2021, Liebowitz accused the Board of Trustees of "trying to force him out of the presidency." However, on April 9, 2021, the Board of Trustees announced a five-year contract extension on Liebowitz's presidency.

References

1957 births Living people Presidents of Middlebury College Bucknell University alumni Columbia University alumni Middlebury College faculty People from Middlebury, Vermont People from Brooklyn Presidents of Brandeis University {{US-academic-administrator-1950s-stub