Northwestern graduation events set for 2026
October 28, 2025
Northwestern alumna Roberta “Bertie” Buffett Elliott ’54 (’09, ’13, ’17, ’21, ’24, ’26 GP) has made a new $11.8 million gift to advance undergraduate global education. This gift will support global learning opportunities for students through the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs and expand curricular offerings in the International Studies Program within the Weinberg College Center for International and Area Studies. In recognition of Elliott’s generosity, the University has renamed the program the Roberta Buffett International Studies Program.
“Northwestern has a unique opportunity to set the national standard for innovation in undergraduate global education — a goal defined not only by academic excellence but also by immersive, experiential learning,” said Northwestern Interim President and President Emeritus Henry S. Bienen ’09 H (’19, ’25, ’28 GP). “Bertie Buffett Elliott’s landmark gift in 2015 to establish the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs transformed global learning and research at the University and laid a strong foundation for future growth. We are deeply grateful for her continued generosity to our students and to Northwestern’s bold vision for global education.”
Launched 10 years ago through a $101 million gift from Elliott, the Roberta Buffett Institute brings together interdisciplinary teams of researchers to address some of the most complex global challenges, ranging from conflict resolution to the impact of climate change. The institute hosts a lively series of events for the Northwestern community and beyond.
The Roberta Buffett Institute also serves as a central hub where all undergraduate students — regardless of their school or major — can pursue international experiences in their chosen fields, be it engineering, chemistry, music, sociology or any other discipline. More than 1,000 undergraduates participated in Roberta Buffett Institute programs in the 2024-25 academic year.
Elliott’s new gift will build on this success, allowing the Roberta Buffett Institute to offer students even more pathways to engage with global scholars and coursework as they prepare for meaningful careers of global impact and influence.
“The connection between academic study and real-world application is central to the Roberta Buffett Institute’s programs for students,” said Deborah Cohen, director of the Roberta Buffett Institute and the Richard W. Leopold Professor of History at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. “The post-baccalaureate program we launched this year offers new Northwestern graduates the chance for a first job internationally in fields such as global health, human rights, international development and the arts. These are transformative programs for our students, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to expand them.”
The gift also will deepen the partnership between the institute and the Roberta Buffett International Studies Program, which offers both a major and a minor. The program provides students with an expansive academic experience through rigorous coursework, dedicated faculty mentorship and opportunities to explore global issues across disciplines such as economics, history, political science and anthropology.
The Roberta Buffett International Studies Program will expand its offerings taught by Practitioners in Residence — esteemed policymakers, diplomats, economists, journalists and other global leaders who teach courses during an appointment at Northwestern of up to one year. In these advanced seminars, students will tackle real-world projects on subjects ranging from disinformation to artificial intelligence, warfare and global arts.
“Weinberg College has enjoyed a strong relationship with the Roberta Buffett Institute since its inception,” said Weinberg College Dean Adrian Randolph. “I am excited to further fortify that partnership through our curriculum for the benefit of all students at Northwestern.”
