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Faculty development at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies received a huge boost thanks to the newly endowed Robert and Betty Lundeen Fund for Junior Faculty Development.  The fund is the legacy gift of Bob Lundeen, an 18-year member of the Institute Board of Trustees and one of the Institute’s most loyal supporters. 

Lundeen, who died in April 2016 at the age of 94, had a long and distinguished career with Dow Chemical, retiring in 1986 as executive vice president and chairman. Lundeen and his wife Betty enjoyed traveling and living in Orcas Island, Washington. Bob remained active in supporting the Institute, often making trips to attend Institute board meetings. As an international corporate leader with substantial experience as a trustee in the field of higher education, Lundeen was board chairman from 1988-96.  During his tenure, student enrollment grew considerably, along with a higher proportional increase in resident faculty.  The campus was renovated and expanded, and curriculum innovations were introduced. 

Providing financial support for emerging, junior faculty members was a cause near to both the Lundeens’ hearts. In 1998, shortly before Betty’s death, the couple established the Robert and Betty Lundeen Faculty Development Fund at the Institute which provided much-needed resources for new faculty to expand their professional experience through myriad activities. 

“It’s an ongoing challenge for an educational enterprise to provide resources for junior faculty who are in the early years of their careers, those faculty members who haven’t yet established themselves in their fields and lack a track record to support grants from government or foundations. Betty and I both shared the importance of having a program to attract and retain bright young people to the faculty so there is a continuing process of improving.  It’s not good to have a static organization–you always need to have some yeast in the bread,” said Bob when asked about his giving.

Among the Institute’s now-senior faculty, many noted the importance of professional development support early in their careers. “For a new, young faculty member, it was invaluable to have support to get that dissertation transformed into publishable papers,” noted Renee Jourdenais, a Lundeen award recipient in 2002 who now serves as dean for the Graduate School of Translation, Interpretation, and Language Education. Jason Scorse, associate professor and director of the Center for the Blue Economy, who received three Lundeen awards, said, “The bottom line is support for new faculty is critical to helping fund research at the beginning of one's career when it is so crucial to make a mark and develop a body of work. I am hugely grateful to Mr. Lundeen.” 

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Institute Jeff Dayton-Johnson, added, “We are honored to be part of Betty and Bob’s legacy. Through this gift, our faculty, particularly the newer ones, will feel well supported and inspired, which surely will mean more engaged, happier students.”

Faculty development at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies received a huge boost thanks to the newly endowed Robert and Betty Lundeen Fund for Junior Faculty Development.  The fund is the legacy gift of Bob Lundeen, an 18-year member of the Institute Board of Trustees and one of the Institute’s most loyal supporters. 

Lundeen, who died in April 2016 at the age of 94, had a long and distinguished career with Dow Chemical, retiring in 1986 as executive vice president and chairman. Lundeen and his wife Betty enjoyed traveling and living in Orcas Island, Washington. Bob remained active in supporting the Institute, often making trips to attend Institute board meetings. As an international corporate leader with substantial experience as a trustee in the field of higher education, Lundeen was board chairman from 1988-96.  During his tenure, student enrollment grew considerably, along with a higher proportional increase in resident faculty.  The campus was renovated and expanded, and curriculum innovations were introduced. 

Providing financial support for emerging, junior faculty members was a cause near to both the Lundeens’ hearts. In 1998, shortly before Betty’s death, the couple established the Robert and Betty Lundeen Faculty Development Fund at the Institute which provided much-needed resources for new faculty to expand their professional experience through myriad activities. 

“It’s an ongoing challenge for an educational enterprise to provide resources for junior faculty who are in the early years of their careers, those faculty members who haven’t yet established themselves in their fields and lack a track record to support grants from government or foundations. Betty and I both shared the importance of having a program to attract and retain bright young people to the faculty so there is a continuing process of improving.  It’s not good to have a static organization–you always need to have some yeast in the bread,” said Bob when asked about his giving.

Among the Institute’s now-senior faculty, many noted the importance of professional development support early in their careers. “For a new, young faculty member, it was invaluable to have support to get that dissertation transformed into publishable papers,” noted Renee Jourdenais, a Lundeen award recipient in 2002 who now serves as dean for the Graduate School of Translation, Interpretation, and Language Education. Jason Scorse, associate professor and director of the Center for the Blue Economy, who received three Lundeen awards, said, “The bottom line is support for new faculty is critical to helping fund research at the beginning of one's career when it is so crucial to make a mark and develop a body of work. I am hugely grateful to Mr. Lundeen.” 

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Institute Jeff Dayton-Johnson, added, “We are honored to be part of Betty and Bob’s legacy. Through this gift, our faculty, particularly the newer ones, will feel well supported and inspired, which surely will mean more engaged, happier students.”