Lang for Lang: Generous Gift for Namesake Division
Philanthropist Eugene M. Lang, whose generous support enabled the founding of Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts, has pledged a new gift of $5 million to his namesake school. The gift was announced at a recent event for Project Pericles, another of Mr. Lang’s philanthropic endeavors, which held its annual conference at The New School. In a letter to the community announcing the gift, President David Van Zandt noted it was awarded in honor of Dean Stephanie Browner’s leadership and her vision for the college.,
Mr. Lang has a long history of philanthropic support, which has transformed the lives of students across the country. In 1985, his generous gift transformed a small undergraduate program known for its seminar-style teaching into a distinct liberal arts college within The New School. Throughout its history, Eugene Lang College has embodied the values of its namesake: a deep-rooted commitment to academic excellence and to linking liberal arts with civic engagement. Today, the school is cited as the best college in the country for encouraging debate and discussion.
Mr. Lang has devoted his life to empowering youth through education. In addition to his longtime support of Eugene Lang College and Project Pericles, a non-profit that encourages colleges and universities to foster social responsibility and participatory citizenship, he is a benefactor of the I Have a Dream Foundation, which provides low-income youth with tuition support and the skills and knowledge to pursue higher education and succeed in college and beyond.