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Gift from Friedman-Kline Family Foundation to expand German Department study-abroad programs

July 4, 2016

Students in Northwestern’s German Department will have more opportunities to research and study abroad, thanks to a $250,000 gift from the Friedman-Kline Family Foundation.  The gift aims to support and expand the department’s study-abroad programs, providing more Northwestern undergraduates than ever before an opportunity to participate in these advanced experiential learning initiatives.  A primary beneficiary will be the highly successful Northwestern-Humboldt Berlin Summer Program, which currently allows upwards or 25 students a chance to study both German language and culture, while exploring the city of Berlin and its environs.

Describing the purpose of their gift, Arthur and Suzanne Friedman emphasized the degree to which it will contribute to the educational mission of the University: “We are pleased to make this gift to Northwestern University, which will create opportunities for more students to experience the benefit of studying in German-speaking countries.  There is no better way to learn about other cultures than to be immersed in the culture itself.  Finances are stretched for many students and this gift may help defray the additional costs associated with Northwestern’s amazing study-abroad programs.”

“I am thrilled by the support of the Friedman-Kline Family Foundation to foster Weinberg College’s global initiatives and specifically the study-abroad programs associated with the Department of German,” said Adrian Randolph, dean of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. “Our interdisciplinary educational model depends upon students developing deep understandings of other languages and cultures. This gift opens up new possibilities for our faculty and students to live up to our highest ambitions when it comes to such meaningful cultural engagement.”  -- Adrian Randolph, Dean of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

In addition to helping students defray costs of participating in the Berlin Summer Program and other study-abroad programs, the Friedman-Kline gift will help the department develop innovative classes that include research components in Hamburg and other German-speaking cities.