Ronald D. Liebowitz

Ronald David Liebowitz
Liebowitz in 2008
9th President of Brandeis University
In office July 1, 2016 – November 1, 2024
Preceded by	Frederick M. Lawrence
Succeeded by	Arthur E. Levine (interim)
16th President of Middlebury College
In office July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2015
Preceded by	John McCardell, Jr.
Succeeded by	Laurie L. Patton
Personal details
Born	(1957-04-26) April 26, 1957 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Education	Bucknell University (BA) Columbia University (PhD)
Scientific career
Fields	Geography
Institutions	Middlebury College Brandeis University
Thesis	The spatial and ethnic dimensions of Soviet regional investment: 1956-1975 (1985)
Doctoral advisor	Robert Lewis

Ronald David Liebowitz (born April 26, 1957) is an American geography scholar. He served as the 9th president of Brandeis University from 2016 to 2024 and as the 16th president of Middlebury College from 2004 to 2015.

With research fields in Russian economic and political geography, he began teaching at Middlebury in 1984.

Early life and education

Liebowitz is a native of Brooklyn.

Liebowitz received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University in 1979 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Columbia University in 1985.

Career

Middlebury College

Liebowitz was Middlebury's third faculty member to become president, following McCardell and 19th century alumnus Ezra Brainerd. In his first year, he shaped the agreement that brought the Monterey Institute of International Studies 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 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.

Brandeis University

On December 17, 2015, Liebowitz announced that he would begin serving in a leadership role at Brandeis University effective July 1, 2016.

Ronald D. Liebowitz began his tenure as president of Brandeis University in 2016. Over the course of his leadership, the university's position in the U.S. News & World Report national rankings declined significantly—from 34th in 2016 to 63rd in 2025. While this drop partly reflected methodological changes in the ranking system that deprioritized factors favoring private institutions, Brandeis’s pronounced decline drew concern from some faculty, alumni, and students who questioned the university’s strategic direction and administrative priorities during this period.

Liebowitz’s presidency has also been marked by tensions over governance, communication transparency, and long-term planning. Critics have pointed to inconsistent messaging, high administrative turnover, and what some viewed as a top-down decision-making style. Despite some improvements in fundraising and value-based rankings, questions remain about the efficacy and clarity of his vision for Brandeis’s future.

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. In September 2024, Liebowitz resigned after the faculty passed a no-confidence vote against him. The non-binding resolution cited his handling of the budget crisis and student protests.