Founder of the Ross Global Academy, Ross Institute, Ross School

Courtney Sale Ross possesses a distinguished reputation of championing the advancement of education. She has spent the past years establishing academic institutions as the main thrust of her philanthropic efforts.

An alumna of Skidmore College for her Bachelor of the Arts degree in 1970, Courtney Sale Ross received an Honorary Doctorate by the same school in 1991. The widow of former Time Warner CEO and Chairman Steven J. Ross, Courtney Sale Ross is also the mother of one of the pioneer graduates of Ross School, daughter Nicole Ross. Among her many recognitions is being one of Forbes 400 in 2008.

Currently, Courtney Sale Ross is a respected member of the board in several education leaders: the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute, United Nations Association of the United States of America, Committee on U.S./China Relations, and the Asia Society.

Courtney Sale Ross founded The Ross School in 1991 in the exclusive locality of East Hampton. Its formational approach can be described as transcendental. The unique Ross educational model that she designed, as seen most clearly in the curriculum, takes a global and modern orientation. Through her guidance, it continues to stay true to its goal of “Teaching the whole child for the whole world.”

As chair of New York City‘s The Ross Institute for Advanced Study and Innovation in Education, Courtney Sale Ross leads research in key areas such as Interdisciplinary Curriculum for Cultural understanding, Mind, Brain and Education, as well as Globalization in Education. A critical aspect is the Institute’s Inter-University Consortium, an elite network of universities whose programs strategically fit Ross’, established in 2004.

Lastly, a third major philanthropic output by Courtney Sale Ross is the Ross Global Academy. In 2006, this collaborative effort with the New York University Steinhardt School of Education, as well as the New York City Board of Education, represents one of the most innovative public charter schools in the nation.

Museums that have made significant contributions to research and education have also had Courtney Sale Ross as a consistent benefactor. One such donation was the Courtney and Steven J. Ross Multi-Media and Communications Center. This world-class interactive theatre is situated at the Shanghai Museum, China.

Other privileged recipients of Courtney Ross’ generous support are academic institutions Skidmore College, Harvard University and the University of Southern California. She also created opportunities for minority women at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts through The Courtney Sale Ross Scholarship Fund.