The friendships I have formed and the staff members at Northwestern whom I have met through the program have become like family to me here in the United States. It has consistently been a welcoming and reassuring place where I feel supported and valued.”
Welcome to the Buffett International Spouse & Family Program!
The program's mission is to support and connect spouses and partners of international faculty, visiting scholars, students, and postdocs at Northwestern University by providing a warm and inclusive space to gather in person. We are delighted to welcome you into our vibrant and diverse community.At Northwestern, we understand that navigating life in a new country presents unique challenges and opportunities. Our goal is to help you feel at home, thrive, and make the most of your time here. Through a variety of seasonal and cultural events and connections to local resources and support services, we aim to foster connections, celebrate cultural diversity, and ensure a smooth transition for newly arrived international families.
We hope to provide opportunities for you to meet other international families, build lasting friendships, and engage with the broader Northwestern community. We are here to attentively listen to your needs, ideas, and suggestions, with the goal of collaboratively designing programs that align with your interests.
Programs
Spouses and partners of international scholars, students, and faculty at Northwestern University are warmly invited to join Coffee Hour, hosted by the Roberta Buffett Institute. The program offers a welcoming space for connection, conversation, and cultural exchange as families adjust to a new environment. Young children are welcome to attend with their parents.
Fill out the Buffett International Spouse & Family Program registration form to receive email invitations and other program communications.
Date: Monthly, starting September 22, 2026
Time: 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Location: Second Floor Reading Room, 720 University Place, Evanston
The Handmade Club offers a relaxed, hands-on creative space for participants to explore artistic and craft-based activities inspired by imagination. The club is self-taught, and everyone is encouraged to bring ideas of what we can make together. Activities may include crochet, paper cutting, pop-up card making, drawing, and more. All skill levels are welcome, including children.
Date: Every Thursday starting September 10, 2026
Time: 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Location: 720 University Place, Evanston
Cost: Most meetings are free, but some will have associated costs to cover the materials used.
The Conversation Club focuses on American culture and intercultural exchange through guided conversation. Topics include idioms, holidays, manners, accents, and regional differences. All levels are welcome, and parents and caregivers with young children are warmly encouraged to participate.
Date: Every Thursday starting September 10, 2026
Time: 10:45–11:45 a.m.
Location: 720 University Place, Evanston
Testimonials
People are all at different stages in their lives, but as you know, being an immigrant is not always easy, especially when family support is thousands of miles away. The sense of community you build through the Coffee Hours truly matters. Thanks to that space, I ended up inviting Y and her family to spend Christmas with my husband and me, and hopefully, they will visit us at our next destination soon.”
When I first moved to downtown Chicago with my family, I didn’t know many people connected to Northwestern, so it sometimes felt isolating. Through the program, we met other families living downtown and built wonderful friendships beyond the events themselves. It was also especially meaningful for the children; seeing kids close in age play and connect so naturally brought a warm and joyful atmosphere for everyone involved.”
Join Us and Learn More
- Complete the Buffett International Spouse & Family Program registration form to receive our communications
- Visit our Planit Purple calendar to RSVP for upcoming events, which include coffee hours during the academic year
- Contact Hiroko Strulovici with questions