The Colony Family: Supporting a unique American college

George and Ann Colony P’12, P’17
George and Ann Colony pose with their son Charles ’17 outside Pettengill Hall on Mount David Summit Day.

George and Ann Colony P’12, P’17 have pledged $3 million to endow the Colony Family Professor of Digital and Computational Studies, one of three new professorships within the college’s new Program in Digital and Computational Studies.

“We gave to support the college’s efforts to widen course offerings in computer science — an important discipline that touches all aspects of the liberal arts in the 21st century,” said George and Ann.

“George and Ann’s gift is a generous and vital investment in the college and the DCS program,” said President Clayton Spencer. “Thanks to their leadership and foresight, Bates students have the opportunity to become highly competent programmers, data engineers, and digital architects, as well as innovators within an evolving digital world.”

The Colonys have also chosen to support the college’s commitment to financial aid. Their gift of $500,000 in 2011 to create the Colony Family Scholarship Fund ensures that the opportunity to attend Bates is available to talented students regardless of their families’ financial circumstances.

“We make Bates a philanthropic priority because we believe it’s a unique American college,” said George and Ann, whose sons William ’12 and Charles ’17 and their cousins Joel ’06 and Izola Porter Brown ’93 are alumni.

“We’ve had the pleasure of watching our sons and their cousins intellectually engage and grow, while building lifelong friendships with many wonderful classmates. Bates is a special place of friendship, learning, and inclusion.”

George Colony is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Forrester Research, a global business and technology advisory firm in Cambridge, Mass. Ann Colony earned her J.D. at Boston University School of Law and does work for several conservation organizations.