Timeline

Landmark over the years

1971
  • Charles Drake, Ed.D., founds the Landmark School in Prides Crossing, MA.
A view of Windham College from upper campus.
1982
  • Landmark School creates a successful college-prep component. This success makes Drake and others on staff begin to consider the feasibility of a college geared exclusively to students with dyslexia.
1983
  • The Learning Disabilities Foundation (Landmark School) purchases former Windham College buildings from the U.S. government.
  • A group of concerned citizens, later known on campus as the Putney Saviors, purchases the land on which the buildings sit from an out-of-state investor and immediately sells it to LDF with no profit to themselves.
  • Landmark College legally established on Nov. 4.
1984
  • James Olivier, J.D., named founding president.
  • Renovations to transform the old Windham College campus to the new Landmark College campus begin.
1985
  • Landmark College, with 55 employees, opens its doors to 77 students on Sept. 17.
1986
  • Landmark College founding is entered into Congressional Record on June 5, 1986, by Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont.
  • VT Higher Education Council authorizes College to grant an associate degree.
  • Chumley B Residence Hall renovated for student use.
  • Harvard professor and biolinguist John L. Locke, Ph.D., presents research on dyslexia during Parent’s Weekend.
1987
  • Hall Four (Edward Durell Stone Hall) Residence Hall renovated for student use.
  • Professor Richard Ramsey leads first study-abroad experience, choosing Mexico.
1988
  • First three students graduate with an associate degree.
  • Landmark hosts Vermont Association of Learning Disabilities (VALD) Conference for children ages 6-18 with learning disabilities and their families.
  • Summer Mathematics Workshop for teachers offered. 
1989
  • Davis Residence Hall renovated for student use.
  • Summer Workshops for teachers on study skills, mathematics and computers offered.
1990
  • First publication of student literary arts magazine, Impressions.
1991
  • Gene Cesari, Ph.D., inaugurated as 2nd President.
  • The College is awarded accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC, now NECHE, the New England Commission of Higher Education, since 2018).
  • Faces of Dyslexia stage production tours local schools and colleges.
  • Fine Arts Building purchased in December.
  • Landmark College creates the Outreach Program, the precursor to the Landmark College Institute for Research and Training.
1993
  • Publication of Teaching a Study Skills Study Skills System That Works! for high school and college faculty.
1994
  • Lynda J. Katz, Ph.D., inaugurated as the College's 3rd president.
  • Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Chapter begins.
  • Eleanor Harner, Ph.D., founder of the SALT Center, receives honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Convocation.
1995
  • Fine Arts Building renovated and opened for the first time in the College's history.
  • Landmark College sponsors Opening Our Gifts Conference, in Ascutney Mountain Resort, Vermont, featuring Mel Levine, Ph.D., Byron Rourke, Ph.D., John Ratey, M.D., and Thomas West, as well as Landmark College faculty, presenting on dyslexia, nonverbal learning disabilities, and ADHD.
1996
  • Dr. Charles Drake, College founder, receives honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Convocation.
Headshot of Dr. Charles Drake.
1997
  • Student Center renovated and renamed Strauch Family Student Center. (The building was previously unused since its Windham College origin.)
  • Charles Strauch, founding trustee and benefactor, receives honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Convocation.
  • Sharing Our Gifts Conference sponsored in Burlington, Vermont.
1998
  • U.S. Representative Carrie Meek and founding faculty member John Bagge receive honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Convocation.
  • Frost Residence Hall renovated for student use.
  • Study Abroad program initiated.
  • Jim & Carolyn Olivier Admissions Building constructed.
1999
  • Edward Hallowell, M.D., noted expert in ADHD, receives honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Convocation.
  • College awarded a $690,000 U.S. Dept. of Education Title VII Demonstration Project Grant to develop training materials for Vermont college faculty on how to teach students with learning disabilities.
  • Library renovation completed.
  • Kurzweil assistive technology software first made available in the Library.
Black and white photograph of student center at night.
2000
  • Senator James Jeffords (VT) receives honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Convocation.
  • College awarded a $1.75 million U.S. Dept. of Education Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant for faculty research release time, an expert speaker series, the development of a model for student outcomes assessment, and the expansion of the endowment to fund student scholarships.
2001
Click gym in 2001.
  • The new gymnasium opens as the Click Family Sports Center.
  • Sports "Bubble" taken down to the playing of "Taps."
A gathering of people outside the deflating dome.
The Dome Is Down. The community gathers and music instructor, Steve Glover, plays taps as Landmark's Dome is ceremoniously deflated. The Dome served as a sports center from 1985 to 2001.
2002
2003
  • Rod Risley, Executive Director of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and Patrick Leahy, U.S. Senator from VT, receive honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Convocation.
  • Susan A. Vogel, Ph.D., presents on “Current Research on Students with LD in Higher Education: Implications for LMC Student Success, with Special Emphasis on Advising,” as part of the Title III Expert Speaker Series.
  • Publication of Title VII-funded  Understanding Learning Disabilities at the Postsecondary Level.
  • Beta Alpha Epsilon chapter of Phi Theta Kappa receives three awards from the national organization: Pinnacle Award, Five-Star Award, and Milestone Award.
2004
  • Founding trustee John Allen Perkins receives honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Convocation.
  • Initiation of Business Studies associate degree program.
  • Publication of Biology Success! Teaching Diverse Learners, based on work supported by funding from the National Science Foundation.
Smiling NSF group in classroom.
2005
  • The National Institute for Research and Training becomes the Landmark College Institute for Research and Training (LCIRT).
  • Bridges Residence Halls, East Academic Building (now Lewis Academic Building), and expanded Dining Hall open for use. Governor Jim Douglas attends ribbon cutting.
  • Landmark Leadership Series on Reading Disabilities and Mental Health hosted in conjunction with the Brattleboro Retreat, featuring Maryanne Wolf, Ph.D., Guinevere Eden, Ph.D., and Frank Wood, Ph.D.
  • Landmark celebrates its 20th anniversary.
  • Thomas Brown, Ph.D., noted ADHD expert, is the keynote speaker at 20th anniversary.
  • New College logo unveiled:
Landmark College logo.
2006
  • VT Governor Jim Douglas speaks on the Promise of Vermont Initiative at Convocation.
  • Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D., speaks on "How to Recognize Inadequately Treated ADD/ADHD in High IQ College Students."
  • Landmark hosts World Usability Day/New England.
  • Renowned R&B and jazz saxophonist, Charles Neville performs at the Greenhoe Theater of the Fine Arts Building.
2007
  • College presents at annual AHEAD (Association on Higher Education and Disability) Conference for the first time.
2008
2009
  • Aiken Hall renovated with third-floor addition.
2010
  • College celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Display of fireworks behind campus.
2011
  • Peter A. Eden, Ph.D., inaugurated as College's 4th president.
  • First therapy dog, Mr. Wells, a black Labrador retriever, brought to campus by Professor of Natural Science Abigail Littlefield.
2012
Landmark College athletics logo with Finn the shark.
2013

 

2014
  • Landmark presents actress Whoopi Goldberg with the inaugural LD Luminary Award at a fundraising gala in New York City.
  • Residence Hall Four renamed Edward Durell Stone Hall after the campus's architect.
  • A $1 million gift from noted economist Paul McCulley establishes the Morgan Le Fay Center for Advances in Economics, Business, and Entrepreneurship Education.
  • Temple Grandin, Ph.D., speaks about the strengths of neurodiversity as part of the Academic Speaker Series.
  • New bachelor's degrees approved: B.S. in Computer Science and B.A. in Studio Arts (now B.A. in Integrated Arts since 2022).
2015
  • College celebrates its 30th anniversary.
  • The Nicole Goodner MacFarlane Science, Technology & Innovation Center opens after a successful $7 million capital campaign.
  • Residence hall Middle Hall renamed Alumni Hall in honor of Landmark College's alumni.
2016
  • College graduates its first 12 baccalaureate students.
  • National Science Foundation awards $650,000 in STEM scholarship and support.
  • Landmark Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (LEAP) begins, providing $10,000 in annual funding from the Morgan Le Fay Dreams Foundation to student entrepreneurs.
  • Morgan Le Fay Center for Entrepreneurship holds a symposium, featuring keynote speaker Paul McCulley.
  • Launch of Landmark College Works, a comprehensive student employment program including experiential work opportunities and on-campus internships.
  • The Rise Up Center holds its first meeting.
2017
2018
  • John Elder Robison presents talk: "Different ≠ Disorder: The Case for Embracing Neurodiversity" as part of his role as visiting lecturer and advisor to the Center for Neurodiversity.
  • College graduates its first three B.S. in Computer Science students.
  • B.A. in Psychology program and an online post-baccalaureate certificate program approved by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE; formerly NEASC: New England Association of Schools and Colleges).
  • Therapy Dog Program expands from its 2011 origins with Mr. Wells to a larger group with weekly events.
2019
  • B.A. in Communication and Entrepreneurial Leadership (BA-COMEL) program approved by NECHE in the spring and begins in the fall.
  • "Transition at College" program begins as a post-graduation/gap year track launched for high school graduates.
  • First graduate-level certificate in LD and Neurodiversity awarded.
  • LC Voices established as a student-run website, TV station (Voices TV), radio station (WLMC), literary arts, and journalism.
  • Landmark College is ranked #1 for both "Best Undergraduate Teaching" and "Most Innovative College" for the North region in U.S. News & World Report's 2020 college rankings for the first time.
2020
  • The COVID-19 pandemic: students complete the spring semester online after the March break, and the first online commencement in College history is held.
  • First degrees awarded for the B.A. in Psychology and B.A. in Communication and Entrepreneurial Leadership (BA-COMEL).
  • Despite the pandemic, in-person classes safely resume in the summer and fall.
  • TV studio established.
  • $1 million grant awarded by the Johnson Scholarship Foundation to support continued expansion of online programs.
2021
2022
  • College START, an online program for students transitioning or returning to college, introduced Spring 2022.
  • Online associate of arts degrees in general studies and business introduced Fall 2022.
  • Founding trustee Charles Strauch donates $3 million, the largest single donation in the College’s history, towards the College’s Imagine Campaign.
  • Post-Graduate Assistantship Program begins, offering recent graduates a part-time on-campus position for up to one year.
2023
2024
2025