The University of New Orleans’ Center Austria celebrated the legacy of longtime international education advocates Rosemary B. and Brunswick G. Deutsch by naming a room in the International Center in their honor. At a Jan. 11 ceremony, the Rosemary B. and Brunswick G. Deutsch Seminar Room was dedicated.

Since 2017, the Rosemary B. and Brunswick G. Deutsch Foundation, under the direction of David McMahon, has generously provided funding for travel grants to enhance student exchanges between the University of Innsbruck and the University of New Orleans. With the foundation’s support, students from UNO’s Center Austria and Innsbruck have experienced cultural immersion, increased global awareness and the development of cross-cultural communication skills through international travel.

“Scholarships for travel are more than just financial assistance; they are opportunities for students to broaden their horizons, gain a deeper understanding of global perspectives and develop the skills necessary to thrive in an interconnected world,” said UNO President Kathy Johnson. “The Deutsch Foundation's commitment to providing these scholarships reflects a profound understanding of the transformative power of international experiences and their role in shaping tomorrow's leaders.”

Brunswick Goldberg Deutsch (1915-2002) was a lifelong resident of New Orleans and a partner emeritus of Deutsch, Kerrigan, and Stiles (now Deutsch Kerrigan LLP). He was a maritime lawyer and was appointed the Austrian Honorary Consul General for Louisiana and Mississippi in 1977. Brunswick’s connection to Austria was through his father, Col. Eberhard P. Deutsch, who served as Gen. Mark Clark’s legal advisor following World War II when Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union and the United States occupied Austria.

Rosemary “Rosa” Barcelo Deutsch (1917-2020), loved the arts and performed onstage in California and Louisiana, most notably at the Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre in New Orleans. Throughout their 49-year marriage, the Deutsches traveled extensively throughout Europe—igniting a desire to encourage young people to experience diverse cultures and perspectives through travel.

The Rosemary B. and Brunswick G. Deutsch Foundation has also helped strengthen the sister-city relationship between New Orleans and Innsbruck, Austria, the home of the University of Innsbruck. As Austrian Honorary Consul, Brunswick Deutsch played a key role in supporting local Austrian activities in New Orleans. Chief among those activities was the UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School, which began during Deutsch’s tenure as honorary consul. Philip D. Lorio III, former Austrian Honorary Consul, and Jean Paul Lagarde, current Austrian Honorary Consul of New Orleans, have worked to continue this legacy and support local and international students.

In addition to travel opportunities to Innsbruck, UNO students will also travel to Mexico and Japan in Summer 2024. Since 1973, almost 17,000 students, including guest students from 75 U.S. universities, have studied abroad with the University of New Orleans.