A $10.5 million endowment from the Dimond family is set to transform the educational landscape at the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration. This generous contribution, part of Cornell University’s ‘To Do the Greatest Good’ campaign, will fund scholarships for undergraduate students, reinforcing the school’s commitment to affordability and accessibility.
The Dimond family’s gift triggered an additional $2.5 million through Cornell’s affordability challenge match program, amplifying its impact. In recognition of their support, the Nolan deanship will now bear the title ‘Dimond Family Dean of the Nolan Hotel School’.
Supporting future hospitality leaders
The endowment is dedicated to providing financial assistance to high-achieving students with demonstrated need, with a particular emphasis on first-generation college students. Recipients will be designated as Hospitality Scholars, reflecting the family’s belief in the power of education to shape lives and open doors to opportunity.
For the Dimonds, this gift extends beyond philanthropy—it is a deeply personal mission. Ashley ’14 and Sonja ’19, both alumni of the Nolan School, along with their parents, Rita and Navin Dimond, view education as the foundation of success. Their collective experience at Cornell was not just about academics but about hands-on learning and immersing themselves in an industry that thrives on connectivity and community. Through this endowment, they hope to offer that same experience to students who may not otherwise have the means to attend.
Sonja, Rita, Navin and Ashley Dimond
A legacy of giving
The Dimond family’s commitment to education is rooted in their own experiences. Navin was the first in his family to attend college, having grown up in the United Kingdom as the child of Indian immigrants. He and Rita later settled in Colorado, where they built Stonebridge Companies, a hospitality that operates a diverse portfolio of over 160 hotel properties in the United States and more than 24,000 rooms. Their journey has been defined by hard work, perseverance, and a dedication to giving back.
The family’s philanthropic philosophy took shape early, as Navin and Rita instilled in their daughters the importance of generosity. From a young age, Ashley and Sonja received a monthly allowance earmarked for charity, learning to research causes, make donations, and track their giving in a handwritten spreadsheet. This practice of mindful philanthropy laid the foundation for their continued efforts to create opportunities for others.
For Navin, providing access to education is a way to pay forward the opportunities he himself received. Having experienced firsthand how education can change a person’s trajectory, he believes that every individual has the potential to succeed—if given the chance. Through their scholarship fund and broader philanthropic work, the Dimond family seeks to empower students and uplift entire families, ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of future hospitality leaders.
The Dimond Family Dean of the Nolan Hotel School, the newly named position signifies not only the family’s contributions but also their enduring legacy of fostering talent in the hospitality industry. With this endowment, they hope to inspire a new generation of students to pursue their passions, excel in their careers, and ultimately, continue the cycle of giving.
