On Jul. 24, 2024, William & Mary announced a transformational $100 million gift from philanthropist Jane Batten HON ’17, L.H.D. ’19 will catalyze the newly named Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences. Batten’s visionary gift will position W&M and its Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) as the premier destination for developing solutions to these threats — building on the university’s strong scientific reputation and unmatched expertise in coastal resilience.

This is the biggest and boldest gift ever given to a university for a school dedicated to coastal and marine sciences. It is the largest gift in William & Mary’s 331-year history.

The accelerating pace of global change poses grave challenges to marine systems and to billions of people who live near coastlines. Worldwide, coastal communities face existential threats: rising sea levels, increased storm intensity and flooding, loss of agricultural land and impaired water quality. At this crucial moment, William & Mary will lead the way forward.

Rapid global change — a term that encompasses more than just climate change — is greatly deteriorating ecological, economic, and social stability in coastal communities and marine systems. It impacts approximately 3.2 billion people worldwide, including 128 million in the U.S. who live near coastlines. In Virginia alone, it affects nearly five million people who live in coastal regions.

“This gift propels us forward toward great promise and progress,” Batten said. “I am confident that it will spark significant change, building resilience in coastal communities in the Commonwealth and across the globe for generations to come.”

The university has set a goal of raising at least another $100 million from state, federal and private sources to realize fully the vision for the school.

Named for one of the most generous and impactful families in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Batten School will accelerate nearly a century of ‘science for solutions’ at VIMS. Established in 1940 and fully integrated with William & Mary in 1979, VIMS is a trusted global leader in coastal and marine research, education and public engagement.