$100M gift to establish William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences

William & Mary to Lead in Coastal and Marine Science Innovation with Historic Gift

The accelerating pace of global change presents severe challenges to marine systems and the billions of people living near coastlines. Coastal communities worldwide face existential threats such as rising sea levels, increased storm intensity and flooding, loss of agricultural land, and impaired water quality. At this pivotal moment, William & Mary is poised to lead the way forward with a transformational $100 million gift from philanthropist Jane Batten HON ’17, L.H.D. ’19.

This historic gift, the largest ever given to a university in support of coastal and marine science education, research, and solutions, will establish the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences. It positions William & Mary and its Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) as the premier destination for developing solutions to these critical threats. This is the largest gift in the university’s 331-year history.

Global Impact and Vision

Jane Batten’s generous gift is a call to the global community to support the school’s groundbreaking research and innovation. President Katherine Rowe emphasized, “William & Mary has long been at the vanguard of research tackling urgent local, national, and international challenges. By investing in bold ideas and new partnerships, the Batten School will power ‘science for solutions’ for Virginia and the world.”

Rapid global change, encompassing more than just climate change, is deteriorating the stability of coastal communities and marine systems, affecting approximately 3.2 billion people worldwide, including 128 million in the U.S. and nearly five million in Virginia alone.

A Call to Action

Batten views her gift as a catalyst for further progress and has set a goal of raising at least another $100 million from state, federal, and private sources. She calls on philanthropists, government leaders, alumni, and friends to join her in this effort, believing in the university’s leadership and vision.

A Premier Research Institution

Located on the York River in Gloucester Point, Virginia, the Batten School will be an ideal setting for coastal and marine research, surrounded by wetlands, marshes, and coastal waters. Dean of the Batten School and Director of VIMS, Derek Aday, highlighted the school’s advantages: “With this unprecedented gift, we will advance critical research, inform policy, and train the next generation of scientists and leaders to navigate the complexities of global change.”

Key Focus Areas

The Batten School will focus on:

• Attracting Great Minds: Establishing a clear identity as the premier global institution for coastal and marine sciences to attract top students and scientists.
• A Global Destination: Transforming the Gloucester Point campus with new infrastructure to build community, serve the public, and present emerging solutions.
• Coordination & Partnerships: Acting as Virginia’s hub and a global leader in coastal and marine sciences, providing responsive policy, innovative teaching, and broad engagement with public and private partners.
• Leading-Edge Degree Programs: Launching a new bachelor’s degree program, expanding graduate opportunities, and offering alternative credentials across William & Mary’s academic schools and research institutes.
• Interdisciplinary Reach: Recruiting outstanding interdisciplinary scientists to address urgent coastal and marine challenges.

These initiatives build on William & Mary’s Vision 2026 water initiative, elevating the university’s commitment to innovative solutions that ensure the resilience of the world’s oceans, coasts, and waterways.