College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
24/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 24/07/2024 22:10
Leaders reflect on global impact of Batten gift
Leaders reflect on global impact of Batten gift
University and community leaders react to the $100 million gift to establish William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences.
By Staff
Published July 24, 2024
University and community leaders react to the announcement of a $100 million gift to establish William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences. They are listed below in alphabetical order by last name. - Ed.
Provost Peggy Agouris
"This historic gift is truly transformational in advancing W&M's Vision 2026 strategic plan and consistent with its pillars. The entire university will benefit from Jane Batten's generosity as William & Mary and VIMS continue to confront global challenges in coastal and marine systems. Already faculty and students here conduct some of the most important and exciting research in the world, affecting the futures of millions of people. With this wonderful gift, the possibilities are endless for new interdisciplinary collaborations. These collaborations promise to fuel novel solutions and allow William & Mary and the Batten School to continue recruiting the brightest minds to teach and learn here."
Chancellor Robert M. Gates '65, L.H.D. '98
"This is such wonderful news. Faculty, staff and students at William & Mary and its Virginia Institute of Marine Science have long been at the forefront of research around building resilient marine and coastal systems.
This visionary gift from Jane Batten will bolster this important work at such a critical time. In the face of such alarming impacts to our oceans and coastlines, W&M's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences will be a beacon of hope, leveraging the university's scientific expertise to identify real-world solutions."
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine LL.D. '06
"I'm thrilled for William & Mary and its Virginia Institute of Marine Science - that helped me save oysters and blue crabs when I was Governor - to have the opportunity to expand the reach of the School of Marine Science by establishing the new Batten School of Coastal and Marine Sciences. Hampton Roads is the second most vulnerable region in the country to the effects of sea level rise, so I couldn't think of a better place to establish this new school. I'm looking forward to helping this school be an innovator and problem solver to address issues of climate change and sea level rise and strengthen our efforts to improve coastal resiliency and biodiversity."
Siddhartha Mitra, associate dean for academic affairs at the School of Marine Science
"With the support of this gift, William & Mary and VIMS will expand our leading-edge degree programs and educational opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. The Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences will only further cement our position as the world's leading institution for research and education in coastal and marine sciences, offering state-of-the-art and impactful solutions for complex coastal issues."
Rector Charles E. Poston J.D. '74, P '02, '06
"As the Alma Mater of the Nation, William & Mary is rightly recognized for its place in history. Yet its current influence on matters of vital importance cannot be overstated.
We are so grateful for Jane Batten's extraordinary gift. It will advance the university's research and scholarship in marine sciences to unprecedented levels. William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science will lead in finding real-world solutions on issues affecting more than 3.2 billion people.
Today marks another historic moment in the life of this great university."
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner LL.D. '02
"The Virginia Institute of Marine Science at William & Mary is one of the nation's premier programs, training students to become leaders in academia, industry and government. As one of the largest marine science centers in the nation, VIMS already maintains state-of-the-art facilities focused on improving coastal resiliency and gaining a better understanding of marine systems. With this generous gift from Jane Batten, the largest in the university's history, the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences will continue to support and foster work already underway at William & Mary and VIMS, work that will help us avoid the devastating impacts that global change can have on our environment and our economy."
U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman
"I want to thank Jane Batten for her remarkable gift to William & Mary, which will provide opportunities for future generations of students to discover the wonders of the aquatic environment and become groundbreaking researchers. It will allow William & Mary, the Batten School, and VIMS to do research that will make a difference for the Chesapeake Bay, for the Commonwealth, for our country, and for the world."
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin D.P.S. '22
"This inspirational gift from Jane Batten will allow William & Mary and its Batten School at VIMS to expand its best-in-class educational opportunities, develop new partnerships and solidify its positioning as a world-renowned marine sciences research institution. Virginia's coastlines and waterways are vital to the Commonwealth, and William & Mary and its Virginia Institute of Marine Science have been key to our understanding of those valuable resources."
Staff, University News & Media