In 2007, media magnate and philanthropist Frank Batten Sr. (Col ’50) secured his place in University history when he made a $100 million gift to support the creation of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Now, the Batten family is working to ensure that the school remains a top destination for aspiring leaders.

In the spring of 2018, Jane Batten, wife of the late Batten Sr., made a $10 million gift in support of graduate fellowships at the school. Her gift qualified for a match through the University’s Bicentennial Scholars Fund, resulting in a $20 million endowment to benefit students in Batten’s master of public policy program.

Mrs. Batten’s gift marks the largest to the school since the family’s founding endowment in 2007.

The Batten School was the first school established at the University in more than 50 years, with the last having been the Darden School of Business in 1955. 

Frank Batten began as an errand boy and rose to publisher of the Virginian-Pilot.