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Virginia Wesleyan University Will Be Renamed Batten University in 2026
The announcement was made today by VWU Board Chair at The Batten Legacy celebration
University News | August 20, 2025
In recognition of the University’s significant institutional transformation, including the expansion of academic offerings, relocation of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art to its Virginia Beach campus, and planned integration of Sentara College of Health Sciences — all largely made possible by the Batten family — Virginia Wesleyan University will be renamed Batten University in 2026.
Dr. Nancy DeFord, Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, announced the name change today to an audience of over 400 guests during a celebration of The Batten Legacy at VWU. Dr. DeFord shared that the Board voted unanimously to rename the University in honor of Jane Batten and the Batten family, whose commitment to the institution began in 1978. Watch a video of Dr. DeFord's announcement.
Featured speakers also included Executive-in-Residence David Black, President Scott D. Miller, and Trustee Emerita Jane Batten. In her remarks, Mrs. Batten said, “Over the last 10 years, President Miller and the team have built a strong foundation for this university to become a better version of itself. Because of that, I am very positive and enthusiastic about the future of Batten University.”
The announcement of the name change by Dr. DeFord earned a standing ovation, as did the premieres of two videos, “The Batten Legacy” and “This Is Batten University.” The luncheon event was held in TowneBank Arena inside VWU’s Jane P. Batten Student Center.
Chartered in 1961 as a private liberal arts college, Virginia Wesleyan has evolved into a nationally recognized university—experiencing significant growth in enrollment, academic offerings, facilities, and global reach. This transformation was guided by a bold 10-year plan launched in 2015, developed with input from faculty, staff, trustees, and in close collaboration with Jane Batten’s visionary ideals.
Mrs. Batten’s deep commitment to education and environmental stewardship has profoundly shaped the institution. The university’s student center was constructed thanks to a gift from the Battens and named in Mrs. Batten’s honor in 2002. Scholarships bearing the Batten name have helped thousands of students access a Virginia Wesleyan education for decades.
Highlights of her impact over the last decade include:
- 2015: Funded the state-of-the-art Greer Environmental Sciences Center
- 2016: Established and endowed the Batten Honors College
- 2017: Catalyzed university status through support for online and graduate programs
- 2019: Inspired the development of the University’s Environmental Guiding Principles
- 2020: Enabled the University’s investment in a collaborative campus in Tokyo, Japan
- 2023: Provided one of two lead gifts to relocate the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art to VWU’s Virginia Beach campus
- 2024: Enabled the launch of the Jane P. Batten & David R. Black School for International Studies at Lakeland University, Japan.
The name change will take effect July 1, 2026, coinciding with a significant moment in the University’s continued evolution. In 2026, the institution will welcome the formal integration of the Sentara College of Health Sciences (pending accreditation approval), a professional institution founded in 1892, and celebrate the grand opening of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art on the Virginia Beach campus.
These transformational milestones align with the University’s expanding footprint, including instructional sites for a pioneering prison education program in Chesapeake, Virginia, and a collaborative campus in Tokyo, Japan.
The Batten name achieved prominence in Coastal Virginia after Mrs. Batten’s late husband, Frank Batten, became publisher of The Virginian-Pilot newspaper in 1954. He subsequently built the national media enterprise Landmark Communications, headquartered in Norfolk, and co-founded The Weather Channel, which he sold in 2008. He also served as chair of the Associated Press from 1982 to 1987.
Jane Batten embraced Virginia Wesleyan after their daughter, Mary, enrolled in 1978. In 1981 Mrs. Batten joined the Board of Trustees, and in 1995 she became the first woman to chair the Board. Her passion for the institution raised its visibility in the region and drew other respected community leaders to the Board.
“There is no other visionary philanthropist like Jane Batten,” President Miller said. “Her progressive thinking and innovative vision for this University have made it what it is today.”
Mrs. Batten’s philanthropic interests expand the breadth of education, beginning with early childhood education and extending well beyond the Virginia Wesleyan campus. The family co-founded Access College Foundation and has supported numerous endeavors at Hollins University, the University of Virginia, the College of William & Mary, Harvard University, and many more.
“By embracing a name that symbolizes strength, stability, and resilience,” Dr. DeFord said, “we are proud to honor Jane Batten’s transformational contributions and set a course for a strong, new chapter in our University’s history. We are not the same institution we were 10 years ago—or even last year.
“The name Batten,” she added, “is a testament to the love, care, philanthropy, and ideas that the family has contributed to Virginia Wesleyan. Over time, we can all take a great deal of pride in carrying that name forward.”
Learn more about Virginia Wesleyan University becoming Batten University on July 1, 2026.
Read President Miller’s 2025 State of the University year-in-review to celebrate the initiatives and accomplishments of the 2024-25 academic year.