The William & Mary Alumni Association will honor visionary philanthropist and honorary William & Mary alumna Jane Batten HON ’17, L.H.D. ’19 as this year’s Homecoming & Reunion Weekend grand marshal. She will lead the Homecoming Parade on Richmond Road on Friday, Oct. 17, at 4 p.m.

Batten’s $100 million gift launched the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences, the largest in W&M’s history and the largest ever for a school of coastal and marine sciences. Her gift establishes W&M’s Batten School & VIMS as the global leader for coastal resilience — delivering solutions to the effects of global change impacting billions of people living on coastlines and beyond, as well as industries, economies and national security. 

She and her late husband, Frank Batten L.H.D. ’96, who served on William & Mary’s Board of Visitors in the 1990s, along with their children Dorothy Batten and Frank Batten Jr., are renowned for their exceptional generosity in the areas of environmental conservation, education and research, among others. The Batten family has provided impactful support to William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business that includes establishing a scholarship and creating the Center for Online Learning.

“Jane Batten’s commitment to William & Mary is inspiring and we are proud she is part of our alumni family,” said Matthew L. “Matt” Brandon ’92, associate vice president for alumni engagement and the CEO of the W&M Alumni Association. “Even before her transformational gift for coastal and marine sciences, Jane Batten’s generosity was preparing our students to make a difference in the world as alumni.”

Her selection as grand marshal by the W&M Alumni Association Board of Directors comes as William & Mary celebrates the Year of the Environment, which focuses on the university’s commitment to safeguarding the environment and the communities that depend on its health and resilience.

Continuing that theme, this year’s Presidential Conversation will feature alumni working in conservation and sustainability around the globe — from wildfire resilience and ecosystem restoration to renewable energy and biodiversity data science. This interactive dialogue hosted by President Katherine A. Rowe will highlight how the W&M community is helping to meet the world’s most pressing issues and preparing the next generation to do the same. This event is free and open to the public, with seating priority given to those who preregister.

Other signature events during the weekend include the Friday Night Foodie Fest, which offers tastings from some of the best local chefs, bakers, brewers, vintners and more; the Saturday Night Bash, a lively celebration under the main tent in the Sunken Garden; and reunion receptions for classes celebrating their 5th-45th, 55th and 60th reunions. Registration is required for these events and on-site registration will be available.

On Saturday morning, the Author Breakfast, sponsored by W&M Libraries, will feature Korena Di Roma Howley, author of the picture book “Sarang Saves the School,” a Junior Library Guild Selection, and Lamar Giles, the author of “Star Wars: Sanctuary” and “Ruin Road,” among other books. On Saturday afternoon, the Homecoming Tailgate & Family Carnival will feature music from alumni bands, food trucks, carnival games, special snacks, a face painter, balloon artist, lawn games and more. These family-friendly events are free, and registration is encouraged but not required.

See the full schedule and register to attend at homecoming.wm.edu. Online registration closes on Oct. 10.