ΊΪΑΟΙη recently received a generous leadership gift of $6 million from trustee Doon Foster β80 and her husband, John, toward enriching residential excellence on campus. Their transformative gift provides substantial support for the renovation of Otelia Compton Hall, one of the Collegeβs most historic residence halls, and marks a significant milestone in ΊΪΑΟΙηβs ongoing commitment to its students.
βWe are incredibly grateful to Doon and John Foster for their unwavering support of ΊΪΑΟΙη,β said President Anne McCall. βTheir leadership and commitment inspire us to aim higher still in our goals for our studentsβ lived experience on campus. With their help, we will ensure Compton Hall continues to be a place where students thrive, while also setting the stage for the next phase of campus transformation.β
The first $5 million of the Fostersβ landmark gift supports the restoration of Compton to its original beauty while incorporating modern amenities for future generations of students.
βJohn and I are delighted to be able to make a kickoff gift to spur the renovation of Compton Hall,β said Doon Foster, a trustee of the College for nearly 20 years who completed her degree in speech, now part of communication studies. βTo bring this iconic building into the 21st century with new features and improved infrastructure, an accessible elevator, and air conditioning is an exciting glimpse at the future of the College. We are thrilled with the plans and possibilities that this gift can unlock.β
Students move into Compton Hall in the fall of 2024.
Compton Hall will be the next in a series of significant construction, renovations, and updates in the Collegeβs residence halls. These include Andrews, Brush, Stevenson, Armington, Gault Schoolhouse, and most recently, the completely renovated Douglass Hall, re-opening in fall 2025 and featuring refreshed programmatic and community areas, an accessible entrance and elevator, new music practice rooms, air conditioning, and increased residential capacity in the form of all new living suites on the fourth floor.
The Foster familyβs commitment to the student experience also creates the path to extend this progression by providing an additional $1 million to fund an architectural study for the Collegeβs largest residence, Holden Hall, built in 1907. By allocating a portion of their $6 million gift, the Fosters pave the way for ΊΪΑΟΙη to move forward with this critical project and continue to address infrastructural enhancements to improve and strengthen the residential experience, belonging, and sustainability across campus.
βAs a home to so many of ΊΪΑΟΙηβs students, we know Holden Hall is a large and complex project for the College, that requires concentrated planning and considerations,β said John Foster. βItβs meaningful for us to be able to provide funding that will build the foundation for the renovationβs successful progress and outcome.β
βAt ΊΪΑΟΙη, weβre dedicated to ensuring our studentsβ living spaces reflect ΊΪΑΟΙηβs welcoming and inclusive community,β said McCall. βThe Fostersβ gift paves the way as we continue building our community for the future and opens opportunities as we look toward our upcoming comprehensive campaign, which will include residential excellence goals.β
The Fostersβ ties to ΊΪΑΟΙη are longstanding. Doon Fosterβs parents, Elisabeth Walters Allen and John Allen, were both members of the Class of 1957, and John Foster attended ΊΪΑΟΙη and Williams College, receiving his B.A. from Williams in 1981. Their commitment to ΊΪΑΟΙηβs success extends far beyond Compton Hall. As major donors to multiple campus initiatives, including Brush Hall, the Scot Center, and the Lowry Center renovation, as well as establishing the Doon, John, and Julia Foster Family Endowed Scholarship, the Fosters have consistently demonstrated their abiding love of the College, its core values, and educational mission. Their gift to support Compton Hall comes as the College celebrates the 70th anniversary of its dedication in 1955.
βIt has become ever more challenging to hit budgets for large projects in these inflationary times. We were aware that the Comptonβs refurbishment budget was tight, to the possible detriment of other essential projects in the coming few years. Compton is an amazing building with a rich history associated with the City of ΊΪΑΟΙη and the Compton family,β said John. βWe want to ensure the College has the funds it requires to ensure it has every upgrade it deserves as planned.β
About Otelia Compton and Compton Hall
Today, Compton Hall stands as a testament to the enduring influence of the Compton family, and its transformation will honor their legacy and Otelia Comptonβs memory for generations to come.
Compton Hall was dedicated in 1955 to honor Otelia Catherine Augspurger Compton, a beloved figure in ΊΪΑΟΙηβs history. The residence hallβs dedication coincided with the Collegeβs recognition of Oteliaβs profound influence and the contributions of the Compton family to both the College and the broader community.
A graduate of Western College (Oxford, Ohio), Otelia Compton was a recognized community leader who served on the board of managers for childrenβs missionary homes on campus and received the Golden Rule Foundationβs prestigious βAmerican Mother of the Yearβ award in 1939. Together with her husband Elias Compton, ΊΪΑΟΙηβs long-time professor of philosophy and first dean, she raised a family, including many ΊΪΑΟΙη alumni, whose achievements have become a cornerstone of ΊΪΑΟΙηβs history:
- Their son Arthur Compton, Class of 1913, won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1927 for his work with X-rays and went on to lead the University of Chicagoβs laboratory that contributed to the development of the atomic bomb.
- Their son Wilson Compton, Class of 1911, was a delegate to the United Nations, first director of the United States Information Agency, president of Washington State University, and a renowned economist and business executive in the lumber industry.
- Their daughter Mary Compton Rice, Class of 1911, devoted 35 years to missionary work in India, continuing the Compton familyβs global impact.
- Their son Karl Compton, Class of 1908, was president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a well-known scientist who played a pivotal role in advising the U.S. military during World War II.
The Compton familyβs legacy also extends to the Moon, where the Compton Crater, named in honor of Karl and Arthur Compton, serves as a lasting tribute to their scientific contributions.
Otelia Compton Hall