Franklin College is set to enhance its campus with a $15 million donation from 100-year-old Virginia Staff Shannon, a 1945 graduate. The funds will construct a new two-story building, named the Charles B. Staff Center in honor of her late father, Charles B. Staff, an attorney and judge. This facility will feature a mock courtroom for pre-law students and an investment trading lab for business majors.
Shannon’s contribution aims to commemorate her father’s legacy of intellect and generosity, as he was known for helping others in need. The college will also launch the Charles B. Staff School of Business and rename its pre-law studies program in his honor.
Positioned at the intersection of Branigin Boulevard and Monroe Street, the Staff Center will provide classrooms, offices, collaborative spaces, a small auditorium, and a patio. This donation marks the largest in Franklin College’s 200-year history and is part of the “Franklin Forward” fundraising campaign, which aims to bolster the college’s endowment.
Franklin College has experienced record enrollment numbers in recent years and continues to invest in its campus, having recently expanded facilities like the Center for Tech Innovation and the Johnson Memorial Health Athletic Annex.
