Over the last 10 years since 2015, alumnae and friends have contributed generously to Sweet Briar. This generosity has fueled many improvements, innovations, and accomplishments intended to enhance the student experience at the College. This slideshow highlights and gratefully acknowledges the sacrificial giving of our supporters and reflects the tremendous accomplishments and dedication of many to bring these innovations to fruition.
Elston Inn Refresh: In 2016, the Elston Inn and Wailes Conference Center debuted refreshed rooms and event spaces.
Tennis Courts: Alumnae and friends rallied in 2016 and 2017 to fund the much-needed rebuild and resurfacing of the tennis courts. Much was accomplished to reconfigure and rebuild the courts to meet NCAA and Intercollegiate Tennis Association standards. The Vixens have been achieving new heights and breaking records ever since. Also, the courts were resurfaced again in 2023 thanks to the generosity of alumnae and friends.
Tuition Reset and Women’s Leadership Core Curriculum: In 2017, Sweet Briar reset its core curriculum and tuition for excellence, relevance and affordability. Pictured here is a student hard-at-work during Core 110: Design Thinking.
Sweet Briar House Renovation: In 2017, Sweet Briar College partnered with architecture, interior design, preservation, and planning firm, Glave and Holmes, to undergo a rehabilitation of the public spaces of Sweet Briar House.
Most Innovative College: In 2018, Sweet Briar College was named one of the nation’s Most Innovative Schools, according to the 2019 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. Nominated by higher education leaders around the country, Sweet Briar ranked higher than any other college or university — national, liberal arts or regional — in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Apiary: In 2018, the College established the Brown Family Apiary—a 20-hive apiary as a part of our agricultural enterprises. Our bookshop sells jars of Sweet Briar College Farm honey and skin care products made with the harvested honey.
Vineyard & Wine Production: In 2018, nearly 18 acres of vineyards were planted as a part of the College’s agricultural enterprises. Our vineyards now produce Sweet Briar College Farm Wine that is sold in the College’s Wine Shop.
Vineyard & Wine Production: The College’s vineyard tracts include the Merlot Tract named in honor of Cornelia Long Matson ’58.
Vineyard & Wine Production: The Chardonnay Tract of Sweet Briar’s vineyards are named in memory of Langhorne “Lanny” Tuller Webster ’58. Pictured here are Lanny’s family and her 1958 classmates after the ribbon cutting of the tract.
Wildflower Meadow: In 2018, with support from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the College’s 20-acre wildflower meadow was planted as a pollinator habitat.
Greenhouse: As a part of the College’s agriculture enterprises, our 26,000 square foot greenhouse was completed in 2020 and utilizes both hydroponic and soil-based growing space.
Presidential Scholars Expansion: In 2019, the College announced a $5 million dollar gift to expand its Presidential Scholars program. Pictured here is then president Meredith Woo, speaking to a group of accepted students at a Presidential Scholars weekend.
Stable Renovation: The College renovated the stables at the Harriet Howell Rogers Riding Center in 2020 thanks to a gift from Richard C. Colton, Jr. The stables were renamed the Howell Lykes Colton ’38 Stables in memory of his mother.
Bailey Room Renovation: In 2020, the College renovated the Bailey Room at the Harriet Howell Rogers Riding Center.
Randolph Parlor: In 2021, Randolph Parlor was refreshed thanks to a generous donor.
Creation of Kelsey Health Center: In 2020, Sweet Briar relocated its health center from the Harley building to a newly renovated space in the lower level of the Mills Chapel. This space was named for Rev. Keenan Colton Kelsey ’66 in honor of her generosity.
Creation of Kelsey Health Center: In 2020, Sweet Briar relocated its health center from the Harley building to a newly renovated space in the lower level of the Mills Chapel. This space was named for Rev. Keenan Colton Kelsey ’66 in honor of her generosity.
Most Innovative College: Sweet Briar College was once again named as one of the nation’s Most Innovative Schools, according to the 2021 Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Sweet Briar tied for 24th place with Bryn Mawr, Middlebury and two other institutions in the National Liberal Arts College category.
Mills Chapel: In September 2021, Sweet Briar College’s chapel was renamed to recognize the generosity of Norma Patteson Mills ’60 and her husband, Olan Mills. The chapel is now known as Mills Chapel.
Outing Cabin: In 2021, the outing cabin underwent a rehabilitation to remain a much-loved rustic retreat in the woods.
Boathouse: Upgrades made to the Boathouse in 2021 included new windows and a new roof.
Willits Summer Food Systems Fellows: Since its inaugural year in 2021 and because of the generosity of Laura Willits Evans ’79, the Willits Summer Food Systems Fellows program has given students the opportunity to combine hands-on experience in campus agricultural operations with opportunities to pursue diverse endeavors related to agriculture, natural resources management, and food systems, including research, community engagement, advocacy, and communications.
Willits Summer Food Systems Fellows: Since its inaugural year in 2021 and because of the generosity of Laura Willits Evans ’79, the Willits Summer Food Systems Fellows program has given students the opportunity to combine hands-on experience. Here students work on bottling line for the College’s 2023 Meadow Merlot.
Bird Observation Deck: Members of the Class of 1976 donated funds for the creation of a bird observation deck in memory of their classmate Martha “Ookie” Hays Cooper.
Most Innovative College: For the third time since 2019, Sweet Briar has been ranked as one of their Most Innovative Liberal Arts Colleges in the nation —this time at #29.
Athletic Fields: In 2022, the College broke ground and completed the installation of both the Thayer Turf Field and the Meyer Soccer and Lacrosse Field - named for Mildred "Bee" Newman Thayer ’61 and Margot Saur Meyer ’60, respectively (Credit: Andrew Shurtleff Photography, LLC)
Kelley and C.T. Fitzpatrick Center for Creativity, Design, and the Arts: In May 2022, Sweet Briar College dedicated its Center for Creativity, Design and the Arts in honor of Kelley ’85 and C.T. Fitzpatrick.
Guion: In October 2022, Sweet Briar announced that a lead gift had been made to renovate Guion—the College’s science and engineering building.
1972 Student Commons Courtyard: The area formerly known as the “Lower Quad” was renamed for the Class of 1972 after the class raised over $10 million to fund the renovation in honor of their 50th Reunion. (Credit: LuAnn Hunt Photography)
1972 Student Commons Courtyard: The area formerly known as the “Lower Quad” was renamed for the Class of 1972 after the class raised over $10 million to fund the renovation in honor of their 50th Reunion. In 2024, the quad received its final touches with the addition of new teak furniture.
Student Spaces: The Class of 1972 raised funds for the renovation of all the dorm kitchen and lounge spaces in honor of their 50th Reunion. Pictured here is one of the updated lounge spaces in Grammer.
Student Spaces: The Class of 1972 raised funds for the renovation of all the dorm kitchen and lounge spaces in honor of their 50th Reunion. Pictured here is one of the updated lounge spaces in Carson.
Student Spaces: The Class of 1972 raised funds for the renovation of all the dorm kitchen and lounge spaces in honor of their 50th Reunion. Pictured here is one of the updated lounge spaces in Dew.
Student Spaces: The Class of 1972 raised funds for the renovation of all the dorm kitchen and lounge spaces in honor of their 50th Reunion. Pictured here is the updated kitchen in Manson.
Student Spaces: The Class of 1972 raised funds for the renovation of all the dorm kitchen and lounge spaces in honor of their 50th Reunion. Pictured here is one of the updated lounge spaces in Meta Glass.
Student Spaces: Reid Pit also received a renovation of its own as a part of the Class of 1972 Reunion class gift in 2022.
Student Spaces: As a part of their 50th Reunion gift, the Class of 1972 raised funds to support the renovations of the student spaces on campus—including Daisy’s Cafe.
Reid Parlor: In 2022, the College received a gift specifically for the award winning renovation of Reid Parlor.
Student Spaces: The Class of 1972 raised funds for the renovation of all the dorm kitchen and lounge spaces in honor of their 50th Reunion. Pictured here is the updated lounge space in Randolph.
Wayfinding: In 2023, the College underwent updating campus signage as a part of its wayfinding endeavors.
Gray Hall: The College announced that Reverend Keenan Colton Kelsey ’66 pledged a gift of $5 million to support the rehabilitation of Gray Hall in November 2023.
Pool Renovations: Thanks to the generous support of the Perkins-Prothro Foundation and other donors, the Prothro Natatorium in the Fitness & Athletics Center underwent renovations during the summer of 2024, including replacing the metal halide lights with LED fixtures, replacing the ceiling and metal grid supporting the new lights, and updating existing electrical panels.