Randolph-Macon dedicates new Duke Hall

Community Report

Randolph-Macon College recently celebrated the official dedication of Duke Hall, a new building on the north end of campus that serves as a home for RMC’s successful athletic program and its new Physician Assistant (PA) Studies graduate program.

Students, coaches, faculty, town leaders, and the many donors who helped make the project possible gathered to celebrate the space. RandolphMacon President Robert R. Lindgren, Board of Trustees Chair Sue Schick, and others cut the ceremonial ribbon after a brief ceremony, followed by a reception and guided tours of the three-story building.

“Duke Hall is just so quintessentially Randolph-Macon. It is multi-dimensional and multi-faceted, just like a Randolph-Macon education,” Randolph-Macon President Robert L. Lindgren told the assembled crowd. “For each of our students have their own journey—one culminating in their own unique educational experience, while preparing them to be productive citizens and fulfilled individuals.”

The 45,000-square-foot building, adjacent to Day Field, features a dedicated floor for Randolph-Macon’s new Physician Assistant (PA) Studies graduate program, which began in January 2023. The program’s distinctive two-year curriculum, with a focus on health equity, educates PAs for an in-demand role in the healthcare profession. PA Studies is the College’s first graduate program in the modern era. Applications are now open for a second cohort, which will enroll in January 2024.

Central areas of Duke Hall also include three new classrooms for general academic use.

The building is also home ribbon, pictured from left to right, director of athletics Jeff Burns, earl Johnson (chair of building and grounds committee, board of trustees), Woody staub (chair of advancement committee, board of trustees), chair of the Randolph-Macon Board of Trustees sue schick, president Robert R. Lindgren, provost alisa J. Rosenthal, erich Grant, director of Physician assistant studies, vice president of administration and finance Paul davies.

About Randolph-Macon College

„ Randolph-Macon College is a private, coeducational liberal arts and sciences college with a 125-acre campus located in a shland, Virginia.

„ a bout 1,400 undergraduate students across 55 + areas of study

„ The college boasts 18 intercollegiate sports to new locker rooms for four women’s sports and two men’s teams, featuring a total of 327 lockers. The building also includes a second training room, athletic meeting spaces and of- great leadership and vision combine with incredible generosity.”

Duke Hall is named for Harold Duke, a lifelong Ashland resident and owner of Duke’s Market. Duke, who died in 2017 at the age of 86, was a loyal and enthusiastic Yellow Jacket fan who left the majority of his estate to Randolph-Macon College.

Duke Hall was built by English Construction Company and designed by CPL Architecture.

The majority of the $19.2 million cost was raised through the generosity of alumni and friends of the College. Lead donors include the Brock Venture Fund created by the late Macon F. Brock, Jr. ’64 and his wife, Joan; the Estate of Thomas H. Birdsong III ’49 and the Birdsong Corporation, John P. Frazee, Jr. ’66 and family, Ann Allen in memory of Everette G. “Buddy” Allen, Jr. ’62, the late Stuart Laughon, widow of Frank E. “Pepper” Laughon, Jr. ’59; the Estate of Frank H. Robinson, Jr. ‘54; Woody ’84 and Emby ‘86 Staub, and Jeff and Michelle Neville. Gifts honoring Coach Ted Keller and the 1984 Football Team funded the football locker room and the event space, respectively.

About Randolph-Macon College

( d ivision III) and membership in the Old d ominion athletic C onference

„ Randolph-Macon College is listed among U. s n ews & World Report’s 150 best national liberal arts colleges.

„ Founded in 1830 by the Methodist Church fices, a new press box, and an event space for small gatherings.

“This is a community that is very passionate and proud of their school, our studentathlete successes, and creat - ing first-class experiences for our players, coaches, and fans,” Director of Athletics Jeff Burns said. “Duke Hall is a testament to that passion and a shining example of what can be done when

„ Randolph-Macon College is a private, coeducational liberal arts and sciences college with a 125-acre campus located in Ashland, Virginia.

„ About 1,400 undergraduate students across 55+ areas of study

„ The college boasts 18 intercollegiate sports (Division III) and membership in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference

„ Randolph-Macon College is listed among U.S. News & World Report’s 150 best national liberal arts colleges.

„ Founded in 1830 by the Methodist Church