Whitman Names Robart Hall Following Leadership Gift to Student Village

Whitman College has received a leadership gift in support of naming Robart Hall in honor of alumnus James Robart ’69 in its envisioned junior-senior residential village.

The announcement was made at a Nov. 8, 2023, event at T-Mobile Park in Seattle celebrating the launch of the college’s Upward Together campaign.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I’m thrilled to announce the naming of Robart Hall in honor of Emeritus Trustee, former Board Chair, and my friend, Jim Robart,” said Upward Together Campaign Chair and Whitman Trustee Nancy Serrurier (Parent ’11).

A Life of Service and Leadership

Judge James Robart is a senior United States district judge for western Washington. Robart earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics at Whitman before going on to earn his law degree at Georgetown University. 

Robart served on the college’s Board of Overseers from 1988–1999 and the Board of Trustees from 1999–2012, including a term as chair. He was a member of at least eleven different committees and task forces, including as chair of both the nominations and trusteeship and diversity committees.

Robart has been a close advisor to Whitman presidents, including Tom Cronin, George Bridges, Kathy Murray and now Sarah Bolton.

President Bolton said, “Jim Robart has done so much for Whitman, not only through his leadership and board service but also as an advisor to pre-law students through the years. Those fortunate young people are among many at Whitman who are inspired by his life of service and leadership. I am thrilled that current and future generations of Whitties will see his name on the place they call home.”

Robart Hall to Contribute to Whitman’s Vibrant Campus Community

Check out an animated rendering of the junior-senior village.

A key priority of the Upward Together campaign is the historic investment in residential life, community-building, wellness and athletics to ensure that students connect and flourish.

Robart Hall will provide apartment-style residences in the envisioned junior-senior village to be located along Boyer Avenue and Marcus Street—on the west edge of campus near downtown Walla Walla. (Architectural rendering above.)

Robart Hall follows the announcement of gifts to name Harvey Hall in May 2023—to honor longtime Chief Financial Officer Peter Harvey—as the second of three village buildings to be named.

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Coming Together & Celebrating at T-Mobile Park

The Robart Hall announcement was among the highlights of a Nov. 8 event at T-Mobile Park in Seattle celebrating the launch of Upward Together: The Campaign for Whitman College.

Nearly 200 alumni and families crowded the stadium’s First Base Terrace Club for the event culminating in a conversation President Bolton moderated with Mariners Chairman John Stanton ’77 and serial entrepreneur Jonathan Sposato ’89 (pictured above). The discussion—much like those at Upward Together events in the past month on the Whitman campus and in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Denver—centered on the success and impact Whitman graduates have in communities and throughout the world.

Upward Together has a goal of $200 million and is the most ambitious campaign in Whitman College history. Campaign Vice Chair Aaron Perrine ’99 announced at the Seattle gathering that $146 million had already been raised to date.

Additional campaign events are planned in New York City on Jan. 10, 2024 and in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 11.

More Photos From Our Seattle Celebration

Thank you to all the alumni, families and friends who came out help us move our campaign vision forward for current and future generations of talented students. We'll get there—upward, together.