Cornell College is holding a dedication ceremony for the newly-renamed Russell Hall on Friday, May 18, at 5:15 p.m.
The residence hall, which opened in 2007 as Clock Tower Hall, has been renamed to honor the contributions of the Russell family. In September the estate of James Russell, father of Dr. Jean Russell ’65, gave $5.6 million to Cornell, one of the largest outright gifts in the college’s history. The money will be used to help fund the renovation and expansion of the Thomas Commons and to endow a scholarship in Jean Russell’s name.
Jean Russell also gave a $2 million planned gift as part of the college’s Extraordinary Opportunities Campaign, which ended in June 2010 and raised $105.8 million. Half of that gift will endow the Jean E. Russell Chair in Molecular Biology as part of Cornell College’s Dimensions: The Center for the Science and Culture of Healthcare program. The other $1 million is unrestricted.
Russell Hall is home to 96 upperclass students who live in the 24 suites. It is on the eastern edge of the campus, near Pauley-Rorem Hall.