Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, has announced a $30 million gift from alumni Thomas A. Russo (’77) and Gina T. Russo (’77) for student housing.

The largest gift for undergraduate housing in the college’s history will support construction of an apartment-style residence hall for juniors and seniors. In recognition of the gift, the hall will be named after the donors. When it opens in fall 2026, Russo Hall will be able to house up to 285 juniors and seniors.

The award will also serve as the lead gift in a $165 million fundraising campaign that will raise private gifts to help fund the construction of Dartmouth’s first new undergraduate residences in more than 20 years. The campaign is part of the college’s overall $500 million investment in undergraduate housing.

“It is crucial that we create more high-quality, energy efficient housing on and around campus in order to attract the best talent to Dartmouth at every level—student, faculty, and staff—and to help alleviate the shortage in our region,” said Dartmouth president Sian Leah Beilock. “At a time when our society is facing both a climate crisis and what the surgeon general calls an epidemic of loneliness, we are designing housing that will help foster wellness, social connection, and belonging while reducing our carbon footprint.”

(Photo credit: Dartmouth College/Kata Sasvari)