Dinah Deshler ’64 Gift To Revitalize Maxey Hall Auditorium
Work will begin this summer on a renovated, fully accessible auditorium
The renovation of the auditorium in Maxey Hall will begin this summer, with the renamed Deshler Auditorium slated to open in spring 2026.
A comprehensive renovation of the auditorium of Maxey Hall is underway thanks to a $3 million gift from Dinah Sharp Deshler ’64. Upon completion of the project in spring 2026, the highly used auditorium will become a fully accessible space modernized with new seating, lighting, acoustics and audiovisual technologies.
“We are excited to begin revitalizing this essential auditorium for students, faculty and staff,” says President Sarah Bolton. “We can’t thank Dinah Deshler enough for making this possible.”
The new venue and home to lectures, performances and film screenings will be named Deshler Auditorium upon reopening in spring 2026.
Dinah Deshler ’64 and the late William “Bill” Karl Deshler ’64 have been longtime volunteer leaders and advocates for Whitman College. Bill served as a Trustee from 1996–2008 and as a member of the Board of Overseers (now the President’s Advisory Board) from 1992–1996. Both Dinah and Bill served as Class Representatives and Reunion Chairs.
“Whitman has been a very special place to Bill and me,” Dinah says. “Our four years at Whitman affected the course of our lives. It was, and still is, a place where young adults from towns large and small were introduced to the liberal arts. That curriculum encouraged curiosity and awareness of the importance of learning. We made lifelong friends and found each other. I am pleased to make this gift to renew an important, visible venue for Whitman students.”
The renovated Deshler Auditorium will include new seating, lighting, acoustics and audiovisual technologies.
Dinah’s first gift to Whitman was $54 in 1965. She and Bill later established the William K. and Diana R. Deshler Endowed Chair of Mathematics, the Deshler Family Scholarship Endowment, and the Bill Deshler Scholarship Endowment.
According to Vice President for Finance and Administration Jeff Hamrick, the work to renovate the auditorium will involve regrading the floor, adding five wheelchair locations throughout the auditorium, and improving ingress and egress throughout the space.
“This gift really advances two of the college’s key strategic priorities,” says Hamrick. “It is not only a commitment to expanding inclusivity and accessibility, but also to enhancing campus vibrancy. The new space will be fresh, modern and inspiring.”
Hamrick adds that the college hopes the Deshler gift inspires future work to modernize and render more accessible other spaces, such as Olin Auditorium and Cordiner Hall.
Aiming High & Finishing Strong
The Deshler gift was among those that put the Upward Together campaign over its $200 million goal in recent weeks. As the campaign enters its final year with great momentum, the college is exploring new opportunities to invest in the academic program, exceptional immersive learning, and student thriving and belonging. The college is also launching a focused initiative to secure support for international students wishing to remain on campus this summer amid ongoing immigration and travel restriction concerns.
To learn how you can support any of these exciting initiatives, request a conversation with a Development Officer at 509-527-5165 or development@whitman.edu.