13-05-2025
Georgetown University Given $25 Million Naming Gift For Nursing School
Georgetown University has announced that it has received a $25 million gift from the Berkley Family Foundation for its nursing programs. In recognition of the gift, the university will rename its School of Nursing the Berkley School of Nursing later this year.
'We are profoundly grateful to the Berkley family for their transformative investment in the future of nursing education at Georgetown,' said Interim Georgetown University President Robert Groves, in a news release.
'As National Nurses Week draws to a close, we're reminded of the pivotal role nurses play in our health care system. At Georgetown, our nursing graduates are guided by the Jesuit value of cura personalis, bringing holistic, compassionate care to hospitals and communities around the world,' Groves added.
The Berkley family's gift will be used to support several initiatives, including expanded enrollment, more financial aid for students, additional faculty, and enhanced technology and student support services.
More than half of it will go toward student scholarships, allowing Georgetown to enroll more nursing students with financial need in training programs such as its new Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. That three-and-a-half semester program is intended to provide students who've already earned degrees in other fields a streamlined pathway to a career in nursing.
Another $7 million will go toward increasing the number of Georgetown's nursing faculty and staff.
The remaining part of the gift will be used to promote student success and well-being, make technological improvements to the curriculum such as virtual reality simulations for clinical instruction, and establish a Dean's Fund to support other strategic initiatives.
'This is a transformative gift, and we are very humbled,' said Roberta Waite, dean of Georgetown's School of Nursing. 'The Berkley family understands the need for graduating more nurses and the impact that nursing has on promoting the health and wellness of individuals, families and communities.'
Dr. Norman J. Beauchamp Jr., executive vice president for health sciences at Georgetown University Medical Center, added, 'this special family has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to bringing hope and healing to people in need by supporting the growth and diversity of nurse leaders and practitioners.'
The Berkley family has a long history of philanthropy benefitting Georgetown as well as New York University. Their previous gifts established Georgetown's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and funded an endowed chair at its McDonough School of Business. They have also supported Georgetown's Mission & Ministry programs and and its Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
In 1967, William (Bill) Berkley founded the W. R. Berkley Corporation, which has grown into a Fortune 500 insurance holding company, engaged in the property casualty insurance business. He is a former member of Georgetown's Board of Directors and the McDonough School of Business Board of Advisors. His son W. Robert (Rob) Berkley Jr., a Georgetown alumnus, is a current member of both Georgetown boards and serves as the president and CEO of the W. R. Berkley Corporation.
'Two generations of our family have a shared love and appreciation for Georgetown University,' said Rob Berkley, as part of the announcement. 'We have always maintained an interest in both education and health care, and the opportunity to support the School of Nursing is a natural intersection of both interests. In addition, we've had the good fortune to work with both Dean Waite and Dr. Beauchamp. We are inspired by their vision and are confident in their leadership, which align with the overarching mission of the university.'
'Georgetown's undergraduate nursing population has many opportunities to expand and we see the growth potential,' added Bill Berkley. 'Our gift is intended to help substantially expand enrollment so that the school can have an even greater impact.'
