Pennsylvania State University has announced a $27.1 million pledge from Ross and Carol Nese in support of the College of Nursing.

The largest-ever gift for the college, which will be renamed the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, will be coupled with $17.9 million in matching funds from the university and support undergraduate and graduate scholarships, infrastructure and technology support, including efforts to expand the college's physical space and acquire high-tech equipment for classrooms; seed funding for new ideas for teaching, research, outreach, and entrepreneurial endeavors; and a program endowment to be directed by the dean.

"The Neses' gift will be profoundly transformational for the college," said Laurie Badzek, dean of the College of Nursing. "I know they share our deep concern about the nursing shortage that has been developing in our country for some time and recognize the significant and growing role that nurses with excellent preparation play in the delivery of outstanding health care. Bolstered by their visionary philanthropy, Penn State can really make a difference for the field of nursing — not only because of the number of nurses we graduate, but also because they will be graduating from one of the nation's finest nursing programs, where the mission is to create nurse leaders. I sincerely thank Ross and Carol for partnering with us to enable such significant and positive changes in nursing education at Penn State."