The University of Houston (UH) has announced a $20 million gift from alumnus Andy Gessner (BBA ’68) and his wife, Barbara, in support of the UH College of Nursing. 

Announced during National Nurses Week, the naming gift will support nursing education and research as well as scholarships and fellowships for nursing students at UH. To that end, the gift will establish three endowed professorships, two of which will receive one-to-one matching funds as part of the university’s $100 Million Challenge for chairs and professorships. According to UH, a lack of educators and faculty in the field of nursing, limited clinical placements, an increase in the demand for care of the aging population, and a high turnover rate following the COVID-19 pandemic are among the reasons for a long-running shortage of nurses. 

“We believe in nurses, and we need more of them right now,” said Andy Gessner. “We’re all going to need a nurse at some time in our lives, and there's just not enough in the workforce or being educated for the future. The primary intent of our gift is to make more nurses available when we need them, now and in the future.” 

“This gift will have a lasting impact on the nursing profession and our great city, state, and beyond for many years to come,” said Gessner College of Nursing dean Kathryn Tart. “We will be able to attract more top faculty and students and increase our research endeavors to further the university’s mission of becoming a top 50 public university. We are so grateful to the Gessners for their support and vision to address the severe nursing shortage.” 

(Photo credit: Getty Images/SDI Productions)