Title:Berkley family’s $25M gift commitment to transform, rename Georgetown’s School of Nursing

Thanks to a transformative $25 million gift commitment from the Berkley Family Foundation, Georgetown University will rename its nursing school the Georgetown University Berkley School of Nursing and expand the school’s enrollment, financial aid offerings, faculty, staff, and student resources. The new name will take effect early in the 2025-26 academic year.

“We are profoundly grateful to the Berkley family for their transformative investment in the future of nursing education at Georgetown,” says Interim President Robert Groves. “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.”

The Berkley family has longstanding ties to the university and a history of extraordinarily generous philanthropy. Prior to this gift to the nursing school, the Berkley family established Georgetown’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, as well as an endowed chair at Georgetown McDonough, which is currently held by Dean Paul Almeida. They’ve also given generously to Georgetown Lombardi’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.

William (Bill) Berkley (Parent’95,’96) 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. (B’95) is a current member of both Georgetown boards. Father and son are also active in the Wall Street Alliance, an affinity group run by the Georgetown University Alumni Association.

“Two generations of our family have a shared love and appreciation for Georgetown University,” says Rob Berkley. “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,” says Bill Berkley. “Our gift is intended to help substantially expand enrollment so that the school can have an even greater impact.”

Pursuing the greater good

As our population grows, ages, and changes, the demand for nurses is expected to significantly increase. But many obstacles hinder aspiring nurses from pursuing or successfully completing nursing education programs: missing prerequisites, tuition costs, and a lack of personal and professional support.

With this gift commitment, Georgetown will be able to remove those barriers, increase access to the school, and, subsequently, the nursing workforce. Plans include expanded enrollment, scholarship funds, mentorship programs, and support systems for both students and early-career professionals.

“Patients and their families depend on nurses who recognize the imperative of care for the whole person,” says Norman J. Beauchamp Jr., M.D., MHS, executive vice president for health sciences and executive dean of the School of Medicine. “Georgetown nurses, whose education is grounded in Jesuit values, are exemplars for such care, ensuring that those seeking care and receiving care never feel alone. With the gift of the Berkley family, it will be possible for Georgetown to increase the number of nurses leading the way in bringing health and healing to all.”

The school, which opened its doors in 1903, has become an internationally recognized leader in nursing education, research, and scholarship. Through its partnership with MedStar Health, Georgetown further strengthens its dedication to nursing through the pursuit of exceptional patient care, ongoing professional development, and community wellbeing. As a result, Georgetown-educated nurses are empathetic caregivers capable of leading with purpose and driving change in their communities.

“Part of the Georgetown mission statement is serving society, and one would be hard pressed to find a more noble vocation than nursing,” says Rob Berkley. “Our goal with this gift is to provide resources to the university in trying to address societal challenges. Clearly a shortage of nurses nationwide is a societal issue.”

‘Transformative impact’

“I am profoundly grateful for the generous support of the Berkley Family. This extraordinary gift and unprecedented investment in the School of Nursing will have a transformative impact on our nursing students, faculty, and the future of our school,” says Dean Roberta Waite, EdD, R.N., PMHCNS, ANEF, FADLN, FAAN.

Waite has started a new, accelerated undergraduate program that provides educational excellence comparable to the existing Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

“This gift will specifically help us launch our new ABSN program and provide much needed scholarships to students seeking to pursue a career in nursing. These scholarships are critical because students enrolled in the ABSN program are not eligible for traditional financial aid and scholarships as they already hold a bachelor’s degree and have been ‘called to be’ a nurse as a second career,” continues Waite.

Waite says she is excited to not only build leadership qualities with a strong ethical and social justice foundation among Georgetown’s nurses but also boost nurses’ well-being and resilience as they enter the workforce, noting that burnout and stress among nurses has amplified in the post-COVID 19 era.

“This gift will generate momentum for the School of Nursing to continue to expand enrollment, develop pathways, and provide program enrichment for our faculty, staff, students, and community,” she says. “This support is a testament to the Berkley family’s commitment to the future of nursing at Georgetown University and beyond.”

Supporting Georgetown’s critical commitments

The Berkley family’s $25 million gift aligns with many of the key commitments of Called to Be: The Campaign for Georgetown by investing in the future health care workforce, ensuring students can afford to attend and then thrive at Georgetown, and fueling the learning experience through faculty and staff support.

More than half of the gift commitment will support student scholarships, enabling Georgetown to attract and support nursing students with financial need enrolled in the ABSN program and other degree programs.

Another $7 million will go toward expanding the nursing faculty and staff. This will allow the dean to bring in and retain talent by providing them with competitive salaries, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.

The final components of the gift address student success and well-being; technological improvements to the curriculum, including virtual reality simulations for clinical instruction; and strategic initiatives through establishment of a Dean’s Fund.

“Our family has a deep sense of appreciation for Georgetown University’s values. We believe in what the university stands for, and the contribution it makes to bettering society every day,” says Rob Berkley. “We’re very grateful for the opportunity to support the university.”

Read more about Dean Waite’s vision for the Berkley School of Nursing >