School of Nursing

Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, The Bill and Joanne Conway Dean

The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is advancing the science of nursing through innovative research, practical learning, and an unwavering commitment to the community. We develop preeminent leaders in nursing education, research, and practice. As a catalyst for creativity and collaboration, we engage diverse groups of professionals, organizations, and communities in addressing local, national, and global health priorities. Together, faculty, staff, and students create a rich and vibrant working and learning environment where knowledge is created and shared. A passion for discovery permeates the educational process and advances the use of evidence as the basis for nursing practice. Accordingly, we are recognized for our scientific knowledge, critical thinking, interprofessional teamwork, and profound commitment to the health of individuals and communities. Thanks to the considerable generosity of our donors, we raised more than 150 percent of our goal during the Catalyst Campaign.

No. 1 for two specialties and four other top 10 specialties among public schools of nursing in U.S. News & World Report (2022)

90% (average) of entry-into-practice students employed full time in nursing within one year of graduating

$10.9M in extramural funding during the past fiscal year

28 clinical simulation labs

Three degree programs ranked in the top 10 among public schools of nursing in U.S. News & World Report (2022)

The Conways’ Generosity

Thanks to the tremendous philanthropy of Bill and Joanne Conway, UMSON created the Conway Scholars program from gifts totaling nearly $30 million. This program will provide scholarship support to more than 830 students across all nursing degree programs; the gifts have also supported UMSON’s growth at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) in Rockville, Md. In addition, the UMSON deanship now carries their names: the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing.

Endowment Growth

During the campaign, we increased the amount of financial support available to our students through the creation of 95 new endowments, and spendable income from endowed scholarships increased by 80 percent.

Supporting Community Health

In support of our commitment to serving Maryland residents, Mary Catherine Bunting, MS ’72, pledged $1.25 million to establish the Community and Public Health Environmental Initiative. This provides health oversight for children and families served by Baltimore City Early Head Start and Head Start programs.

The Universities at Shady Grove

We expanded our presence at USG by increasing our Bachelor of Science in Nursing class size by 117 percent and offering the Doctor of Nursing Practice Family Nurse Practitioner specialty. UMSON also will have its own building at USG to include clinical simulation labs and a student success center. The building renovations to achieve this are scheduled to be completed this year.

Advancing Research on Aging

Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, is advancing research on healthy aging. Findings from her work have shown that by changing how care is provided to older adults, they can maintain or improve function and physical activity, thereby decreasing falls and transfers to acute care settings, improving mood, and decreasing behavioral symptoms.

Louisa Parsons Legacy Society

The Louisa Parsons Legacy Society honors donors who have included UMSON in their estate plans. Membership has increased by 59 percent, creating an important future revenue stream for UMSON and supporting generations of students and nurses. C in q Entry-into-nursing students from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader programs celebrate following their White

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