GMU To Rename Nursing School After $15 Million Donation

FAIRFAX, VA — George Mason University's School of Nursing will be renamed in honor of Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry, following a $15 million donation.

Effective Nov. 15, the school will be known as the Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry School of Nursing. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia approved the renaming.

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"The generosity of the Evans Dewberry family will help expand possibilities for students and working nurses, advance academic and clinical preparation, support faculty excellence, and enhance the technologies and learning environments long into the future," Melissa Perry, inaugural dean of the College of Public Health, said in a news release.

Founded in 1976, the school is one of Virginia's largest nursing programs. U.S. News & World Report ranked its master of science and doctor of nursing practice programs as the best in the state.

Evans is a former operating department nurse at VHC Health in Northern Virginia, while Dewberry is executive chairman of a planning, design and construction company, according to the university's release.

"Nurses are essential to the strength and future of our health care system. They are highly skilled professionals who provide critical care, improve patient outcomes, and help expand access to health care," Evans said. "As a former operating department nurse, I have seen firsthand the knowledge, compassion, and leadership nurses bring to patients and families every day. Barry and I are proud to support the education of future nurses and the dedicated faculty who prepare them to serve, innovate, and lead."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners are the fastest-growing occupation in the United States.

"Their philanthropy will leave a lasting legacy, empowering future nurses and supporting the continued excellence of a school that plays a vital role in meeting the health needs of our communities," said Trishana Bowden, vice president for advancement and alumni relations and president of the George Mason University Foundation.

The donation was part of George Mason's $1 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign, Mason Now: Powering the Possible. An event celebrating the renaming will be held Nov. 10, with Evans and Dewberry in attendance.