Marquette's College of Nursing receives $1 million estate gift to support scholarships

October 29, 2018

MILWAUKEE — Marquette University's College of Nursing announced today that it has received a $1 million planned gift from Barbara Regan, a 1959 alumna of the College of Nursing. The estate gift will benefit scholarships for undergraduate and graduate nursing students.

"It's incredible to see the impact that Marquette has had on three generations of the Regan family," added Marquette University President Michael R. Lovell. "This family's legacy commitment to providing scholarship support for the next generation of nurse caregivers is inspiring, and we are truly grateful."

Regan and her late husband, Michael Regan, M.D., a three-time Marquette graduate, met as students when they were working in the delivery room at St. Joseph Hospital in Milwaukee, helping a patient struggling through labor. Barbara was astounded by Michael's care for the patient, whom he talked and prayed with throughout labor.

The couple married in 1960 and, that same year, left Milwaukee for small towns in the Carolinas, where Michael collected data on polio for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Barbara administered vaccinations. Their careers took them from Missouri to California to Oregon, but the purpose for their work never wavered. Now Barbara hopes her gift will allow future nursing students to similarly embrace their call to serve.

"Over the past three years, the College of Nursing has doubled its undergraduate enrollment to help meet the needs of our aging population and the growing nursing shortage. The Regan family's generous gift will help ensure that the next generation of nurse leaders is educated in the Marquette tradition of providing high quality, compassionate care for the whole person," said Dr. Janet Wessel Krejci, dean of Marquette's College of Nursing.

Regan's father-in-law, late husband, brother, son-in-law and daughter also attended Marquette, so the university has a great deal of significance in her family. "I wanted to honor what would have been my 50th wedding anniversary and could think of no better way than to help the future nurse leaders in our community receive a Marquette nursing education," said Regan.

"The Regan family's gift is a remarkable example of generosity that will impact Marquette-educated nurses long into the future," said Tim McMahon, vice president for university advancement. "Regan family scholarships will help provide students a transformational education and honor the proud and enduring Regan family legacy at Marquette."

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