The gift comes from the family of Dr. Nadine Coudret, who was the first dean of the University of Southern Indiana Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions.
The University of Southern Indiana has received a $1 million gift from the family of Dr. Nadine Coudret, who was the first dean of the University of Southern Indiana Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions. The endowed gift will benefit the university’s nursing program, now named the Coudret Nursing Program, through unrestricted support, as well as the establishment of a nursing student scholarship.
According to an article on the University of Southern Indiana’s website, Coudret was quoted as saying of her family’s surprise endowment, “I am honored and grateful for my family, the USI nursing and health professions faculty, and the students over the years who have shaped and contributed to USI’s Nursing Program’s excellence. I may have worked hard and had the vision, but it takes a whole lot of dedicated people all pulling in the same direction to achieve nursing education excellence and to make a positive impact on patient care. USI nurses, along with the graduates of our other healthcare programs, provide high-quality healthcare in the Tri-state and beyond. I am proud to have been a part of achieving that excellence.”
Coudret was the dean of the University of Southern Indiana Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions from 1988 to 2012. She was recruited to the position by the university’s first president, Dr. David L. Rice. During her time in the role, she was instrumental in much of the growth in the nursing and healthcare programs. She helped launch the bachelor, master, and doctoral nursing degree programs and helped expand the health professions programs.
Dr. Julie McCullough, the Dean of the Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions, shared the ways in which Coudret helped shape the trajectory of the university’s nursing programs. She said, “Beyond advancing the Nursing Program, Dr. Coudret identified additional ways to support students while addressing the needs of the broader community. Because of her servant leadership, our College has been a pioneer in health education, including online learning, continuing education, gerontology and new degree programs, just to name a few areas in which she made a lasting impact as dean.”
University president Steven J. Bridges ’89 M’95 said, “We are so grateful that Dr. Coudret’s family is honoring her career and vision with this very generous gift. This level of investment, combined with other major charitable gifts the Kinney College has received the past five years, further showcases the impact our alumni have on healthcare in this region and the academic excellence taking place here at USI.”
The $1 million gift from Coudret’s family is largely unrestricted in nature, allowing the university to spend the money on whatever would benefit the nursing program the most. The gift names the program in Coudret’s honor. It also establishes the Christine Elliott Scholarship in memory of Coudret’s mother. The scholarship will go to adult learners in any of the university’s nursing programs.
The university offers a bachelor of science in nursing, as well as an online RN to BSN program, an ASN to BSN (A2B) dual enrollment program, and graduate nursing programs.
For more information about the University of Southern Indiana, visit the school’s website.