Contact: Kevin Tate
MERIDIAN, Miss.āA recent, increased commitment from The Riley Foundation to Ļć½¶Ö±²„-Meridianās accelerated Master of Science in Nursing program is continuing to help address a statewide nursing shortage, promote healthcare in Meridian and Lauderdale County and bolster the foundationās core mission.
In 2024, The Riley Foundation committed scholarship support for students in the Master of Science in Nursing program at MSU-Meridian. The foundation now is renewing and increasing that commitment for the coming year as part of the foundationās overall commitment to the campusā healthcare programs.
āThe Master of Science in Nursing program is a very rigorous course of study, so much so that its students often donāt have time to work,ā said Becky Farley, director and board liaison to Ļć½¶Ö±²„ for The Riley Foundation. āTherefore, financial support is essential to helping these students succeed.ā
Students in the program can earn a masterās degree in 12 months through a focused set of studies that include practical applications of the knowledge.
āI was able to speak with some recent graduates,ā Farley said. āThey felt prepared and were ready to go out into the workforce. This program is doing a phenomenal job of preparing students.ā
The Riley Foundationās mission is to improve the quality of life in Meridian and Lauderdale County, and it traces its earliest roots to the healthcare field. In 1930, Dr. Franklin Gail Riley opened a 12-bed childrenās and maternity hospital in Meridian. That hospital eventually grew into Meridianās Riley Memorial Hospital. When it was sold in January 1998, The Riley Foundation was formed with a mission to serve as a catalyst for growth and development in Meridian and Lauderdale County. The foundation represents the modern evolution of Dr. Rileyās original vision of 1930.
āThe School of Nursing wouldnāt exist without The Riley Foundationās vision and commitment,ā said Ļć½¶Ö±²„Dean of Nursing Mary Stewart. āTheir board invests in what matters. Theyāre making dreams come true, and reshaping the culture of nursing and healthcare, one Riley Scholar at a time.ā
āWe know weāre making a difference in healthcare, in Meridian and throughout the state,ā Farley said. āThe national shortage of nurses has significantly increased after COVID-19. Further, we also have an aging population who are going to need more healthcare.ā
The Riley Foundationās broad commitment to healthcare programs at MSU-Meridian also includes support of the Physician Assistant Studies program, Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Senior Nurse Fellowship programs, as well as the upcoming Doctor of Physical Therapy program, all preparing new generations of healthcare professionals for the field.
is taking care of what matters.