The Annenberg Foundation has donated $5 million to help renovate the Nursing School's main building, administrators announced yesterday.
The Nursing Education Building will be renamed after Claire Fagin, a former dean of the School of Nursing.
The funds will help finish the second stage of building's renovation, which includes improvements to research space, classrooms and laboratories. Nursing Dean Afaf Meleis said she estimates that the entire second phase will cost $15 million and is slated for completion in June 2007.
The first phase of renovations was finished in October.
The gift from the Annenberg Foundation -- a philanthropic organization founded by Penn graduate Walter Annenberg, who died in 2002 -- is the harbinger of much fundraising to come, Meleis said.
"I didn't expect [a major donation] to happen so quickly," she added. "It will enable us to achieve our dream of completing the renovation of our school."
Within the next few weeks, Meleis should receive a comprehensive report from a committee planning the reconstruction. The group has been interviewing faculty and students about what renovations are most needed and is advising the dean on the matter.
Fagin, after whom the building will be named, served as the Nursing School dean from 1977 to 1992. She was also interim University president from 1992 to 1993 after Sheldon Hackney stepped down.
Meleis said that that she has "always wanted to honor Claire Fagin, who has put the [Nursing] School on the map."
Nursing faculty who worked with Fagin agree.
Nursing professor Lois Evans said that "the notion of naming the building after Claire is fabulous."
Fagin helped found the Center for Nursing Research, one of the first nursing research centers in the country.
"It's certainly a wonderful acknowledgement of Claire's significant role in nursing, health care and education," Nursing and Sociology professor Linda Aiken said.
"The renovations that will be possible as a result [of the donation] will enhance the research program and enable us to make even more scientific breakthroughs ... to improve nursing practice and health policy decision making," Aiken said.
Meleis called the announcement "a very transformative moment for our school."
Prior to the renovation project, the Nursing School received its last major donation in 2004, when Beverly Enterprises Inc. -- which manages care facilities for the elderly -- gave $1 million for student scholarships.
Construction awaits - The Annenberg Foundation donated $5 million for the second phase of renovations to the School of Nursing's main building - The building will be renamed for former Dean Claire Fagin, who helped develop research programs for the school - The first phase of construction was finished in October
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