Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence: Nursing at SWAU
Apr 2 2025 - 9:30am
By: Southwestern Adventist University
This year marks a monumental milestone for Southwestern Adventist University’s Nursing Program as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. From its humble beginnings to its current state-of-the-art facilities, the program has evolved into one of the most respected in the region. The celebration, held during alumni weekend, was a time for the community to come together, reflect on the past, and look toward the future.
A Time for Celebration and Gratitude
According to Dr. Kerrie Kimbrow, AdventHealth Endowed Chair of the Nursing Department, the 50th anniversary is not just a celebration of the program’s growth, but a recognition of God’s leading and abundant blessings throughout the years. “This anniversary is a time to celebrate our alumni who have gone out to serve and do great things, for which we are incredibly proud,” Kimbrow shared. “It’s also a time to highlight our faculty, staff, and leadership who have given so much of themselves, educating future generations of nurses and impacting the lives of their students every day.”
Over the past 50 years, the program has conferred 1,842 nursing degrees and has touched countless lives. The anniversary celebration was a testament to the ongoing legacy of excellence that the Nursing Program has become known for.
Revisiting the Past, Looking Toward the Future
For many alumni, returning to campus was an emotional experience. One alumnus who had been involved in the planning of the new building nearly 10 years ago reflected on how incredible it was to see the reality of the project come to life. Attendees were also impressed with the modern facilities now available to nursing students. “Our alumni were excited to see that the Nursing Program now has a beautiful and spacious building with state-of-the-art learning technologies,” said Dr. Kimbrow. “They were proud to see the advances we’ve made, especially when they compared it to the limited resources they had when they were students.”
As the Nursing Program continues to grow, the future holds exciting possibilities. With the introduction of the Master’s degree in Nursing Education starting this fall, the program is expanding its offerings to prepare the next generation of nursing leaders. Dr. Kimbrow expressed excitement about this milestone, saying, “We have been blessed with a federal grant to support the development of this program, and we’re grateful for the hard work that has gone into making it a reality.”
Looking Ahead
The Nursing Program’s next chapter is already underway, with plans to grow the student body in the bachelor’s, LVN to BS Nursing, and online RN to BS Nursing programs. “We are ready to grow the programs we have and continue to be in tune with God’s leading,” Kimbrow added. “As He has led us through these past 50 years, we know He will continue to guide us forward.”
The 50th anniversary ceremony was a time to honor the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to the exciting future of nursing at SWAU.
Learn more about the B.S. Nursing and LVN to B.S. Program here.
Learn more about the Master’s degree in Nursing Education here.
Learn about the Southwestern Adventist University Nursing department here.
Learn more about the Online RN to BS program here.