Key Takeaways
繚 A transformational $15 million gift from Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry, the largest in College of Public Health history, will rename George Masons School of Nursing and expand opportunities for students, faculty, and practicing nurses.
繚 The investment will strengthen nursing education through advanced technologies, simulation-based training, faculty support, and enhanced learning environments while helping meet growing health care workforce needs.
繚 One of Virginias largest nursing programs, the newly named Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry School of Nursing prepares nearly 1,000 students annually and is home to Virginias top-ranked Master of Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.
In recognition of a transformative $15 million gift from Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry, 91做厙s will be renamed the Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry School of Nursing. The naming was approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, effective November 15, 2026.
Arlene and Barry's generosity will help advance the schools mission, create greater opportunities for students, and strengthen the preparation of the next generation of nursing professionals, said George Mason President . The gift also recognizes the dedication and expertise of the faculty and staff who have built the School of Nursings reputation and who continue to move it forward.
This investment positions the school and its graduates to meet growing workforce demands and address increasingly complex patient needs.
The Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry School of Nursing honors the school's remarkable history while investing in the people who will shape its future, said College of Public Health Inaugural Dean . The generosity of the Evans Dewberry family will help expand possibilities for students and working nurses, advance academic and clinical preparation, support faculty excellence, and enhance the technologies and learning environments long into the future.
The gift comes as nurses are called upon to strengthen the health workforce, improve access to care, lead interprofessional teams, embrace emerging technologies, and respond to increasingly complex health needs. This investment positions George Mason to accelerate what comes next.
Nurses are essential to the strength and future of our health care system, Evans said. They are highly skilled professionals who provide critical care, improve patient outcomes, and help expand access to health care. As a former operating department nurse, I have seen firsthand the knowledge, compassion, and leadership nurses bring to patients and families every day. Barry and I are proud to support the education of future nurses and the dedicated faculty who prepare them to serve, innovate, and lead.
For the college, this gift also affirms nursings essential place within its broader mission. The strongest solutions to todays health challenges emerge when nursing, public health, social work, nutrition, health policy, informatics, and community partners work together. This gift will enable the college to lead integrated, innovative, and community-centered approaches to education, health, and care.
Founded in 1976, George Masons School of Nursing is one of the largest and most comprehensive nursing programs in Virginia. As part of the College of Public Health, it is among a small number of nursing schools nationally embedded within a public health-focused college, giving students a broader understanding of population health, prevention, and community-based care.
The naming of the School of Nursing honors Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberrys remarkable commitment to nursing education and health care, said Trishana E. Bowden, vice president for advancement and alumni relations and president of the 91做厙 Foundation. Their philanthropy will leave a lasting legacy, empowering future nurses and supporting the continued excellence of a school that plays a vital role in meeting the health needs of our communities.
Evans and Dewberry are among the region's leading supporters of health care and nursing-focused philanthropy, with a longstanding commitment to advancing health and education in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., area. Dewberry is executive chairman of a planning, design, and construction company. Evans is a former operating department nurse at VHC Health in Northern Virginia.
The school enrolls nearly 1,000 students across undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs and prepares nurses to serve in clinical, leadership, research, and community health settings throughout the region and beyond. Its and degree programs are ranked #1 in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report.
At the forefront of nursing technology and simulation-based education, the school provides hands-on training through the College of Public Health's , where students learn using advanced simulation, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and standardized patient encounters that mirror real-world clinical practice.
With nearly 11,000 alumni, many of whom work in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, George Mason graduates make up nearly one-third of the region's nursing workforce.
A special event will take place on November 10 to celebrate the naming, hosted by the College of Public Health, with guests including Evans, Dewberry, university leaders, faculty, students, alumni, and partners. The celebration will recognize the Evans Dewberry family's investment in nursing education and the future of the profession.
The naming of the Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry School of Nursing at George Mason is part of the Mason Now: Power the Possible, George Masons historic $1 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign. Designed to enhance the universitys capacity and broaden its impact, Mason Now focuses on expanding access to education, driving innovation, and deepening the universitys influence across the region and beyond.