On Thursday, April 6, Former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler visited the Albany State University (ASU) campus to learn about the university’s premiere nursing program.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Angela Peters and Interim Chair of Nursing, Dr. Andrea Dozier, presented Senator Loeffler with the latest data about the program. After the presentation, the university received a $10,000 donation to support nursing program needs.

Albany State University President, Marion Ross Fedrick said, "ASU appreciates Senator Loeffler’s recognition of our talented students. This additional investment will support our ongoing efforts to prepare our students to become successful contributors to a globally diverse society.”

Over the past three years, the program has graduated over 850 nursing students and partnered with approximately 216 clinical sites for undergraduate and graduate nursing students. An essential collaboration for the program is with Phoebe Putney Health Systems, as they provide clinical sites, a simulation lab, funding for additional faculty members, and more.

“Albany State University punches above its weight with academic pathways that are preparing Georgia students for fulfilling careers and developing a skilled workforce. I’m grateful for all ASU does to enrich the southwest Georgia community and I’m honored to support its nursing program – and the pipeline of talented students that will provide care for patients across our state,” said Senator Loeffler.

The university is constructing a Nursing and Health Sciences Simulation Center, which will create opportunities to support and enable collaboration with other regional programs. The center will provide space for simulation labs with control rooms, observation spaces, related hospital simulation areas, and more, creating a robust pipeline of nursing, health science, and medical graduates to fill the need for professional practitioners in Georgia. It will also play a key role in improving patient care and outcomes.

During the presentation, Dr. Peters also discussed ASU’s Summer Health and STEM Academy for high school students to inspire the future generation of the health professions workforce. Students will experience science and health-related careers on the ASU campus under the guidance of the university’s phenomenal faculty and staff, and will hear from professionals in the fields of STEM and healthcare while touring the state-of-the-art facilities at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

The university looks forward to planning another visit with Senator Loeffler to discuss other programs, and Albany State University’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, student access, and student success.

For more information on the ASU nursing program, visit www.asurams.edu.