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SHSU Receives $100,000 Gift to Advance Innovative Nursing Workforce Initiative

October 30, 2025 By Emily Binetti
group of nursing students
The School of Nursing received a generous $100,000 gift from the William S. and Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation in support of the Shared Nurse Academic Practice Partnership Initiative.

SHSU Receives $100,000 Gift to Advance Innovative Nursing Workforce Initiative

Sam Houston State University’s School of Nursing has received a generous $100,000 gift from the William S. and Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation in support of the Shared Nurse Academic Practice Partnership Initiative (SNAPPI), a groundbreaking program addressing the critical nursing shortage across Texas and the nation.

Established in 1985, the William S. and Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation is dedicated to improving lives through investments in education, health and community programs. The foundation’s gift to SHSU reflects its continued commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen healthcare access and workforce development in Texas.

“This generous gift moves Texas one step closer to innovating its way to a solution for the severe workforce shortage that keeps so many Texans from getting the healthcare they need,” said Devon Berry, director of the School of Nursing. “We are excited to further extend the impact of SNAPPI through their generous gift."

nursing student chats with professor

SNAPPI, developed by the School of Nursing at SHSU, is transforming how healthcare systems and nursing schools collaborate to educate and retain future nurses. Initially launched as a pilot program, SNAPPI has created a scalable model to help combat the unprecedented shortfall of registered nurses in Texas—the state with the second-largest nursing shortage in the nation, totaling more than 47,000 open positions.

Last year, the Governor’s Task Force on Health Care Workforce Shortages recognized SNAPPI as an innovative model for workforce solutions. Building on that momentum, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board awarded initial funding to begin expanding the initiative statewide.

The program’s growth centers on growing placements with current healthcare partners, adding new nursing programs and systems across and piloting SNAPPI in rural areas facing nursing shortages. It will also include a staffing firm partnership to enhance technology, recruitment, onboarding and scheduling.

The Kilroy Foundation’s gift will advance SNAPPI’s expansion in two key areas:

  • Growing placements: Supporting the gap between teaching and clinical pay to expand training sites and create more opportunities for nursing students.
  • Strengthening technology: Investing in digital tools that connect academic and healthcare partners, enabling SNAPPI to be managed and scaled across Texas.

“It’s inspiring to see this transformative gift creating such a powerful impact on nursing education in Texas. This support will help train exceptional nurses and advance our mission to develop the next generation of health and human sciences leaders,” said Ryan Zapalac, dean of the College of Health Science.

About the William S. and Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation
Founded in 1985, the William S. and Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation supports charitable organizations that enrich communities and improve quality of life, with a special focus on education, health, and human services. The Foundation continues the Kilroys’ legacy of generosity and civic commitment across Texas and beyond.

 

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