$1 million gift names USI Nursing Program for former dean

The family of Dr. Nadine Coudret (KOO-dray), the first dean of the University of Southern Indiana Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions, has made a $1 million endowed gift to the University that will provide unrestricted support for the USI Nursing Program and establish an annual scholarship for nursing students. In recognition of this gift, the Nursing Program will be named the Coudret Nursing Program.  

Coudret served as dean of the College for 24 years, from 1988 to 2012. During her tenure, she helped launch bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in nursing. In addition, she was instrumental in the growth of USI’s health professions programs.  

“We are so grateful that Dr. Coudret’s family is honoring her career and vision with this very generous gift,” says Steven J. Bridges ’89 M’95, USI President. “This level of investment, combined with other major charitable gifts the Kinney College has received the past five years, further showcases the impact our alumni have on healthcare in this region and the academic excellence taking place here at USI.”   

The majority of the gift will provide unrestricted support to the Nursing Program, allowing it to fund primary needs of the program in any given year. In addition, a small portion of the endowment will be used to establish the Christine Elliott Scholarship–in memory of Dr. Coudret’s mother–providing half-tuition scholarships to adult learners enrolled in in any of the USI’s nursing degree programs.  

Coudret’s family surprised her by announcing the gift made in her honor during a reception at the Health Professions Center on May 8.  

“I am honored and grateful for my family, the USI nursing and health professions faculty, and the students over the years who have shaped and contributed to USI’s Nursing Program’s excellence,” says Coudret. “I may have worked hard and had the vision, but it takes a whole lot of dedicated people all pulling in the same direction to achieve nursing education excellence and to make a positive impact on patient care. USI nurses, along with the graduates of our other healthcare programs, provide high-quality healthcare in the Tri-state and beyond. I am proud to have been a part of achieving that excellence.”  

Coudret was recruited by USI’s first president, Dr. David L. Rice. A native of Vincennes, Indiana, she earned a diploma in nursing at St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Evansville (now known as Ascension St. Vincent Evansville) and completed BS, MA, and MSN degrees at the University of Evansville and a doctorate in higher education administration at Indiana University. Her clinical experience includes operating room, medical-surgical, nursing home and home health.  

In 2020, during USI’s spring Graduate Commencement Ceremony, she received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.  

“Beyond advancing the Nursing Program, Dr. Coudret identified additional ways to support students while addressing the needs of the broader community,” says Dr. Julie McCullough, Dean of the Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions. “Because of her servant leadership, our College has been a pioneer in health education, including online learning, continuing education, gerontology and new degree programs, just to name a few areas in which she made a lasting impact as dean.”  

In addition to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, USI offers a 100% online RN to BSN option for working professionals to earn a bachelor’s degree, an ASN to BSN (A2B) dual enrollment program and several graduate nursing programs for nurses to pursue advance practice nursing, leadership and education roles.  

Learn more at USI.edu/nursing.