More students will have access to nursing education at the Indiana University School of Nursing’s Bloomington, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis campuses, thanks to a transformative $1.8 million gift from the Bedford Falls Foundation–DAF. It will provide critical financial support to undergraduate students while helping address the nation’s nursing shortage.
The gift supports two key funds: the Joanne and William Conway Nursing Scholarship and the IU Nursing Student Emergency Fund in honor of Joanne Barkett Conway. Together, these resources will reduce financial barriers and provide stability for students pursuing their degrees. Scholarship recipients, known as Conway Scholars, will benefit from resources that empower them to succeed in their studies and careers, ensuring a strong pipeline of skilled nurses to serve communities across Indiana and beyond.
“The Bedford Falls Foundation’s generosity will have an immediate and lasting impact on our students and the communities they will serve,” said Dean Janet S. Carpenter. “By supporting scholarships and emergency assistance, this gift honors a shared commitment to removing barriers and preparing the next generation of nurses to deliver exceptional care.”
The scholarships will support traditional BSN students in their junior or senior year and accelerated BSN students with unmet financial need and in good academic standing. The average award will be $8,000 per year and may be received for up to two years. The emergency fund will provide aid to any student who has encountered unseen financial hardships that would prohibit them from pursuing their education.
“Thanks to the support of the Conway Scholarship, I was able to spend more time focusing on my studies and gaining valuable clinical experience without the constant worry of financial stress,” said Faith Foster, a Conway Scholar and graduate, BSN ’25.
The Bedford Falls Foundation, a private foundation, and Bedford Falls Foundation–DAF, a donor advised fund advised by the foundation, were each established by Bill Conway, Jr., co-founder and co-chairman of the global investment firm the Carlyle Group, and his late wife Joanne Barkett Conway, with a primary mission to remove financial barriers to a high-quality nursing education and support educational partners in addressing the critical nursing workforce shortage.
Joanne Barkett Conway’s vision for supporting aspiring nurses was first inspired by a conversation with a waitress in Maine who shared her struggle to afford nursing school. Moved by the idea that “if a person can get a nursing degree, they can always get a job,” Bill and Joanne Conway have since set a goal to support more than 20,000 nurses through their philanthropic efforts.
“We are proud to partner with IU School of Nursing to support better healthcare for the State of Indiana, by providing talented students with the opportunity to excel in their nursing careers without the weight of financial obstacles,” said Bill Conway, Jr.
Nearly 2,000 undergraduate students were enrolled at the IU School of Nursing’s three campus locations during the fall 2026 semester, which marked the largest cohort of nursing students in the school’s history.
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About IU School of Nursing
The IU School of Nursing is annually ranked among the top nursing schools in the nation. Founded in 1914, the school offers programs from the BSN through the post-doctorate and is composed of campuses in Bloomington, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis. The IU School of Nursing is ranked No. 13 in the nation for undergraduate nursing programs and its online MSN in Nursing Education is ranked No. 6 in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Media Contact: Glenda Shaw | 317-278-2048 | glenshaw@iu.edu