Bethune-Cookman University Secures Two Federal Grants to Expand Nursing Education and Workforce Training

Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) and McAllister & Quinn are pleased to announce that B-CU was awarded two federal grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the institution’s first-ever awards from the agency. Totaling $5.18 million, B-CU successfully requested and secured a $2.20 million Nursing Workforce Development (NWD) grant and a $2.98 million Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) grant. Together, these four-year awards will strengthen B-CU’s nursing pipeline, expand support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and prepare more graduates to serve medically underserved Florida communities.

B-CU’s WildCat Nursing Project Expands the Nursing Workforce in Underserved Florida Communities

B-CU’s WildCat will recruit, retain, and graduate BSN students from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, preparing them to serve medically underserved communities across Central and North Florida. The funding will provide scholarships for students, coordinated retention support from a full-time student success coach, peer tutors, and an exam preparation program offering test preparation and fee assistance. The initiative will also provide opportunities for high school students to visit B-CU’s campus to foster a pipeline of students exposed to the nursing profession. The funding will also provide annual faculty and preceptor training and launch a Preceptor Readiness and Excellence Program.

B-CU’s team was led by Dr. Beverly Bonaparte, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and included Dr. Danielle Baker,  B-CU BSN Program Chair; Ms. Christine Heusner-Robinson, Assistant Professor in the BSN Program; Dr. Miriam Griffin, Chair of the Graduate Nursing Programs; Dr. Narendra Patel, Senior Advisor to the President for Accreditation, Quality Control, Compliance and Institutional Effectiveness; and Ms. Sonya Rawlins, Assistant to the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The B-CU team worked seamlessly with the McAllister & Quinn team under a tight timeframe to ensure the application was as competitive as possible.

B-CU HRSA NEPQR Funding Expands Rural Nursing Pathways

B-CU’s NEPQR RISE-RN (Recruiting, Inspiring, Supporting, and Educating the Registered Nurse Workforce) project will create stronger pathways into nursing for incumbent health care workers and undergraduate students, many of whom are Pell-eligible, first-generation, and already serving patients across four Florida counties. Through competency-based pathways, community-based clinical partnerships, and faculty and preceptor development, RISE-RN will prepare more nurses to serve high-need populations. Expanded simulation technology and a mobile simulation unit will also bring advanced training to B-CU’s incoming Hastings satellite program and surrounding rural communities.

The RISE-RN project team was led by Principal Investigator Dr. Miriam Griffin, Chair of the Graduate Nursing Programs, and included Dr. Danielle Baker, B-CU BSN Program Chair, and Ms. Ruby Hurley, School of Nursing Simulation and Lab Coordinator.

Bethune-Cookman and McAllister & Quinn Partnership

Bethune-Cookman and McAllister & Quinn launched our partnership in September 2025 following President Al Mosley’s investment in growing external funding and building institutional capacity at B-CU. At the start of our partnership, McAllister & Quinn team Dr. Frank Boyd and Kaitlyn Sands worked closely with B-CU to develop a targeted funding strategy based on B-CU’s priorities and strengths. HRSA was identified as a high priority based on the strength of B-CU’s nursing program and its alignment with agency priorities. McAllister & Quinn provided ongoing strategic intelligence about both funding programs and provided project management, writing, reviewing, and editing support once the request for proposals was issued by the agency. This level of support eased the burden for faculty involved, added capacity for B-CU’s internal team to pursue this funding, and resulted in significant return on investment for the institution within just one year.

About Bethune-Cookman University

Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) is a private, nonprofit historically Black university (HBCU) in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving approximately 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Founded in 1904 by renowned educator and civil rights leader Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, the university combines a strong tradition of academic excellence with a commitment to leadership, service, and social impact. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Bethune-Cookman offers hands-on learning experiences that prepare students to become innovative problem-solvers and engaged citizens while carrying forward Dr. Bethune’s enduring legacy of educational opportunity and community empowerment.