Announced during a press conference Sept. 11, the university received a $6 million leadership gift from alumnus and local business leader Wayne Kinney and his family.
The conference was held in the College of Nursing and Health Professions Center, where Interim President Steve Bridges shared the news with students, faculty, administrators and special guests.
According to a USI press release, in honor of the Kinney family’s generous contribution to USI, it was also announced that the College of Nursing and Health Professions will be renamed the Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions.
“Mr. Kinney is a USI alumnus with an accounting degree, like me,” Bridges said. “He and his wife, Beth, also have raised two children who are USI alumni. With a background in information technology and healthcare, the Kinney family is well-positioned to recognize the impact the USI College of Nursing and Health Professions, and our alumni are making in the community. We are extremely grateful for their generous gift which will serve to deepen the College’s vital impact.”
Kinney graduated from USI in 1977 with a degree in accounting. After graduation, he began his initiative to strengthen the Evansville community and began his career in health services by founding a company specializing in healthcare IT services.
He and his wife, Beth, sold the worldwide business, Innovative Consulting Group, in 2023. Now, the Kinney family owns JWK Management Group, and Kinney serves on the USI Board of Trustees and the USI Foundation Board of Directors.
“We look forward to the many ways this investment will enhance the College of Nursing and Health Professions, its students and faculty and, ultimately, our community,” Kinney said during the press conference Sept. 11.
The university plans to use the donation to invest in the needs of the college.
Rae Collier, junior diagnostic medical sonography major, said she would like to see the program introduce more technology into the Health Professions Center.
“I think students and staff both would like to see more modern technology in the building,” Collier said. “I also think we could use the money for scholarships.”
Alexandra Medina, administrative assistant in the dental office said she would also like to see some of the money allocated to scholarships for students in the dental program.
“The dental hygiene students have to pay so much money for their supplies, so it’d be nice if we could figure out a way for some of that to go into their supplies,” Medina said.
According to USI’s dental hygiene admission requirements, the dental hygiene program can only accept 24 students each academic year.
Megan Wetzel, freshman dental hygiene major, said the dental program could expand to accept new people.
“It would be cool to see more spots added to the dental program,” Wetzel said. “I am sure they would have to equip more supplies and faculty, but it would be a lot less competitive.”
Tanner Baughn, sophomore food and nutrition major, also has ideas for the gift.
“I am president of the cooking club, so I am hoping that, you know, some of the money could be given to us to use kitchen stuff, getting us cool utensils to use,” he said. “Also lounging areas. I would love some really nice lounging areas for us to converse in as students.”
Baughn said he hopes to make students aware of the less-common majors in the building.
“Some of the majors here, not many people know about, so us getting a donation like that, I think, is really beneficial,” he said. “It shows care for every part of campus.”