New Gift Pushes Donor’s Support Over $7M, Funds Nursing Simulation Lab

The Joanne Barkett Conway Simulation Center, expected to open in 2026 on the sixth floor of Fisher Hall, will be the nursing school’s second simulation lab at Duquesne. The existing Learning and Simulation Center in Libermann Hall provides students realistic clinical experiences and helps develop decision-making skills with an array of technology and a deeper style of learning. The new 8,600-square-foot lab will further transform and augment Duquesne students’ technology infused learning and holistic nursing education that the school provides.

Bill Conway and his wife Joanne, who sadly passed away in January 2024, have long been celebrated for their generous support of charitable and educational causes as the benefactors of the Bedford Falls Foundation. 

This latest contribution—which brings total giving to Duquesne more than $7.2 million since 2022—will further enhance hands-on training opportunities for Duquesne nursing students and advance the future of health care education at the University. Enrollment at Duquesne’s School of Nursing is at an all-time high, with 1,200 undergraduate and graduate students that includes its largest first-year class.

“We are incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of Bill Conway and his late wife Joanne,” Duquesne President Ken Gormley said. “Their contributions have not only enhanced the education of our students but also continue to help shape the future of health care by empowering compassionate, skilled nurses. We appreciate the Conways and their remarkable commitment to excellence and for investing in the next generation of nurses and nursing faculty.”

Nursing Dean Dr. Mary Ellen Glasgow also expressed her gratitude. “We are truly honored to be chosen by Bill Conway to benefit from such an important and educational tool as a simulation lab in memory of his wonderful wife, Joanne,” added Glasgow. “The Conway’s longstanding generosity has significantly impacted nursing education and played a crucial role in helping us address the national nursing and nursing-faculty shortages, ensuring that future health care professionals are well-prepared to meet the demands of the field.”

“Funding at Duquesne was really Joanne’s idea, and she was very proud of the nurses we helped to create there,” said Conway. “Honoring her memory by helping Duquesne deliver an even better nursing simulation experience felt like an appropriate way to honor her memory.” 

Through their philanthropic vehicles, the Conways have been loyal supporters of Duquesne’s School of Nursing through a variety of contributions, including: 

• A $2.5 million gift to provide partial scholarships for students enrolling in the University’s 12-month and 16-month second-degree Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing programs
• A $187,000 grant from the Conway Innovation Challenge to fund Transition from Clinician to Faculty: A Residency for Aspiring Nursing Faculty, the nursing school’s residency program to address the national nursing faculty shortage
• A $100,000 gift to replace simulation equipment in the nursing school’s existing Simulation Lab
• A $625,000 gift to add a second academic support coach to the staff to tutor nursing students.

Katie Kravits, a Conway Scholar in the 16-month second-degree BSN program, said the $15,000 scholarship ($5,000 per semester) helped her afford Duquesne, whose Catholic heritage and size attracted her to the program. 

“I like that Duquesne University has a smaller campus that gives you more opportunities to get to know and meet with your professors on a one-on-one basis,” explained Kravits, who wants to work in pediatric oncology. “Getting that Conway scholarship made it easier for me to afford an education like this. I knew that I wanted to get my BSN instead of an RN degree, and Duquesne has a really good program. Having the scholarship has really decreased my financial concerns.”

To date, 54 second-degree BSN students have received the Conway scholarship to support their Duquesne education.

Assistant Nursing Professor Dr. Elizabeth Skrovanek is a Conway Mentor who walks alongside Conway Scholars, providing support and helping to enrich their academic journey and pursuit of bigger goals at Duquesne. 

“The Conway Scholarships impact and contribute to building a pipeline of early career nurses and future researchers, which will ultimately give back to the nursing profession,” Skrovanek explained. “It allows Duquesne the honor and responsibility of educating and helping deliver that workforce. Our Conway Scholars will serve tens of thousands of patients throughout their careers, providing the superlative, compassionate care that is the hallmark of a Duquesne University School of Nursing graduate.”

Upon recognizing her full potential and all that the field of nursing offers, Kravits recommended Duquesne’s second-degree BSN to a friend, who just started the program this semester. 

“It’s a very welcoming and supportive community here, they have such a great group of professors in the nursing school and you have all the resources you could need from tutors to the library and study hours,” Kravits emphasized. “You get the support that you need—they are here for you. They want you to succeed and are going to do whatever they can to help you. I think that makes Duquesne very different.”

The School of Nursing, founded in 1937, was among the first in the nation to offer a BSN degree; was a pioneer in offering an online Doctor of Philosophy program; and the first to offer a dual degree in nursing and biomedical engineering. In September, the school’s BSN program climbed 13 spots and was ranked No. 39 in the nation in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges list.

Glasgow sees the Conway’s ongoing support of the nursing school as another important point of pride.

“Mr. Conway has supported some of the best nursing schools in the country, many of which are top research schools, and to be among them is quite an honor,” said Glasgow. “This recent gift will create The Joanne Barkett Conway Simulation Center, a beautiful lab in which our students can learn, will help to expand our nurse anesthesia program, our graduate programs and our undergraduate programs.”

Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of nearly 8,200 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.

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