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Meredith College鈥檚 new baccalaureate in nursing program marks a transformative step toward addressing the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in our state and beyond. We are excited that this vision has become a reality.

Meredith鈥檚 nursing program will provide rigorous, personalized education within a supportive environment, emphasizing ethical leadership, cultural humility, and lifelong learning. Our BSN graduates will deliver high-quality care, advocate for health equity, and leverage emerging technologies to improve patient outcomes. Our location in the Research Triangle will connect students with exceptional clinical placements, research opportunities, and industry partnerships.

We are pleased to announce two scholarship endowments for the nursing program.

President Sapp, Sandra Critzer Close, 始86, and Michelle Hartman, nursing program director, at the scholarship endowment signing in February.

Sandra Critzer Close Scholarship Endowment in Nursing

Sandra Critzer Close, 始86, came to Meredith at age 40 to pursue a degree in sociology. She became assistant director of the 23+ program, now known as Wings, which is Meredith鈥檚 adult education program. She served as director from 1994-2002. In that role, she guided and encouraged other adult women, some very apprehensive, to begin or complete their college education. She wisely advised, enthusiastically cheered, and patiently listened, sharing the joys and sorrows of her students. Many 23+ graduates credit Close for helping them cross the finish line.

Before returning to Meredith in 1994, she worked as a radiology technologist at Wake Internal Medicine. As an advocate for Meredith鈥檚 new BSN, Close is creating one of the first scholarships in nursing. The scholarship will help those who need financial support to achieve their goal of helping others as a nurse.

At Close鈥檚 endowment signing in February, three doctors she worked with and their wives attended, showing their support of her scholarship endowment and the BSN program.

Attendees were physicians she worked with at Wake Internal Medicine, all of whom are now retired. Her daughter Cary was also in attendance.聽During the endowment signing, President Aimee Sapp told Close that she had heard many stories about her work with adult students at Meredith.

鈥淚鈥檓 sure to people who were sharing their joys and sorrows and probably uncertainties and concerns about 鈥榗an I actually do this?鈥�, found you to be a perfect person to talk to about it, because you went back to school too, and did it with grace and did a fantastic job,鈥� said President Aimee Sapp.

As former director of Wings, Close knows the importance of scholarships and that students like to know financial support is available when considering Meredith.

鈥淚t all starts with getting students here and having scholarships available, so we thank you, Sandra,鈥� said Michelle Hartman, nursing program director. Before coming to Meredith, Hartman was an assistant professor and assistant dean of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Duke University School of Nursing.

Students will begin in the fall of 2025, but according to Hartman, the nursing building that the College is currently raising funds for will not be needed until the fall of 2027. They will spend their first two years taking biology, chemistry, math, English, history, a foreign language, and other prerequisite classes for nursing.

鈥淲e will focus on transfer students starting in the second year, so we can get our processes in place this year. And then we鈥檒l add transfer students. We鈥檝e talked to people who would be Wings or second-degree students who are interested and want to know the timeline,鈥� said Hartman.

Close is very excited about the nursing program and is so pleased to see her two careers, nursing and education, come together with this new degree at Meredith to help ease the nursing shortage.

鈥淭hank you for having this endowment signing where I could include some friends and people I love and have worked with in the field of medicine. I appreciate it so much,鈥� said Close.

Close has also endowed the Sandra Close Scholarship for Wings students and supported multiple Wings student reunions, including the 50th anniversary Wings celebration in the fall of 2024.

Amy Garber Byrd, 鈥�76, was joined by her son Ross, daughter Anna, and grandson Robert for the nursing scholarship endowment signing.

The E.C. Garber Jr., M.D., Nursing Scholarship

Amy Garber Byrd, 始76, established a nursing scholarship to honor her late father, Edgar Clyde Garber, Jr., who was a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist in Fayetteville, N.C. Garber had a deep respect for the nurses he worked with, and Byrd wanted to give this endowment in memory of his wonderful career and recognition of the amazing father he was to her.

Garber鈥檚 medical career spanned 38 years, and he delivered 10,000 babies in 24 of those years. He performed the first operation at Cape Fear Valley when it opened in 1956.

鈥淎s a young girl, I would often go with Dad when he made his rounds at Cape Fear Valley,鈥� said Byrd. 鈥淲hen he had completed visiting his patients, he would take me to the nursery. I remember watching the nurses as they cared for the babies, and I felt so special to be able to do this with him.鈥�

Byrd says her father worked with many nurses who were an integral part of his practice and were very special to him.

鈥淢y daughter is a nurse now and serves many residents in an assisted living facility in Fayetteville,鈥� said Byrd. 鈥淪he comes in contact with many residents and family members who knew her grandfather, and she has cared for many Meredith alumnae over the years.鈥�

Byrd鈥檚 two children, Anna and Ross, were at the endowment signing on April 30, along with Byrd鈥檚 grandson, Robert. Byrd credits her father as being very involved and helpful in raising her two children after her husband passed away when they were young.

鈥淭he creation of your scholarship is a beautiful blend of your passions. We know it鈥檚 an extraordinary way to honor your beloved father, and also demonstrates your Meredith pride and your connection here,鈥� said President Sapp. 鈥淚t鈥檚 clear that your enthusiasm for a Bachelor of Science in nursing is just contagious. Anyone who talks to you can feel your energy and passion around that.鈥�

Byrd majored in sociology at Meredith and obtained her licensure in social work. She earned her master鈥檚 degree in social work at Washington University in Saint Louis. After a 39-year career in mental health and school social work, Byrd retired in 2016.

As an alumna, Byrd has remained extremely active as a class gift agent and Alumnae Association Board member. As class gift agent, she has engaged her class to work toward a $250,000 50th reunion class gift. Byrd has spent countless hours volunteering at campus and alumnae events. She always makes the staff she works with feel appreciated with her treat bags and words of encouragement.

The nursing scholarship is one of several generous gifts Byrd has made to the College. Since graduating, she has given to the Class of 1976 flag pole at Meredith (her senior class gift), the Class of 1976 study abroad scholarship, Meredith鈥檚 Greatest Needs, the Chaplain鈥檚 Student Emergency fund, the Lake Renovation fund, the Grounds fund, the Jones Auditorium Renovation fund, and now the nursing scholarship.

Helping others, giving back, and volunteering time is a gift from the Byrd family.

鈥淚 feel like caring for others is probably a family tradition of yours. We thank you for all the ways that you and your family pay it forward and graciously answer our call with all kinds of needs. It鈥檚 people like you who will help keep Meredith strong and help us push forward and become even stronger, and we cannot express how much we appreciate it,鈥� said Sapp.