Stonehill Celebrates Launch of Nursing Program with Local and State Leaders

College welcomes inaugural cohort of 57 students at kickoff celebration.

by the Office of Communications & Media Relations
October 21, 2026
Stonehill College's inaugural nursing cohort with faculty

Stonehill College marked the launch of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and welcomed its inaugural cohort during a kickoff celebration held Tuesday, October 20, in the Leo J. Meehan School of Business. The special event brought together academic leaders, students, healthcare professionals and elected officials.  

Dean of Nursing Susan Taylor, Ph.D., opened the celebration with a reflection on the role Stonehill students will play in advancing the common good.

“Today, we celebrate not only the launch of Stonehill’s nursing degree, but also the beginning of a new era of opportunity for our students and the communities they will serve,” she said. “As we get to work preparing the next generation of caregivers and strengthening the pipeline of qualified nurses south of Boston, I’m excited to imagine the positive impact that our students will have on patients and families across a range of healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities and beyond.”

Rev. John Denning, C.S.C., president of the College, highlighted the strong support for Stonehill’s BSN degree. 

“The excitement for this program has been evident since it was first announced last November,” he said. “At the time, we hoped to enroll 40 students in our inaugural class. We are pleased to share that we welcomed a total of 57 future nurses this semester, underscoring not only the critical need for healthcare professionals but also demonstrating the great value that students and families see in a Stonehill education.” 

From left, President John Denning, Dr. Jessica Zeidman, Representative Bridget Plouffe, Dean of Nursing Susan Taylor, Vice President for Academic Affairs Peter Ubertaccio and Sen. William Driscoll Jr.

The event also featured remarks from Jessica Zeidman, M.D., deputy commissioner and chief medical officer for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. She spoke about the “sacred trust” that society places in nursing education programs. 

“Every single one of us will receive care, not just from one, but from many nurses over the course of our lifetime,” she said. “They’ll take care of us when we’re well, they’ll take care of us when we’re sick, they’ll deliver our babies and they’ll take care of our families when we need them. Nursing is a profession of service, of humanism and of tremendous intellectual achievement.”

Senator William Driscoll Jr., Representative Lisa Field, Representative Meghan Kilcoyne ’10 and Representative Bridget Plouffe presented the College with citations commemorating the BSN’s launch.

“Stonehill is constantly looking for ways to expand the College’s impact…when they see a need in the community, they fill it,” Representative Plouffe said. “Nurses are helpers. They are there to provide for patients in their moment of need, when they’re injured, ill or afraid. I know that the College will train nurses to treat with dignity, compassion and humility because that’s the Stonehill way.”

Stonehill’s BSN program is a key initiative outlined in Stonehill 2030: Building Together, the College’s five-year strategic plan that emphasizes the development of programs enabling students to lead and serve with purpose.

Combining innovative clinical practice and empathy-centered education, the nursing degree equips students to serve a wide range of patients. Supporting their full potential and impact, the program aligns with the College’s Catholic and Holy Cross values, as well as the principles of the Skyhawk Core Curriculum, which fosters inquiry, exploration and discovery as students develop their knowledge, skills and character. 

Related Articles

For You