Bulldogs Give Back
A Foundation for Care
A landmark gift establishes the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing ahead of its inaugural class.
Before its first students ever step into a classroom, the University of Georgia’s Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing already has what many programs spend decades building: a name, a mission, and a powerful foundation rooted in philanthropy.
In April, UGA announced the school would be named in honor of Victoria Kay Ivester, recognizing transformational gifts from Doug Ivester BBA ’69 and the Ivester Foundation to create a $20.5 million endowment benefiting the school.
Founding Dean Carolyn Clevenger, then-Provost Benjamin Ayers, Kay Ivester, Doug Ivester, President Jere W. Morehead, and Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Jill Walton pose for a photo during the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing event.
President Jere W. Morehead presents Kay Ivester with an engraved bowl during the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing event.
At a luncheon for Doug and Kay Ivester and members of the Ivester Foundation board hosted by President Jere W. Morehead JD ’80, Kay Ivester was surprised with the announcement that the school would bear her name, honoring her lifelong commitment to caring for others and strengthening communities across Georgia. Founding Dean Carolyn K. Clevenger and other university leaders also attended the luncheon.
“It means so much to me to be able to play a role in supporting UGA’s — and the state’s — future nurses,” Kay Ivester says. “I’m deeply honored, and even more inspired by what this school will mean for students who feel called to care for others and for the communities they’ll go on to serve.”
For Clevenger, the timing and scale of the gift are extraordinary.
“Not all nursing schools are named, and not all have an endowment,” she says. “To have both, before we even welcome students, is tremendous.”
That early investment, she explains, ensures the school can launch with intention. When its first cohort arrives in fall 2027, there will be philanthropic resources in place — supporting students, faculty, and innovative programming from day one.
Clevenger sees the endowment as more than a simple financial contribution. It signals what is possible when philanthropy begets progress.
“Philanthropy is the accelerator,” she says. “It allows you to make a real difference in people’s daily lives, not only years from now, but right away.”
That immediacy is critical as Georgia faces growing demand for nurses and expanded access to care. The new school is designed to meet that need by preparing graduates to serve in hospitals, public health departments, schools, and communities in every one of the state’s 159 counties.
But the school’s impact extends beyond workforce development.
“Nursing is one of the most assured pathways to upward mobility,” Clevenger says. “You can follow a calling to serve while also supporting a family, buying a home, and changing the economic trajectory of generations.”
That dual promise, service and opportunity, aligns closely with the Ivesters’ philanthropic legacy. Longtime supporters of UGA, the couple has invested across disciplines, from business and medicine to education and the arts, with a focus on expanding access and strengthening communities.
Their influence will now be woven into the fabric of the nursing school.
“There’s a thread there around servant-leadership. Our students will see what it means to use your resources, your time, your talent, and your generosity to improve the lives of others.”
– CAROLYN K. CLEVENGER
Founding Dean, Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing
As the school grows, that ethos will shape not only who students become but how they lead. With a focus on mentorship, community engagement, and long-term career support, the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing aims to prepare graduates who will influence patient care, health systems, and communities across the state.
For Clevenger, success is measured not only in degrees awarded but in lives changed. Patients cared for, communities strengthened, and future nurses inspired to give back all define the school’s impact.
“Like building a home, this is the foundation,” she says. “Because it’s strong, everything we build from here can go even further.”
Founding Dean Carolyn K. Clevenger, Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing.
For more than three decades, the Ivesters have shaped the University of Georgia through extraordinary generosity. At its heart, this naming reflects something deeper: a lasting commitment to care and to the students and communities who will embody that legacy for generations to come.
