DeLuca Philanthropy Invests $15.5M in WGU for Nursing Education and Workforce Expansion
DeLuca鈥檚 investment supports WGU鈥檚 new simulation center in Florida and the ReNEW Fund
ORLANDO, Fla. 鈥� January 27, 2026听鈥� Western Governors University鈥檚听(WGU)听Michael O. Leavitt School of Health听today announced the opening of the DeLuca WGU Clinical Learning and Simulation Center听in Orlando,听a state-of-the-art听facility听that builds capacity and can provide about 3,000 experiential sessions per year.
鈥淲e believe one of the best ways to help more students achieve their dream of becoming a nurse is by investing in partners like WGU who can scale high-quality nursing education,鈥� said Elisabeth DeLuca. 鈥淲GU helps reduce the barriers of entry into the nursing profession, and the DeLuca WGU Clinical Learning and Simulation Center ensures that thousands of students graduate fully prepared for real-world clinical practice听鈥斕齝reating a stronger, more resilient nursing workforce in Florida and across the Southeast.鈥�
Developed with听a $5.5 million gift from听DeLuca Philanthropy,听the simulation center reflects听the听longstanding commitment of partnering听with听organizations听to听improve听health听care access and outcomes throughout Florida and the听Southeast.听The new facility听aims to generate new nurses by听clinically training听students enrolled in听WGU鈥檚听Bachelor of Science in Nursing -听Prelicensure听degree program听that听are听based out of Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
鈥淭his new center reflects what鈥檚 possible when innovative education and visionary philanthropy come together,鈥� said WGU President Scott Pulsipher. 鈥淲ith DeLuca Philanthropy鈥檚 support, we鈥檙e expanding access to rigorous clinical training and accelerating the path for thousands of students to become highly skilled nurses serving communities across the Southeast.鈥�
This investment builds on WGU鈥檚 broader efforts to expand health听care education, which includes the Reinvesting in Nursing Education and Workforce (ReNEW) Fund,听created in partnership with national nonprofit Social Finance.鈥疞aunched in 2024 and supported by a $10 million gift from DeLuca听Philanthropy, the听ReNEW听Fund offers zero-interest loans to help aspiring registered nurses earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. By combining WGU鈥檚 flexible, competency-based platform with affordable education financing and connections to employers,听the听ReNEW听Fund听is designed to address critical health听care workforce shortages.
Expanding over听15,000 square feet, the DeLuca WGU Clinical Learning and Simulation Center in Florida features advanced high-fidelity medical education simulation equipment across five simulation rooms and two skills labs with 17 patient beds,听four听patient exam rooms,听five听student-focused debriefing rooms, and a large multipurpose room for teaching. Equipped with a nurses鈥� station and medication room to simulate clinical scenarios, the facility also provides hands-on training using lifelike manikins 鈥� responsive patient simulators 鈥� to prepare students听for听the nuances of direct patient care.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 5%鈥�痮f the听registered nurse听workforce听from 2024 to 2034, with听more than 189,000 job openings each year,鈥�痭urse retirements and workforce exits are factored into the number of nurses needed nationwide.听With more听than听22,000 health sciences and nursing graduates in the Southeast region,听nearly 9,000听from Florida, WGU鈥檚听Leavitt School of Health鈥檚 hybrid and online programs are designed to meet the growing demands of the changing health care industry.
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About听DeLuca Philanthropy
DeLuca Philanthropy is dedicated to expanding access to opportunity by supporting the education and wellbeing of individuals, families, and those that care for them.鈥�
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