Ron and Millie 鈥�82 Burkman, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, established the first endowed professorship in the College of Health Professions in late 2024. It will be awarded in fall 2025.

Millie completed her Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at TU in three years while her husband was on the faculty at Johns Hopkins University.

 

 

You created a scholarship for nursing students鈥攚hat moved you to do so? 

In short, the COVID pandemic.

Health care professionals faced huge challenges, and a significant number of nurses either burned out or retired. For many students, education costs are prohibitive and providing scholarship support helps address the problem of nursing shortages. 

Your giving has expanded to fund the first endowed professorship in TU鈥檚 College of Health Professions at $1 million. Why endow a professorship?

Endowed faculty positions help attract high-quality teachers and researchers, which improves the academic environment and attracts well-qualified students. Coupled with the recent opening of the state-of-the-art Health Professions Building, it seemed like a unique opportunity to make a difference.

How do you hope to make a difference through your philanthropy?

Clearly, quality health care is essential. Improving the student experience and conducting needed research are the goals for our gift.

You returned to college later in life for your BSN. How challenging was it to go from being a nurse and a mother raising children to being a student again?

Childcare was one of the biggest obstacles. My children were in elementary school, and my husband was a physician.

Luckily, TU was a short driving distance away, and I had neighbors who were able to help with before- and after-school childcare.

Was there anyone in your life who inspired your philanthropy?

There wasn鈥檛 any one person who inspired us. But over the years our family鈥檚 savings grew substantially, our needs were being met and it presented the opportunity for us to make more substantial donations.

Photo: Roger Hart