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Million-dollar gift to benefit nursing program

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Jim '73 and Ann Marie Maciej.

St. Cloud State alumnus Jim Maciej ’73 and his wife, Ann Marie Maciej, have gifted $1 million to the University’s nursing program.

The gift will fund the creation of new nursing-simulation labs and related technology infrastructure. It will also support the acquisition of future technologies.

The Department of Nursing wing in Brown Hall will be named the “Jim ’73 and Ann Marie Maciej Nursing Education Suite.”

“This gift will absolutely transform the experience of our students in nursing and give faculty the tools they need to ensure the success of our students. We are honored that Jim and Ann Marie have made SCSU’s nursing program their philanthropic priority,” said President Robbyn Wacker.

“As baby boomers retire from the healthcare profession it is imperative that we meet the region’s workforce needs for highly skilled and highly caring nurses,” said Shonda Craft, dean of the School of Health and Human Services. “This gift will go a long way in helping us meet that critical need in our community.”

St. Cloud State’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing includes a core grounding in the sciences, supplemented by significant clinical experience and, increasingly, experience using highly sophisticated simulation, Craft said.

Nearly 95 percent of St. Cloud State’s 2017 graduating class passed the National Council Licensure Exam on the first attempt, according to Jane Bagley, chair of the Department of Nursing.

Said Jim Maciej: “Ann Marie and I really like that so many of St. Cloud State’s nursing graduates continue to live and work in the community. So, making this significant gift seemed like a great way to help the community we call home and the University we love.”

Check for $1 million gift to Nursing
From left are Jim Maciej ’73; President Robbyn Wacker; Shonda Craft, dean of the School of Health and Human Services; and Ann Marie Maciej.

School of Health and Human Services faculty members are preparing about 2,500 students for careers via 12 undergraduate programs and 11 graduate programs. Each semester, more 400 students are placed with community partners for hands-on learning experiences.

This is the largest-ever gift to the School of Health and Human Services, according to Craft.

Ann Marie Maciej is a former registered nurse, coronary care nurse and certified registered nurse anesthetist who spent 40 years in the health care profession, primarily at Fairview-Southdale Hospital, Edina.

Jim Maciej is past president of the Ac’cent Companies and J-V-M Realty Advisors of Edina.

He chaired the Minnesota Commercial Association of Realtors, the Minnesota Industrial Development Association and the Minnesota Economic Development Foundation.

He served on the St Cloud State University Foundation Board of Trustees. He created scholarship and internship programs at St. Cloud State and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, which have provided $245,000 in grants to 182 student scholars.

Jeff Wood '81 '87 '95
Jeff Wood '81 '87 '95
Living on one Minnesota river or another since 1959.
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