NAU's College of Nursing Expansion Aims to Address Arizona's Nursing Shortage

A major gift will allow the university to train more nurses to serve local communities.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:54pm

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A minimalist neon outline of a nurse's stethoscope, capturing the essential role of healthcare workers in supporting vibrant communities.Investing in the next generation of nurses to serve Arizona's diverse healthcare needs.Flagstaff Today

Northern Arizona University's College of Nursing is undergoing a significant expansion thanks to a major philanthropic commitment from Maria and Steve Sanghi. The new resources will allow NAU to dramatically increase nursing program enrollment and graduate more skilled professionals to address Arizona's severe healthcare workforce crisis, which includes a shortage of over 30,000 nurses statewide.

Why it matters

Arizona faces a critical shortage of nurses and primary care providers, leaving many communities without adequate access to healthcare. By training more nurses who stay in the state after graduation, NAU's College of Nursing plays a vital role in strengthening the healthcare infrastructure across Arizona, especially in underserved areas like rural towns and Tribal lands.

The details

The Sanghis' gift will establish new resources for academic excellence, career readiness, leadership development, and faculty impact at the College of Nursing. It will also create a distinguished deanship to provide long-term strategic direction. Additionally, plans are in place for a new 40,000-square-foot facility to expand the college's physical capacity. Currently, up to 200 qualified applicants are turned away each year due to lack of space, but the expansion aims to dramatically grow enrollment in the years ahead.

  • NAU's College of Nursing was founded to serve the healthcare needs of the Flagstaff region and broader state of Arizona.
  • The Sanghi gift was announced in April 2026.

The players

Northern Arizona University

A public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona that was established to serve the healthcare and educational needs of the surrounding region.

Maria and Steve Sanghi

Longtime supporters of NAU who have made a major philanthropic commitment to the university's College of Nursing, enabling its expansion.

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What they’re saying

“Healthy communities are the foundation of everything else we want for Arizona – strong schools, growing businesses, vibrant neighborhoods. You cannot build any of that sustainably without a healthcare workforce that can meet the need.”

— José Luis Cruz Rivera, President, Northern Arizona University

What’s next

NAU plans to break ground on the new 40,000-square-foot College of Nursing facility in the coming year, which will allow the university to significantly expand its nursing program enrollment and graduate more skilled professionals to address Arizona's healthcare workforce crisis.

The takeaway

By investing in NAU's College of Nursing, the Sanghis are making a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of communities across Arizona. This expansion will create more opportunities for aspiring nurses, strengthen the state's healthcare infrastructure, and improve access to quality care for residents in underserved areas.