UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – William “Bill” Conway Jr. and Joanne Barkett Conway (in memoriam), founders of the Bedford Falls Foundation, have been named Honorary Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing. The Conways have been steadfast supporters of nursing education at Penn State, most notably for their $2 million contribution to Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing in 2023.
“The generosity of Bill and Joanne Conway is inspirational; they have gone beyond funding nursing education — they are fueling the future of nursing,” said Laurie Badzek, dean of the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. “I am so thrilled they are being recognized for the legacy they have built.”
Through the Bedford Falls Foundation, the Conways have supported 45 nursing schools and thousands of nursing students nationwide. Their philanthropy is guided by a belief that every person deserves compassionate care — a vision being realized through their goal of contributing $1 billion to help end the nursing shortage. Bill Conway credits his late wife, Joanne, who passed away in 2024, for inspiring their shared mission to empower individuals with opportunities to establish fulfilling nursing careers.
According to the American Academy of Nursing, the Honorary Fellow designation recognizes leaders who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing the nursing profession and supporting the academy’s mission: to improve health and achieve health equity through nursing leadership, innovation, and science.
The Conways will be formally inducted during the academy’s Health Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., from Oct. 16–18. Also being recognized at the academy’s Health Policy Conference are Nese College of Nursing faculty researchers Ying-Ling Jao, associate professor of nursing, who will be inducted as a fellow, and Sheridan Miyamoto, associate professor of nursing, who will be honored as an "Edge Runner" for her SAFE-T System work.
About the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing at Penn State is one of the largest educators of pre-licensure students in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with nearly 2000 undergraduate and graduate students at various campuses across the state. The college is dedicated to advancing health through nursing education, research, and service. With programs across multiple campuses, the college prepares future nurses to lead with compassion, innovation and integrity. To learn more, visit nursing.psu.edu.
About Philanthropy to Penn State
Donors like the Conways advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.