$5M family donation boosts scholarships for School of Nursing at Oxford

$5M family donation boosts scholarships for School of Nursing at Oxford

Students entering the University of Mississippi Medical Center's largest health science school by enrollment will get a boost with a new scholarship program in fall 2026.

The Johnson Scholars program is part of an overall $5 million gift from Lisa and Michael Johnson of Madison, Mississippi, that provides both an endowment for School of Nursing's Oxford Center and a scholarship fund for Mississippi residents enrolling in the Oxford program. The gift is designed to help meet the critical needs in nursing and to retain the state's best and brightest in health care careers. Students in the accelerated BSN program at Oxford are also eligible.

"Mississippi is my home and it has been good to me, my family and my company," said Michael E. Johnson, CEO of The Landmark Companies, a Flowood-based residential development company, and one of the benefactors of the gift. "Ole Miss played an important role educating my father ('60), and me ('96).

"One of the ways we wanted to give back was through financial support of UMMC's expanded nursing school in Oxford. Our hope is the help create a preeminent nursing facility that trains health care workers who will stay in Mississippi to serve the health care needs of our state."

The Johnson Family Oxford Nursing Scholarship will be merit-based and intended for students planning to stay and practice in Mississippi.

"We are deeply grateful for the Johnson family's transformational gift and generous investment in student scholarships," said Dr. Tina Martin, dean of the School of Nursing. "These scholarships will help ease the financial burden of pursuing a nursing degree, making it more accessible for students to achieve their goals while also addressing the ongoing nursing shortage."

Martin also lauded the timing of the gift, coming at a pivotal time in the growth of the school.

In fall 2025, the school had 961 students enrolled at UMMC and at SON's South Oxford Center. A new building to house the school is expected to be completed and in use by November. The school's Accelerated BSN program is expanding on both campuses from 80 to 90 students at each site, starting in January 2027 in Jackson and August 2027 in Oxford.

"The progress we're making through infrastructure and program expansions will help us address the critical need for nurses, and this scholarship gift will help students fulfill their goals of caring for Mississippians," said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs.

Meredith Aldridge, executive director of the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement for UMMC said the Johnson family's investment marks a transformative moment for the nursing program on the Oxford campus.

"Their generous scholarship support will open doors for deserving Mississippians who want to learn, serve, and build their careers right here at home. By establishing an endowment dedicated to the Oxford campus, the Johnsons are also ensuring that our school has the resources to grow, innovate, and thrive for generations to come," she said.

"We are incredibly thankful for Lisa and Michael's generosity and ​commitment to our nursing program," said Chancellor Glenn Boyce. "Their investment in our Oxford campus will expand training for the next generation of nurses and their scholars program will ​give more Mississippi students the opportunity to pursue careers of service. The impact of their gift will be felt by our students, institution and state for decades to come."

Growing Mississippi's health care workforce is a long-term goal for the endowment, Johnson said, one that should help businesses across all industries in the state attract and retain employees.

"We've all been touched by the health care system, whether it be through family members being cared for or through our work," Michael Johnson said. "If Mississippi can provide a health care system that sets us apart, people and businesses will want to stay here - and relocate here."