UW-Oshkosh celebrates naming of Mary Novak-Jandrey College of Nursing, Health Professions, and STEM

The University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh community turned out Wednesday to celebrate nursing alumna Mary Novak-Jandrey and the naming of the Mary Novak-Jandrey College of Nursing, Health Professions and STEM inside Clow Academic Complex.

The college was named following a historic and transformational $10 million endowment gift, the largest philanthropic gift in UW-Oshkosh history.

The extraordinary gift from Novak-Jandrey and her beloved late husband, Edward “Ned” Jandrey, establishes permanent endowments that will provide sustained, long-term support for students, faculty and staff development, curriculum innovation, teaching infrastructure, simulation and applied learning environments and collaborative education across nursing, health professions and STEM.

Novak-Jandrey said education was instrumental in her life. She and her husband had discussed and planned years ago, to support UWO faculty and future generations of students.

Ned Jandrey passed away on Oct. 1, 2023. She said he would have been incredibly proud of the College’s naming.

The impact of a UWO education

“As a first-generation student, I know how education can change a life. My career has shown me that real progress comes from lifelong learning and bringing health, science and technology together around people,” Novak-Jandrey said.

UW-Oshkosh College of Nursing

Mary Novak-Jandrey, center, speaks to members of the media, along with Manohar Singh, University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh chancellor, left, and Seon Yoon Chung, dean of the College of Nursing, Health Professions and STEM during a celebration of the naming of the college in her name.

mary-novak-jandrey photo

Mary Novak-Jandrey, who with her late husband Edward “Ned” Jandrey, provided a $10 million endowment gift to UWO, was honored Sept. 30 in a naming ceremony of the Mary Novak-Jandrey College of Nursing, Health Professions and STEM.

Novak-Jandrey, a 1974 UWO nursing graduate, has maintained a strong connection to the university that helped shape her own journey. Her gift reflects her personal history and a desire to create opportunities for future generations of students.

“At a time when a college education seemed out of reach for my family, UWO was a local, affordable option that offered a high-quality experience,” Novak-Jandrey said. “Many of my life successes can be traced back to the varied opportunities I experienced while at UWO. While many may believe that UWO, as a state university, is fully funded by the state, this is not reality. It takes all of us, the entire community that benefits from a local university, to support its ongoing success.”

The endowment will provide sustained support for student success, faculty and staff development, curriculum innovation, simulation learning environments and interdisciplinary education.

Resources from the fund will help expand access to high-impact learning experiences, advance innovative teaching and workforce preparation initiatives, strengthen simulation and experiential learning opportunities and support collaborative programs that prepare graduates to address complex healthcare, STEM and community challenges.

Seon Yoon Chung, dean of the Mary Novak-Jandrey College of Nursing, Health Professions and STEM, said the gift will strengthen the college’s ability to innovate, expand learning opportunities and respond to evolving workforce needs.

“Mary Novak-Jandrey’s extraordinary generosity is an investment in possibility,” she said. “This endowment will expand opportunities for students, strengthen faculty innovation, enhance simulation and experiential learning envirvonments and support new interdisciplinary approaches to education that prepare graduates to address the evolving needs of healthcare, science and society. The impact of this gift will extend far beyond our campus, empowering generations of students to transform lives, strengthen communities and lead with compassion, expertise and innovation.

UWO Chancellor Manohar Singh said the gift reflects the power of philanthropy to strengthen public higher education and the communities UW-Oshkosh serves.

“Mary’s historic gift represents far more than a remarkable act of generosity,” he said. “It is an expression of belief in UW-Oshkosh, in the tranformative power of public higher education and, most importantly, in the generations of students who will follow in her footsteps.

“Her legacy will live not only in the name of this college,” he added, “but in the opportunities created for our students, the innovation advanced by our faculty and staff and the communities strengthened by the graduates who leave UWO prepared to make an impact.”

The naming became effective July 1, 2026, following approval by the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

Wednesday’s celebration included a press conference, an official naming ceremony in the Clow Academic Complex and a reception in Reeve Memorial Union, bringing together students, faculty, staff, alumni, university leaders, donors, elected officials and community members.
Novak-Jandrey worked to support herself through college and she developed the independence, resilience and determination that guided her personal and professional life. Following graduation, she advanced into leadership roles in healthcare and other areas, including human resources and manufacturing and excavating with her husband, and founded a consulting firm.
During Wednesday’s ceremony leaders from the nursing college pointed out that the couple had been offering financial support to UW-Oshkosh since the early 2000s. And in 2017, Novak-Jandrey and her husband established the Dean Emerita Rosemary Smith Endowed Professorship at UWO, honoring Smith for her 10 years leading the college and more than 27 years as an educator. The professorship supports faculty appointments to help grow the College.
Wednesday’s naming ensures Novak-Jandrey’s connection to UW-Oshkosh will remain visible for generations, while endowment behind the name will continue creating opportunities for the students, faculty and communities the college serves.

“Building a College around health, science and technology is an innovative step for the future of education in Wisconsin,” Novak-Jandrey said in an interview Wednesday. “I’m honored to support a college that is forward-thinking and invests in collaboration, faculty and most importantly, students and their success.”