Colby-Sawyer College celebrated the opening of the Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences in two dedication events during its recent Homecoming & Family Weekend.

The college broke ground on the 20,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in May 2023, and the building opened for use when classes started at the college this fall. The first grand opening celebration, held on Thursday, Oct. 17, was a private event for donors, current and former trustees, faculty emeriti and representatives from Dartmouth Health and New London Hospital, as well as representatives from HGA, the building’s architects, and H.P. Cummings, the construction management team. A public event was held on Friday afternoon.

Colby-Sawyer Interim President Laura Sykes ’98 welcomed attendees to both events and shared a statement from former President Susan D. Stuebner, who explained why the addition of the Schaefer Center was a critical next step in the college’s evolving commitment to education in the health sciences.

“In 2018, when a small group of trustees reflected on how to maximize Colby-Sawyer’s strengths and distinguish the institution in a highly competitive time, it was exciting to see the possibilities in nursing and health sciences unfold,” Stuebner wrote. “By strengthening the current undergraduate nursing program and partnering with Dartmouth Health on new graduate and professional programs, our hope was to see the growth that the college has since experienced. We knew early on that if the plan was successful, we would need to expand space in support of these programs.”

The Schaefer Center for Health Sciences is that expanded space — a dynamic hub for academic and clinical training. It features the Gail Graham Lee ’62 Nursing Simulation Center, a modern, four-room simulation center with learning environments to accommodate medical/surgical, pediatric, intensive care and labor and delivery education; three medical exam rooms; the Davidow Laboratory, donated by William H. and Sonja Carlson Davidow ’56, and the Rooke Laboratory, donated by the Withington Foundation, which feature physiology simulation equipment, new microscopes, anatomical models and hands-on dissection opportunities to supplement classroom instruction; two fully equipped, 12-bed laboratories, the Burrows Nursing Skills Laboratory, donated by Tom and Judy Burrows Csatari and the Carey Nursing Skills Laboratory, donated by Wendy and Chase Carey; and a nurses' station, donated by the Knapp-Swezey Foundation, that simulates the hospital/clinical environment of today.

While serving primarily as the home of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences, the Schaefer Center is also designed as a resource for the entire college community. Its first floor features the Student Commons, donated by Deborah L. Coffin ’76, which offers a versatile space for students to study or engage in group projects. The building’s study spaces and café — recently named Victor’s Corner Café through a college-wide vote — provide inviting spaces for students, faculty and staff from across campus to gather.

The building is named to honor the late Janet Udall Schaefer, who first attended Colby Junior College in 1952 and later returned to complete her degree in 1996. When Schaefer passed away in February 2022, she left an extraordinary legacy with a gift exceeding $12.5 million, one of the largest one-time donations in Colby-Sawyer’s history. A significant portion of her contribution was designated to help fund the construction of the new health sciences building.

The $19 million project was completely donor and grant funded, including $1.5 million in federal funding that was included in the 2022 government bill thanks to the advocacy of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. Chris Scott, Shaheen’s deputy state director, spoke at Thursday night’s event and read remarks that the senator had prepared.

“The Schaefer Center for Health Sciences will build on Colby-Sawyer's proud legacy of shaping students into dedicated and highly skilled healthcare workers,” Shaheen wrote. “Educating and mentoring our next generation of healthcare professionals is vital to the long-term success of our Granite State, and it brings me great pleasure to know the Schaefer Center will equip our best and brightest to excel in the classroom and in the field.”