John and Heidi Grey Niblack ’68 champion education access, take aim at nursing shortage.

 

Colby-Sawyer will award 16 four-year, full-ride scholarships to talented first-year Bachelor of Science in nursing students — eight entering in fall 2026 and eight in fall 2027.

The John and Heidi Grey Niblack ’68 Nursing Scholars will be supported by a $3 million fund that will cover their tuition, room and board, and mandatory fees, and provide them with a dedicated team of advisors and mentors. 

The demand for nurses nationwide is greater than the supply, said benefactor John Niblack, who added that the demand will continue to go up as the country’s population ages. 

One way to shrink the gap between the demand and supply, he said, is to make sure that cost is not an obstacle for students to earn a degree.

Another is to increase the number of men entering the profession; according to 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor data, about 12% of licensed practical nurses, registered nurses and nurse practitioners are men.  

“The scholarships we are creating are intended to help in mitigating this crisis, by increasing the supply of well-trained women and men with a Bachelor of Science in nursing,” he said. 

Colby-Sawyer President Dean McCurdy said the Niblacks' magnanimous gift reflects the college’s mission to prepare students to thrive in, and meaningfully contribute to, their communities. 

“John and Heidi are helping students gain education and training that will allow them to be leaders in healthcare for decades to come,” he said. “Their investment in Colby-Sawyer and the next generation of nurses will build stronger, healthier communities.” 

Peter White, dean of Colby-Sawyer's School of Nursing & Health Sciences, said the Niblacks’ timely scholarships will help ensure that people — particularly in rural areas — will have compassionate, skilled nurses during this period of significant nursing shortages. 

“This remarkable gift opens doors for aspiring nurses who might otherwise be unable to pursue their calling,” White said. “This generosity strengthens not only our students, but also the health and vitality of the regions they will serve.” 

Easing students’ financial challenges allows them to fully engage in academic and clinical experiences that are central to their professional preparation, said Joan Loftus, director and chair of nursing. “We are deeply grateful for their partnership and the profound and lasting difference they will make in the lives of our students and, ultimately, the patients they will care for,” she said. 

Nursing majors are also engaged leaders across campus, including in clubs, student government and athletics, where they comprise about 15% of the college’s student-athletes.

 

 

Niblack Scholars will learn and train in the next-generation Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences. The 20,500-square-foot facility that opened in 2024 includes a simulation center, 12 beds in two skills laboratories, three clinical exam rooms, two anatomy and physiology labs, the latest hospital-grade instruments and devices, 24-hour study rooms, a nurses’ station and café. 

And because of the college's decades-long partnership with Dartmouth Health, Colby-Sawyer nursing students receive an outstanding clinical education at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, New Hampshire’s only academic medical center and Level I trauma center. Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center consistently offers employment to 100% of the college’s graduating nurses. 

Susan A. Reeves ’88, system chief nurse executive at Dartmouth Health, said Colby-Sawyer is fortunate to have benefactors such as the Niblacks who recognize the importance of building the future nursing workforce.  

“The current nursing shortage continues to intensify, with a peak expected in the next few years, before abating sometime after 2035,” she said. “There are encouraging signs that interest in nursing is again growing among prospective students. Thus, the elimination of barriers to high-quality nursing education, as will be the case with the Niblack Nursing Scholars program, will assure the best and brightest have opportunities to pursue the profession.” 

Colby-Sawyer nursing students regularly demonstrate their preparedness and competence. Graduates taking the required National Council Licensure Examination for the first time consistently score above the national average. In 2025, for instance, Colby-Sawyer's 97.06% pass rate was more than nine points higher than the national average. 

Dan Parish, vice president for college advancement, called the Niblacks’ gift a sign of trust in the top-flight nursing program at Colby-Sawyer, which has as its motto, Paratae Servire, or Prepared to Serve. 

Heidi Grey Niblack, who graduated in 1968 from then-Colby Junior College with a degree in liberal arts, exemplifies the motto. She worked as an office administrator, including as an executive secretary at Pfizer, Inc., and part time in an advertising agency that specialized in pharmaceutical clients. Volunteerism has also been a significant aspect of her life and career.

She currently is on the board of United Way of Palm Beach, Florida. Previously, she was president of her local garden club, volunteered at her church, was involved with the Salvation Army in New London, Connecticut, and contributed time and resources to High Hopes Therapeutic Riding in Old Lyme, Connecticut, which benefits individuals with physical, mental and emotional challenges. 

Dr. John F. Niblack retired from Pfizer Inc. in 2002 as vice chairman of the board of directors and as president of Pfizer Global Research and Development.

He is now on the board of the Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach, Florida, and is on the visiting committee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department. 

His 35-year career at Pfizer spanned almost every aspect of research and development operations. As president and principal scientific officer of the Global Research and Development division, he managed the largest pharmaceutical research force in the world — with 12,000 researchers and an annual research budget of more than $5 billion. Niblack earned a B.S. in chemistry from Oklahoma State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Illinois. 

For years, the Niblacks have generously supported the college's highest priorities; their philanthropy has created opportunities that benefit students today and will continue to do so for future generations. The couple are members of the Legends Society, which recognizes people who have contributed $1 million or more to the college. They have been leadership donors to the Colby-Sawyer Fund and were early donors to the Davidow Center for Art + Design; the John and Heidi Grey Niblack ’68 Black Box Theater is named in their honor.  

In 2018, the couple established a $500,000 endowment to support student internships and engaged learning opportunities. And, in 2024, Heidi received the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of her exceptional contributions to society. The Niblacks are also members of the Heritage Society, having made provisions for the college in their estate plans. 

Beth Bryant Camp '92, Colby-Sawyer director of development, said the college is deeply grateful to the couple for this latest gift. “The Niblacks’ decades-long philanthropy is truly inspiring,” she said, “and we remain profoundly thankful for their continued investment in Colby-Sawyer and our students.” 

Visit the John and Heidi Grey Niblack ’68 Nursing Scholarship website for more information and to apply for the fall 2026 scholarship by the March 1 deadline.