Kelly Ade, a nurse at Stony Brook University Hospital, has been named one of the 12 recipients of the inaugural SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship. The scholarship is part of a new pilot program aimed at increasing the number of qualified nursing educators in New York State.
The initiative supports nurses with bachelor’s degrees who are pursuing master’s degrees in nursing. In exchange for financial support, recipients agree to serve as faculty members for three years at a SUNY associate-level nursing program. The scholarship provides up to $25,000 per academic year—covering up to $20,000 for tuition and fees and an additional $5,000 annual stipend during eligible enrollment.
Ade expressed her appreciation for the award. “I am overwhelmed with an immense sense of gratitude and honor,” she said. “It relieves the financial stress of graduate education but also allows me the opportunity to give back to the future nursing workforce. I am so grateful to God.”
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. commented on the broader goals behind the scholarship program: “Governor Hochul has set a clear and ambitious agenda to strengthen our future healthcare workforce, and SUNY has been laser-focused on supporting more New Yorkers to successfully enter this field through ongoing investment in our infrastructure and essential medical equipment, strategic partnerships, and academic programs,” he said. “New Yorkers are eager to pursue careers in nursing, and we need more skilled faculty to teach the next generation of nurses.”
Ade lives in Miller Place, New York, and is enrolled part-time in Stony Brook’s Family Nurse Practitioner program while working as a registered nurse in Stony Brook University Hospital’s main operating room. She plans to use the scholarship funds to focus on completing her master’s degree without added financial pressure.
“Career-wise, it allows me the opportunity to teach nursing students in a two-year program, which has been a long-term career aspiration for me,” Ade said.
She is interested in eventually working as an advanced practice provider specializing in cardiology or functional medicine and hopes one day to become a university-level nursing professor.
Ade credits her parents—both healthcare workers—for influencing her decision to pursue nursing. She described nursing as “the perfect blend of science and the art of compassion,” with its primary goal being holistic patient care.
She also recognized Cynthia Jorgensen, assistant director of nursing at Stony Brook Medicine, for her support throughout Ade’s time as both a practicing nurse and now as a graduate student. “She promotes a positive culture in which staff are motivated to work to their highest capability, while supporting each other’s goals and aspirations,” Ade said.
Jorgensen spoke highly of Ade’s development within Stony Brook Medicine: “Kelly has not only mastered the skills required for OR nursing, in one of the most complex services, but her professional growth and confidence are inspiring,” Jorgensen said. “It is a privilege to have her on our team. It is clear she will continue on in the nursing profession with strength and purpose. I look forward to seeing what she will accomplish next.”
For those considering entering the field of nursing, Ade emphasized remembering personal motivation: “You will encounter difficult moments, whether it be as a student balancing a heavy semester with your life events, or as a nurse managing a deteriorating patient,” she said. “In those moments, it’s important to remember why you chose to be a nurse and let it motivate you through those moments.”
Patricia Bruckenthal, dean and professor at Stony Brook School of Nursing, noted that scholarships like this play an important role in strengthening New York's healthcare system: “We’re so fortunate to have Kelly in our Family Nurse Practitioner program,” Bruckenthal said. “The SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship is a strategic investment in the future of nursing — bringing talented nurses into education roles which will in turn expand student capacity while ensuring a resilient healthcare workforce in New York. It’s a meaningful step toward training the educators who will train the nurses of tomorrow. We look forward to the impact Kelly will have on our future nurses.”