SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Jan. 5, 2026) — John Brown University has received a $750,000 gift from the Pat and Willard Walker Charitable Foundation to support the expansion of the university’s Health Education Building. 

“We are thankful for the support of the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation,” said Jim Krall, senior vice president for university advancement. “This generous gift will enable us to train more highly skilled, compassionate nurses at a time when our state and region desperately need them.”

Built in 2016, the Health Education Building houses JBU’s nursing program, which has grown from 35 students at its inception to 127 students today. About 60% of JBU nursing students stay in Northwest Arkansas after graduation. 

The planned $8 million expansion includes upgrades to the existing nursing simulation lab and a new two-story, 16,000-square-foot wing.

The new wing provides the nursing program with a new computer testing classroom, a test consulting space and space for future growth. The first floor will be used for JBU’s rapidly growing computer science programs.

“The Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation has been a faithful partner in JBU’s mission for decades, and we are deeply grateful for their continued investment in our students and programs,” JBU President Chip Pollard said. “We are honored that they would help us expand our nursing facility so that we can help meet the critical health care workforce needs in Arkansas.”

Along with endowed scholarships, previous gifts from the foundation helped fund JBU’s Walker Student Center, Walker Residence Hall, Bill George Arena, Simmons Great Hall and Northslope Apartments. Established by Pat Walker and her husband, Willard, the foundation continues to fund charitable religious, scientific, literary and educational initiatives in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas.

The total funds pledged or given for the expansion project amount to $3,243,250.

To learn more about the Health Education Building expansion, visit jbu.edu/health-expansion.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, business, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.

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