USM's College of Nursing moves into brand new building

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of Southern Miss' College of Nursing moved into Asbury Hall Monday.

Asbury Hall is a $31 million state-of-the-art-facility that has many faculty members excited.

Dr. Katherine Nugent, Dean of College of Nursing said, "This is a beautiful building. But what is more fantastic than the beauty is the spaciousness of the building is what it will do for our teaching-learning environment."

Dr. Nugent said there has been an uptick in nursing students in the last few years, and they were running out of room in their old building.

"We have a state-of-the-art simulation lab that we will be able to use, and really, they have virtual patient’s downstairs," said Professor, Melanie Gilmore.

Chair collaborative, Susan Hart said, "It's very special to me because when I first started teaching at USM, my office was actually in a trailer. And so, to have a building this magnificent is such a blessing. And we thank all the donors and all those countless hours that Dr. Nugent and other individuals have made this dream become a reality."

Students will be able to learn in Asbury Hall starting in the Spring.