Joyce E. Lillis
School of Nursing
The future of Mercy College. Inspired by faith.
Legacy of Faith Campaign for the
Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing
In 2025, Mercy College of Health Sciences is launching the public phase of the most ambitious fundraising effort the College has ever undertaken in its 125-year history: a $15 million Legacy of Faith Campaign for the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing to build an innovative facility dedicated to nursing simulation and learning. The completed project will include purposefully designed classrooms and simulation labs outfitted with modern patient care technology and will fulfill our promise of excellence to students by delivering facilities that reflect the level of professionalism they will encounter as practitioners.
Economic Impact
ALUMNI
(IN IOWA)
ANNUAL FISCAL IMPACT
INVESTMENT
JOBS CREATED
(For each employed graduate)
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Joyce & Terry Lillis
Inspired by Faith
Joyce and Terry Lillis know that a quality education begins with state-of-the-art facilities. Inspired by a passion for faith, education, and healthcare, the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing will be the new home for Mercy College of Health Sciences’ nursing programs, providing hands-on experiences, exceptional simulation experiences, and much more to future nursing graduates.
872 STUDENTS
enrolled in Fall 2024.
27 Avg. age
of students.
45% of Students
are first generation.
83% of STUDENTS
are transfer students.
Our Body of Work
An aging population, existing workforce shortages, and the aftereffects of a global pandemic have made the need for qualified, compassionate caregivers more critical than ever. By 2030, it’s estimated that nursing will be the #1 job needed in Iowa. Such a shortage of frontline workers will only lead to complications in patient care and quality of healthcare delivery. The Legacy of Faith Campaign for the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing is the demonstration of faith in our future we all need.
Since 1899, Mercy College has been transforming students into healthcare professionals. Throughout our 125-year history, Mercy College has remained focused on building upon our strong foundation as a Catholic, accredited, nonprofit institution of higher learning. Our faith and commitment to excellent, compassionate health science education has allowed us grow and expand our academic offerings to meet the rising needs of Iowa’s healthcare workforce. Students come to Mercy College because of the faith they have in our vision to prepare healthcare professionals. They remain at Mercy College because of our faith in them. Our curriculum and student offerings have evolved since our initial founding. It is time for our campus to reflect that growth as well in the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing.
Mercy College’s Legacy of Faith Campaign was generously kicked off with a lead gift of $2.5 million from Terry and Joyce Lillis. The Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing will honor Joyce’s distinguished 47-year nursing career even as it inspires the future careers of student nurses who walk across Mercy College’s campus every day. The new school will address current facility concerns including limited access to critical educational resources, lack of greenspace and amenities on campus, and increased concerns over traffic patterns that interfere with campus foot traffic across 6th Avenue.
Explore the
Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing
The Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing is a two-story, 24,000 square foot that will replace the currently unused Building 2 on Mercy College’s downtown Des Moines, Iowa, campus. The new school will support Mercy College’s most in-demand educational offering – nursing – with purposefully designed classrooms and simulation labs outfitted with modern patient care technology. Funds raised during the Legacy of Faith campaign will go toward the construction and furnishing of the new school. Community and campus leadership recognize the need to prepare for the future now. What was once an abandoned, condemned building on campus will become a beacon of faith for the downtown community and those who dream of a career in nursing.
EXTERIOR
The $15 million Legacy of Faith Campaign will revive Mercy College’s downtown Des Moines campus. In addition to the significantly improved educational spaces inside the building, the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing will also have a peaceful “pocket park” connecting it to the rest of the College’s campus.
EXTERIOR
The $15 million Legacy of Faith Campaign will revive Mercy College’s downtown Des Moines campus. In addition to the significantly improved educational spaces inside the building, the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing will also have a peaceful “pocket park” connecting it to the rest of the College’s campus.
FIRST FLOOR
Inside the new building, students will ample room to relax and study. The first floor of the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing will be home to a student commons and lounge area with plenty of natural light flooding the space. Lecture and debriefing rooms down the hall will allow students to interact with faculty and peers alike to enhance their education.
FIRST FLOOR
Inside the new building, students will ample room to relax and study. The first floor of the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing will be home to a student commons and lounge area with plenty of natural light flooding the space. Lecture and debriefing rooms down the hall will allow students to interact with faculty and peers alike to enhance their education.
SECOND FLOOR
Upstairs, the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing will boast immersive simulation experiences and spacious skills labs. Students will be able to work in controlled environments to put their education into practice with simulated patients and high-fidelity manikins.
Learn More
Legacy of Faith Campaign
Want to learn more about how to get involved or contribute to the Legacy of Faith Campaign for the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing? Explore our media resources below or contact:
Melanie Campbell, MBA
VICE PRESIDENT
Institutional Advancement, Philanthropy,
& Community Engagement
(515) 643-6609 | Melanie.Campbell@MCHS.edu
- Meet Joyce E. Lillis
- Mercy College Announces $15 Million Campaign for New Nursing School
