Decades-long commitment to the university deepens with new endowed scholarship and expanded nursing transfer program
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 2, 2026) — Gordon and Shaun Inman have given $1 million to Belmont University's Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing. Split equally between two funds, the gift will establish the Gordon and Shaun Inman Endowed Scholarship and support the college's Nursing, BSN: Community College Bridge Program, removing financial barriers for aspiring nurses and creating a clearer path to a Belmont degree.
"Gordon and Shaun's generosity is woven into the fabric of our College, and this gift reflects their enduring belief in what nursing education can do for students and for our state," said Dr. Julie Honey, dean of the Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing. "Their scholarship will honor students who embody the same spirit of purpose and service that has defined Gordon and Shaun's own legacy. By investing in our college, they are ensuring that students from across Tennessee can pursue a nursing degree at Belmont.”
Belmont’s Nursing, BSN: Community College Bridge Program offers students an affordable pathway to a Belmont B.S.N. by completing their first two years at a community college before transferring to finish their degree. Students receive tailored advising throughout the process and gain access to Belmont's nationally recognized clinical network, including 100% clinical placement at leading health systems. Belmont nursing students posted a 98% first-time NCLEX pass rate in spring 2025, and 99% of graduates are employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation.
"Nursing has always held a special place in our hearts," said Gordon and Shaun Inman. "We have watched this college grow into a leader in nursing education, shaping the next generation of Tennessee's nurses, and we are proud to invest in that mission. Tennessee needs skilled, compassionate nurses now more than ever, and we hope this gift opens doors for students who are ready to answer that call."
The gift deepens the Inmans’ longstanding commitment to Belmont. Their generosity made the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing building possible, and Gordon serves as trustee emeritus on the Belmont University Board of Trustees. Together, they have been dedicated champions of education and philanthropy throughout Middle Tennessee for decades.
"We are deeply grateful to Gordon and Shaun for once again investing in our students and our mission," said Belmont University President Dr. Greg Jones. "Their commitment to nursing education runs deep, and this gift ensures that more students across Tennessee can access the exceptional preparation for which Belmont is known. We are honored to build on a partnership that has shaped this university for decades.”
For more than 50 years, Belmont's nursing programs have prepared graduates for successful careers in health care at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. Building on that legacy, the College's Center for Nursing Innovation — the first of its kind in Tennessee — bridges the gap between nursing education and real-world health care, translating research and creative problem-solving into better outcomes for patients and communities.
The gift is part of Hope Transforms, Belmont's historic $700 million comprehensive fundraising campaign and the most ambitious in the University's 135-year history. Structured around three guiding pillars — character, creativity and innovation — the campaign fuels Belmont's bold vision to become the leading Christ-centered university in the world by forming leaders of character, unleashing transformational creativity and inspiring innovation that serves the common good.
About Belmont University
Located near the heart of thriving Nashville, Tennessee, Belmont University consists of nearly 9,000 students who come from every state and 33 countries. The University is nationally recognized for its innovative approach as well as its commitment to undergraduate teaching (U.S. News & World Report). As a Christ-centered, student-focused community, Belmont’s mission is to develop diverse leaders of purpose, character and wisdom who possess a transformational mindset and are eager and equipped to make the world a better place. With more than 119 areas of undergraduate study, 60 master’s programs and nine doctoral degrees, Belmont University aims to be the leading Christ-centered university in the world, producing leaders who will radically champion the pursuit of life abundant for all people. For more information, visit http://www.belmont.edu.
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