NEF is pleased to announce Virginia “Ginger” Berman, BS, MA, has joined the organization as Executive Director, and Melinda Kretschmer, BS, MEd, has joined as Executive Assistant. Former Executive Director Jerelyn Peixoto Weiss, MS, JD, RN, FNP, has retired and will rejoin NEF’s Board of Directors in June 2026.

Ginger has collaborated with leaders for over 20 years to accomplish extraordinary marketing and fundraising projects.

Melinda has extensive experience in administrative management, customer support, higher education, and program coordination.

Nurses Educational Funds is proud to announce the establishment of the Bea Goodwin Scholarship for nurse educators created in memory of Beatrice "Bea" Goodwin, MS, PhD, RN, a nurse leader extraordinaire.

This permanent scholarship, initiated in 2026, honors Bea Goodwin, a nursing leader who was passionate about excellence in nursing education. Dr. Goodwin earned her BSN from Vanderbilt University and her Master's and PhD from New York University.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Nurses Association, the National League for Nursing, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners are leading the effort to ensure nursing is recognized as a professional degree as the Department of Education advances new proposed definitions that will determine federal loan limits.

Protect post- baccalaureate nursing students’ access to essential federal loans and ensure that the Department recognizes nursing as a professional degree by following the link below. Add your voice

Nurses Educational Funds is proud to present the October 23, 2025, NEF Scholar Celebration Video. The event, honoring the 2025-2026 NEF Scholars was well attended by NEF Board Members, Members Emeritus; scholarship benefactors; scholarship facilitators; and Deans and Directors from the scholars graduate nursing programs. Each scholar presented a two-minute personal story.

We invite you to click on the video and meet the NEF 2025-2026 Scholars.

You can make a contribution online directly to NEF by clicking on the DONATE icon in the menu above or by going to the direct link below and following the prompts:

https://www.n-e-f.org/donate

Or you can write a check, payable to NEF and mail the check to NEF, 137 Montague Street, Ste.144, Brooklyn, NY 11201

If you have any questions, please contact the NEF Executive Director, Ginger Berman by email:
gberman@n-e-f.org

All donations to NEF, a nonprofit organization are tax deductible.

Mission

To promote leadership and health equity through scholarship support for professional nurses seeking master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, service and research.

Vision

To be a national leader in providing scholarships to nurses that benefit nursing, health care and the global community.