MSU seeks to name nursing college after Whitefish philanthropists
Mark Jones leans in to hug Sarah Shannon, the dean of Montana State University's College of Nursing, in Bozeman on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, flanked by MSU President Waded Cruzado at left and Jones' wife Robyn at right. The Joneses donated $101 million to the nursing school to fund new buildings and faculty positions, and a new midwifery program. (Montana State University)
BOZEMAN – Montana State University is planning to ask the state’s Board of Regents to approve naming its nursing college after part-time Whitefish residents Mark and Robyn Jones.
In August, the Joneses made a $101 million philanthropic investment in the university’s College of Nursing. It is the largest philanthropic amount ever given to a college of nursing and will be used to provide new facilities at each of the college’s existing campuses in Bozeman, Kalispell, Missoula, Great Falls and Billings. With additional space to grow its enrollment, MSU estimates it will be able to meet the state’s projected nursing shortage by 2030.
The new name would be the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing, Montana State University.
“The university is taking the initiative to propose the naming to recognize the incredible generosity of Mark and Robyn Jones,” said Waded Cruzado, president of MSU. “Mark and Robyn don't seek the spotlight, and never asked for this recognition, but their actions will benefit generations of Montanans, and we feel it is only fitting that they are recognized.”
The Joneses are the founders of Goosehead Insurance, based in Westlake, Texas, and Mark currently serves as chairman and CEO of the company. Founded in 2003, Goosehead distributes its services through more than 1,800 offices in the U.S. with a market capitalization of $5 billion.
In addition to a 260-acre property where they are building a home that overlooks Whitefish Mountain Resort, the Joneses recently purchased nearly 126,000 acres of forestland southwest of Kalispell from Georgia-based Southern Pine Plantations.
THE REGENTS will consider the naming request at their Nov. 18-19 meeting in Missoula on the campus of the University of Montana. A full agenda for the two-day meeting will be available online here: mus.edu/board/meetings/agendas-and-minutes.html.
An in-person listening session on the proposed naming will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, in Room 230 of the Strand Union Building at MSU.
Public comments on the naming request can also be submitted by letter to University Communications, c/o Name Change Comments, P.O. Box 172220, Bozeman, MT 59717-2220 or by email to msunews@montana.edu. Comments are due by Tuesday, Nov. 16.
Montana University System and MSU policies permit colleges to be named in honor of individuals. The MUS naming policy can be found here: https://mus.edu/borpol/bor1000/1004-1.pdf