Empire State University Receives $90,000 Grant from Dyson Foundation 

A photo of two people standing together in front of shelves with many books and objects. The person on the left is wearing a black jacket and glasses with a light purple shirt. The person on the right wears a black jacket over a white shirt. Both are smiling.
Empire State University President Lisa Vollendorf (right) with Dyson Foundation President Andrea Reynolds (left). Photo taken by university photographer Joseph O'Dea.
Posted On: October 3, 2025

Empire State University has been awarded a $90,000 grant from the Dyson Foundation to support scholarships for students in nursing and allied health programs, who live and work in the Mid-Hudson Valley. The three-year award will support scholarships from 2026 to 2028, with the goal of addressing the shortage of nurses and nurse educators in the region. 

The Dyson Foundation has funded scholarships at SUNY Empire since 2008. Since that time, 38 Dyson Scholarship recipients have graduated from SUNY Empire with undergraduate degrees, five with a master’s in nursing, and seven are actively enrolled.   

The Dyson Foundation Scholarship began with the launch of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in 2008 and supported students from the Mid-Hudson Valley in the RN to BSN program. Over the years, the scholarship has expanded along with SUNY Empire’s nursing programs and now provides scholarships for students pursuing a BSN, an MSN or an allied health degree.  

“We thank the Dyson Foundation for its continued commitment to strengthening health care access and workforce development in New York. Partnerships like these create ripple effects that benefit entire communities for generations,” said Empire State University President Lisa Vollendorf. 

“SUNY Empire’s nursing and allied health degrees help address critical health care needs in the Mid-Hudson region. Through these programs, working professionals increase their knowledge and skills, resulting in better care and better health for our communities. We are pleased to support SUNY Empire’s Mid-Hudson Valley students in attaining these degrees,” said the Foundation’s President and CEO, Andrea Reynolds. 

Recipients of Dyson Foundation Scholarships must live and work in Mid-Hudson Valley, which is comprised of Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster counties. They must intend to remain in the region after graduation.  

The Dyson Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations in the Mid-Hudson Valley that address basic human needs, including housing, family stability, youth development, and health care access — including behavioral health, food access, and other human services. The Foundation focuses on organizations working with those who are economically disadvantaged or otherwise marginalized.