McDaniel's Nursing program receives funding awards from Maryland Higher Education Commission

McDaniel College’s Nursing program has received separate funding awards from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). 

Heather Gable, associate professor and program director of McDaniel College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.), has earned the Academic Nurse Educator Certification (ANEC) award. She received the maximum amount of $5,000 for achieving the National League for Nursing’s Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) credential, which recognizes excellence and expertise in nursing education.

Additionally, McDaniel is one of 13 nursing programs in the state to get a FY26 Competitive Institutional Grant. The college was awarded $41,119 to support professional development opportunities focused on teaching and learning practices, course development and design, and academic collaboration and leadership, for McDaniel’s nurse educators.

Both awards are part of MHEC’s Nurse Support Program II, which aims to strengthen Maryland’s nursing workforce.

In announcing the FY26 Competitive Institutional Grant, Maryland Secretary of Higher Education Sanjay Rai said, “This investment reflects our continued commitment to address the nursing shortage across the state with targeted, sustainable solutions. These grants will support clinical faculty development and expand the pipeline of qualified nurses.”

Heather Gable, D.N.P., LNHA, CNE, NEA-BC, began as the inaugural program director for McDaniel’s Nursing program in fall 2023. She has over 25 years of nursing experience in acute and long-term care, including roles as a licensed nursing home administrator and in nursing leadership and academia. In addition to being a certified nurse educator, she achieved board certification as an advanced nurse executive and led a nursing education consulting firm.

McDaniel’s B.S.N. launched in fall 2024 to help address the need for qualified nurses by combining the liberal arts with the technical knowledge and skills to prepare future nurses who are practicing in a range of health care settings. The college worked with Carroll Hospital to build the program, which will be housed at the hospital beginning in fall 2026. The program is approved by both MHEC and the Maryland Board of Nursing.