CSUMB receives $15 million gift from Montage Health to establish Montage Health Helen Baszucki School of Nursing

The investment will establish the Montage Health Helen Baszucki School of Nursing and support the development of two new programs: a four-year pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).  

The CSU Board of Trustees gave formal approval of the school’s naming on March 11, 2026. A public celebration is planned at CSUMB on April 9, with photo and interview opportunities with all the major principals as well as invited dignitaries.   

“Montage Health has long been a supporter of our two-year bachelor’s degree in nursing program, which has graduated more than 700 students since its inception,” said Cal State Monterey Bay President Vanya Quiñones. “Many of those graduates now work at Montage Health and other regional providers, demonstrating the strength of our existing partnerships. Now, with their transformational gift, we will be able to expand access to essential healthcare careers by establishing our pre-licensure nursing degree and a master's in nursing." 

The gift will honor Helen Baszucki, who loved the profession of nursing as both a practitioner and clinical nursing instructor. She brought diligence, caring, empathy and kindness as a caregiver until her death in September 2020.  Since 2021, Montage Health's Helen Baszucki Center for Nursing Excellence has accelerated efforts to invest in both current and future nurses — and this partnership demonstrates the growing impact of that work on the community’s health and workforce.   

The funding will help meet a growing regional need. Monterey County, like much of California and the nation, faces an ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals. An aging population, increased demand for health care, and the high cost of living make recruiting nurses from outside the area increasingly difficult. Expanding local education pathways strengthens the pipeline of nurses trained and retained in the community. 

“Nurses are at the heart of every community’s health, and investing in their education is one of the most important commitments we can make,” said Debbie Sober, Chief Nursing Officer for Montage Health. “For decades, Montage Health has partnered with local colleges to prepare the next generation of nurses, and this expansion at CSUMB builds on that foundation in a powerful way. By creating more opportunities for local students to earn their BSN and stay in the region, we are strengthening our workforce, supporting our hospitals and clinics, and ensuring that patients receive the exceptional care they deserve.” 

The funds will support the development and launch of a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program with an initial cohort of 40 students. They will also bolster more than 100 students in a pre-nursing major who are preparing to apply and enter the BSN program as upper-division students. In addition, the MSN program will admit 25 students into its first cohort. 

The gift will support faculty and staff hiring — including tenure-track faculty, clinical lecturers, advisors, lab coordinators, and more — to ensure student success and strong hospital partnerships. In addition, the gift will help renovate a simulation and skill lab, and support accreditation costs for the new programs. 

“This Montage investment strengthens our academic programs and the future health of our entire community,” said Phillip Post, Dean of CSUMB’s College of Health Sciences and Human Services. “The gift enables us to expand access to nursing degrees in our region, creating a stronger, more sustainable pipeline of skilled nursing professionals prepared to deliver compassionate, culturally responsive care, while also building a path for nursing leaders trained to educate undergraduate nursing students throughout our region.”  

Montage Health has served Monterey County since 1934 and has invested in local nursing education for more than 40 years. This new partnership builds on that legacy while strengthening CSUMB’s role as a regional engine for workforce development and community well-being. 

“We’ve always believed that the strongest healthcare workforce is one we grow right here at home,” said Dr. Mike McDermott, President and CEO of Montage Health. “Expanding access to BSN education is part of our mission as a local nonprofit — to invest in our community, open doors to meaningful careers, and make sure people across Monterey County can rely on excellent care for years to come.