Nancy and Hilliard Travis spent a lifetime doing all they could to benefit their community, especially their beloved Vanderbilt. The most recent example is a generous bequest gift to the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing for scholarships and pediatric research, both areas designated by the Travises themselves. The gift ensures permanence to their legacy at Vanderbilt and impacts students, patients, families and society on a global level.
Nancy Travis earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Vanderbilt in 1947. Her husband was a Nashville businessman. “Mr. and Mrs. Travis have left an indelible mark on Vanderbilt and on Nashville, continually giving of their time and financial support throughout their lives and now as part of their legacy,” says Dr. Jeff Balser, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Previous gifts by the Travises have provided scholarships for 447 nursing students, brought happiness and hope to children treated at Vanderbilt, and endowed the Nancy and Hilliard Travis Chair in Nursing, which is currently held by Colleen Conway-Welch, School of Nursing dean, emerita.
“These two remarkable people are wonderful role models for us all,” says Conway-Welch. “Until her death last year, Nancy supported and encouraged me personally, and she was committed to helping curious, hardworking students get a nursing education.”
Read a full profile of the extraordinary life and impact of the Travises on their community.