Joseph Dunbar’s annual $100,000 pledge payment honors a lifetime of love by nurturing the next generation of nurses

On the desk in Joseph Dunbar’s office sits a photograph of himself with Amber Paul, a nursing student who was able to pursue her dreams thanks to the Janice N. Dunbar LHC 55’s Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship supports undergraduates enrolled in the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Care Professions’ Loretto Heights School of Nursing. "I look at that photograph every day,” Joseph said. “Education is important. I've traveled all over the world, and I see how much more can be done when people have opportunities to learn.” 

Joseph established the scholarship to honor his late wife, who graduated from Loretto Heights College in 1955. She and Joseph built a life in Gillette, Wyoming, where he began a long and successful career in the oil and gas industries. Janice was active in the community, teaching music, organizing concerts and serving on the Public Land Board and City Council. The couple had six children. Sadly, Janice passed away in 2014. "I'm just trying to help her name live on,” Joseph said. 

Joseph's contributions to Regis, particularly in support of nursing education, ensure that Janice is remembered through the lives of those who benefit from them. In 2022, he deepened his own philanthropic legacy and further honored Janice’s memory with a $500,000 pledge to establish the Ph.D. in Nursing program at Regis. He also designated half of his $1 million estate bequest to support the program, with the rest allocated to the scholarship. His annual $100,000 pledge payment ensures that nursing students have access to an education. 

The Ph.D. in Nursing program at Regis, housed within the Loretto Heights School of Nursing, prepares nurses for faculty roles, addressing a national shortage of nursing educators. Graduates will be equipped to teach and mentor future nurses, aligning with Regis University’s Jesuit mission of service and education. Dunbar believes scholarships create a ripple effect. "As it goes on, you know, kids that get scholarships, they'll grow up and have kids, and they'll extend scholarships. College can be very expensive, but education makes a difference,” he said.

Joseph’s philanthropy is rooted in his own experiences. He attended Colorado School of Mines, earning a degree in petroleum engineering. Having benefited from an affordable education, he felt a responsibility to give back. "For me, it's just giving back. I went to school so cheap, and I figured once I could, I should help others have that chance too,” he said.

We are deeply grateful for Joseph’s continued and expanded generosity toward Regis University. His support not only benefits our nursing students but also strengthens the communities they serve — both now and in the future — as mission-driven professionals. It is an honor to be part of the Dunbar family’s story and to stand alongside Joseph in ensuring that Janice’s legacy lives on through his generosity.

Kindly,