A new gift from the Luce family is strengthening nursing education at Cal State LA. David Luce has contributed $250,000 in support of the Luce and Ernst Nursing Directorship Endowment in the Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing, bringing the family’s cumulative giving to $1.55 million.
“We are grateful to the Luce family for their generosity, which honors Nina’s remarkable legacy and strengthens the future of nursing education at Cal State LA,” said Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes.
The endowed directorship was officially established in August 2024 through the contribution of David and his late wife, Nina Ernst Luce, a proud double alumna who dedicated her life to caring for others and advancing nursing education.
Nina, who passed away at age 81 on December 14, 2023, was a member of the first graduating nursing class at Cal State LA. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1963 and later returned to earn a master’s degree in health science and safety in 1970.
Nina was a passionate advocate of the nursing profession and a steadfast supporter of the nursing program at Cal State LA. She was particularly impressed with the program’s state-of-the-art facilities and consistently high board exam pass rates.
In December 2024, Cal State LA hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate both the establishment of the endowed directorship and the opening of the Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing Administration Office.
The ceremony recognized the Luce family’s extraordinary donor stewardship and marked a historic milestone as the school’s first endowed directorship. It is also the only named directorship for a department or school of nursing in the California State University system.
The Luce and Ernst Nursing Directorship Endowment provides sustained funding for innovative teaching, research, and service in the Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing within the Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services.
Together with the newly named administration office, this endowed support underscores Cal State LA’s commitment to advancing health equity and preparing students to meet the evolving needs of diverse communities.
“The vision and generosity of David and Nina Luce will have a profound and lasting impact on the Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing,” said Eurina Cha, the inaugural holder of the endowed directorship. “Their gift strengthens our mission to advance health equity and nursing education, and it will inspire and shape the future of nursing for generations to come.”
Cha has more than 25 years of clinical experience in specialty areas, including medical-surgical nursing, step-down care, acute inpatient rehabilitation, long-term care, and consultation. Her research interests include minority health, underserved immigrant health, global health, and diversity in nursing education. She earned her Ph.D. in public health from Walden University in Minnesota.
The Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing at Cal State LA prepares nurses to meet the healthcare needs of diverse communities through undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs focused on evidence-based practice, leadership, and service. With advanced simulation labs, strong community partnerships, and consistently high licensure pass rates, the school is dedicated to advancing health equity and shaping the future of nursing through innovative teaching, research, and practice. The nursing master’s degree program continues to rank among the best in the nation, according to the U.S. News and World Report. The school is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.