Texas A&M University hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its 61,000 SF Nursing Education and Research Building (NERB), for which Vaughn served as construction manager-at-risk. The new facility, located at the Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllen, brings the College of Nursing and College of Veterinary Medicine together under one roof. It also launches the region’s first bachelor of science in nursing program offered entirely in the Rio Grande Valley, expanding academic capacity and directly supporting the local workforce.
NERB arrives as Texas faces a severe nursing shortage. The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies projects a statewide deficit of more than 56,000 registered nurses by 2036, including nearly 6,000 in the Rio Grande Valley.
“Preparing the next generation of nurses locally develops a workforce uniquely qualified to care for the RGV communities,” said Leann Horsley, dean of the College of Nursing.
The building also supports veterinary medicine and biomedical research. The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences occupies a 5,000 SF space dedicated to One Health programming, which connects human, animal, and environmental health. Research will focus on transboundary and zoonotic diseases, veterinary public health, and biosecurity.
“Our research scientists, students, and community partners play an important role in identifying solutions to recognize, prevent, and treat diseases that affect both animals and humans,” said Bonnie Rush, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
“The ribbon-cutting is a celebration of what this facility will mean for the Rio Grande Valley region,” said a Vaughn superintendent. “I am proud that our team delivered a building that will help address the critical shortage of nurses and support veterinary medicine in the Valley. Watching this project come to life makes me excited about the positive influence NERB will make for the community.”