Pitt Alumnus Invests in Nursing Education to Honor Late Mother

National Nurses Week, celebrated each year from May 6-12, recognizes the invaluable contributions nurses make to their patients’ lives and the health care field.

Inspired by the compassionate care provided to his mother during her battle with cancer, Pitt alumnus Dave Hannigan (A&S ‘95) established a philanthropic partnership with the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing to identify ways to subsidize the rising costs of nursing education and strengthen the broader profession.

“As a student at Pitt, I had a safe place to raise questions and find answers. I was fortunate that my parents saved money for me to go to school, but that isn’t the case for everyone,” said Hannigan. “When I was exploring giving options, I told the Pitt Nursing team that I really wanted to make a difference because Pitt Nursing is one of the best schools out there.”

Hannigan’s generous support helps ensure that incoming generations of nurses are prepared, supported and empowered to deliver the same high-quality care that meant so much to his family. During National Nurses Week, their story serves as a powerful reminder of the vital role nurses play and the importance of supporting their education and advancement.

Early Life Abroad

Originally from Pittsburgh, Hannigan’s father, Martin, pursued a career with the U.S. Army, which took him overseas to Vietnam, where he met Hannigan’s mother, Sen. The couple were eventually stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, where they raised Hannigan and his two brothers. The family remained in Germany for more than two decades, but Hannigan recalls visiting Pittsburgh many times during his childhood.

As a senior in high school, he met an American couple in Germany, who turned out to be from Pittsburgh. After their chance encounter, the couple hired Hannigan to work as an English translator for the many Americans working abroad.

“Never underestimate the power of Western Pennsylvania—or where someone from Pitt can be,” said Hannigan. “Our influence and impact are everywhere.”

Hannigan moved to the United States for college, spending one semester in Tampa, Florida, before transferring to Pitt to pursue a degree in political science. In addition to his bachelor’s degree, he also took Vietnamese courses through the Less Commonly Taught Language Center and ultimately earned a certificate in Southeast Asian studies.

“My mom made a lot of sacrifices for us,” said Hannigan. “I wanted to be able to write home to my mom in her native tongue, and Pitt allowed me to do that.”

Compassionate Care Inspires Generosity

When Sen was diagnosed with cancer, Hannigan began spending time with her in the hospital to oversee her care. Over the course of her stay, Hannigan says his eyes were opened to nurses’ dedication to their patients and the level of expertise required to deliver such high-quality care.

“Having spent so much time in the hospital with my mom, I got to know a lot of the staff there,” said Hannigan. “Nurses are amazing—that’s a given—but I really saw how much work they did and how they cared for their patients.”

When Sen passed away in 2019, Hannigan decided to honor her legacy and recognize the nursing care she consistently received with a transformative philanthropic investment in the School of Nursing. During his conversations with nursing staff members, Hannigan learned about the urgency of the nursing shortage and began noticing systemic barriers that prevented working nurses from obtaining more advanced licensure.

“I saw the need for more nurses … and that got me thinking, how could I affect change around that,” said Hannigan. “The school’s biggest need to get more nurses trained was a lack of teachers, so that’s what I addressed.”

In 2024, the Sen T. Hannigan and Hannigan Family Nursing Scholarship Fund was created to subsidize tuition for graduate nursing students pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree and ultimately increase the total number of skilled nurse educators. Then in 2025, to honor his father’s military service and his parents’ international union, the School of Nursing established the Global Anesthesia Travel Fund, which creates opportunities for nursing students to study abroad and engage in service-learning activities in Asia. Together, both funds support current Pitt Nursing students; encourage global learning and connection; and ultimately help build a strong, sustainable future for the profession.

“When you give philanthropically, it’s not about you—it’s about helping someone achieve their greatest good,” said Hannigan. “It’s not about the scholarship itself; it’s about seeing the impact on the recipient and knowing that you were a small part of helping that person. If you have the resources, it’s one of the best investments you can make.”