With a $2 million gift, the University of New England will expand teaching of psychiatric care in its undergraduate nursing program so that more clinicians can tackle the ongoing mental health crisis in Maine.

The funding is from the Judy Glickman Lauder Foundation, according to a news release. The Portland-based foundation was established by Judy Glickman Lauder and her husband Leonard A. Lauder to support mental health, arts, poverty alleviation and human rights in Maine.

In a news release, UNE said the gift will allow the nursing program to expose more students to psychiatric concepts at the undergraduate level, and the school hopes to increase interest in the field. Plans call for a new learning laboratory and creating a larger network of health care partners where students can gain clinical practice in mental health care.

The university plans to enroll 15 students in the program annually to supplement the state’s limited number of psychiatric nurse practitioners. Ultimately, the program could help increase the number of registered nurses entering Maine’s workforce who have received targeted training in mental health.

“Maine’s health care worker shortage deeply affects those who struggle with their mental health,” said UNE President James Herbert. “By educating more mental health professionals to meet rising demand, UNE will help ease workforce shortages and get people the care they need. As Maine’s largest provider of health professionals, UNE has a specific responsibility to address pervasive health issues in our backyard. This new program will do just that.”

Judy Glickman Lauder said, “The mental health crisis in our country far surpasses our capacity to provide meaningful care for those in need. Meeting these needs begins with investing in well-trained and compassionate health care professionals. We are pleased to support the University of New England’s commitment to bring more mental health professionals into the field. Our family hopes others will join us in this crucial mission.”

UNE is home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, in addition to offering other health care degree programs. The university is currently relocating its College of Osteopathic Medicine from the UNE Biddeford campus to the one in Portland, where a comprehensive health sciences center is being built.

More than 6,500 UNE students attend class at the campuses in Biddeford, Portland and Tangier, Morocco, and online. UNE was ranked No. 6 among Maine’s largest colleges and universities in the 2023 Mainebiz Book of Lists, based on full-time undergraduate enrollment as of fall 2022.