Faith Baptist Bible College has some exciting news to share — and it involves a shovel in the ground and a new face on campus.
A Milestone for Mercy College
On April 24, 2026, Mercy College of Health Sciences celebrated a major milestone with the groundbreaking of the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing— a significant step forward in modernizing its downtown Des Moines campus and preparing for the future of nursing education in Iowa.
Faith is proud to partner with Mercy College to offer a one-of-a-kind nursing degree. In August of 2024, Faith Baptist Bible College formed a partnership with Mercy College to offer a streamlined path for students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), recognizing the nationwide shortage of nurses and a growing interest among Christian students to serve the Lord through nursing.
The Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing will be a two-story, 24,000-square-foot facility, featuring purposefully designed classrooms and simulation labs. The project is fully funded through philanthropic giving, with more than $15.2 million raised through Mercy’s Legacy of Faith Capital Campaign. It was made possible in large part by Joyce E. Lillis, a dedicated nurse for 47 years, who, with her husband Terry, generously donated the first $2.5 million to make this project a reality. The school bears her name as a tribute to that legacy— and as an inspiration to every nursing student who will walk through its doors.
Mercy College President Adreain M. Henry called the groundbreaking “a defining moment for Mercy College and for the future of nursing education in our region,” saying the new school “represents a bold step forward in expanding our impact, strengthening the nursing workforce, and ensuring our students are prepared to meet the growing demands of healthcare with skill, compassion, and purpose.”
For Faith students pursuing nursing, this investment in Mercy’s campus is also an investment in their future.
A New Professor on Faith’s Campus
Alongside this exciting development at Mercy, Faith is welcoming a new faculty member who will strengthen the science curriculum right here on our own campus— Anna Koole, M.S.
Anna comes to Faith with a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction with a Science Specialization and a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences with an emphasis in Pre-medicine, both from Pensacola Christian College. She will teach science classes such as Biology, Microbiology, Nutrition, and Anatomy and Physiology with labs— courses that will serve both nursing students and students in general education.
Originally from the area near Niagara Falls, Ontario, Anna has spent the last several years in Pensacola, Florida, where her life has been shaped by a remarkable variety of service opportunities.
She served for six years in a Master Clubs ministry with 4th through 6th graders, volunteered in the Progressive Care Unit at HCA West Florida Hospital, and worked as a medical assistant at the Health and Hope Clinic in Pensacola. This summer, before joining Faith’s faculty, she will serve on a Medical Missions Outreach trip to Santa Rita, Honduras.
For Anna, coming to Faith isn’t just a career move— it’s an answer to prayer. “I was looking for a position that would enable me to combine my passions for science, medicine, and education,” she said. “All of these areas may not have the title ‘ministry’ in them, but they are excellent ways to be able to share Christ with others.”
She sees each discipline as its own avenue for pointing people to God: “Science demonstrates the immensity of God’s design and plan, service in the medical field is a practical way to serve others and demonstrate God’s love, and education is an opportunity to pass on the lessons we have learned to the next generation.”
Looking Ahead
A new state-of-the-art building in Des Moines. A new professor on campus in Ankeny.
Both are signs that God is blessing Faith as we seek to equip the next generation of nurses and healthcare professionals to serve with skill, compassion, and a biblical foundation.
We can’t wait to see what God does through both!
Interested in Faith’s nursing program? Contact our Admissions Office at admissions@faith.edu to learn more, or visit the nursing program page on our website.
