National honor from the American Association for Men in Nursing recognizes Rutgers’ leadership in gender diversity and inclusion

Rutgers School of Nursing has received the 2025 Best Schools for Men in Nursing Award from the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN), marking its eighth consecutive year of recognition. Rutgers is among 16 schools nationwide honored in 2025 for excellence in recruiting, retaining, and supporting men in nursing education.

The award was presented during the 50th Annual AAMN Conference, held Oct. 16–18, 2025, at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort in Disney Springs, Florida. The milestone conference carried the theme “Launching into the Future: Exploring New Frontiers in Nursing.”

“Congratulations on receiving AAMN’s 2025 Best Schools for Men in Nursing recognition,” said Curry Bordelon (DNP, MBA, CRNP, ANEF, FNAP), Association president-elect and chair of it’s Recognition Review Committee. “Your school’s commitment to creating an outsanding environment for men who are becoming professional nurses is noteworthy. We appreciate your hard work and commitment to making the educational experience powerful for your students.”

Representing the university at the national conference were leaders of Rutgers School of Nursing’s AAMN Chapter, all undergraduate students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program:

• Leo Ramos, Class of 2027, president;
• Matias Cortes, Class of 2026, vice president;
• Alejandra Maldonado, Class of 2027, director of correspondence (the first female e-board member to attend the conference);
• Noah Carrero, Class of 2027, director of programs; and
• Tyrell Weir, Class of 2027, director of public relations.

The students were joined by Kofi G. Polley (EdM), executive director of administration at Rutgers School of Nursing and staff advisor to the chapter. Of course, the students shared their experiences on Instagram:

“We had the incredible opportunity to represent our amazing nursing program and connect with nursing students and professionals from across the country. We attended sessions covering topics such as cardiovascular health, AI in healthcare, Alzheimer’s disease, workplace bullying, mental health, anesthesia, burnout, résumé building, interview strategies, and prostate cancer. Thanks to the dedication of our amazing e-board and the guidance of Mr. Polley. We’d like to express our gratitude to our nursing school for supporting our participation and to all of our members. This success would not have been possible without you.”

Since first earning the Men in Nursing award in 2018, Rutgers School of Nursing has been recognized annually for fostering gender diversity and inclusion in nursing. Men now make up more than 16 percent of the school’s student body—well above the national nursing workforce average of 12 percent.

“Our continued recognition by AAMN reflects Rutgers School of Nursing’s commitment to inclusive excellence,” said Kyle D. Warren (PhD, MAE), senior vice dean, administration and student affairs and associate vice chancellor for student affairs – Rutgers Health. “We are proud to foster a community where men—and all students—see themselves reflected in the future of nursing.”

In addition to the AAMN recognition, Rutgers School of Nursing also received the 2025 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from Insight Into Academia. The award is the only national honor recognizing U.S. health-profession schools for advancing excellence alongside equity, inclusion, and belonging. This marks the fourth consecutive year Rutgers School of Nursing has earned the distinction.