Letter From the Dean: A Vision for the School and the Future of Nursing
Summer 2026
This is a crucial time for nurses in New Jersey, which ranks fourth among states expected to suffer nursing shortages by 2036, as fewer providers care for an aging population. The School of Nursing has tripled undergraduate enrollment over the last five years to address this scarcity. Yet, we still had to turn away more than 10,000 applicants for Rutgers’ baccalaureate nursing program in 2025.
As Rutgers School of Nursing commemorates 2026 as its 70th anniversary year, I am both inspired by the extraordinary demand for a Rutgers nursing education and deeply aware of the responsibility that accompanies it. The need for highly educated, practice-ready nurses has never been greater. Across our state and nation, nurses are the backbone of healthcare delivery—improving quality, advancing safety, and ensuring better patient outcomes in every setting, from community clinics to academic medical centers.
If We Build It, They Will Come
Our response to this workforce crisis is strategic and mission-driven. We have expanded access to undergraduate and accelerated pathways, strengthened academic practice partnerships, and invested in simulation, technology, and interprofessional education to ensure that every graduate is prepared for the complexity of modern healthcare. We are also committed to building a nursing workforce that reflects the communities we serve—an essential component of advancing health equity.
At the graduate level, we continue to educate advanced practice nurses, nurse scientists, and nurse leaders who shape policy, transform systems, and generate evidence that improves care. Our faculty are nationally recognized scholars and clinicians whose research addresses pressing issues, including chronic disease, health disparities, symptom science, caregiving, mental health, and the future of care delivery. Through this work, Rutgers nurses are influencing practice, not only across New Jersey, but throughout the nation.
Aligning Demand and Capacity
We are equally focused on supporting our students—academically, financially, and professionally. Scholarships, mentorship, wellness initiatives, and leadership development opportunities ensure that our graduates are resilient, compassionate, and prepared to lead in times of uncertainty. The overwhelming number of applicants affirms that nursing remains a calling grounded in service, science, and social responsibility.
Still, the gap between demand and capacity is stark. Turning away thousands of qualified applicants is not simply a statistic—it represents unrealized potential at a time when our communities urgently need care. Addressing this challenge will require sustained investment in faculty development, clinical placement expansion, infrastructure, and innovation. With the partnership of alumni, clinical agencies, policymakers, and philanthropic supporters, we are working to expand our reach while preserving the excellence that defines a Rutgers education.
As part of Rutgers University, we remain steadfast in our public mission: to educate the next generation of health professionals, generate transformative knowledge, and serve the people of New Jersey. Thankfully, we now have a leader who is an expert at building bridges, our inaugural vice dean of research Leorey Saligan, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN. Our school stands at the intersection of workforce need, scientific discovery, and community impact. This is indeed a crucial time for nurses—and for nursing education. At Rutgers School of Nursing, we are rising to meet the moment.
Angela Starkweather
Dean, Chief Academic Officer, and Professor