Rutgers School of Nursing Alumni Association
– Foster communication among alumni, students, and faculty.
– Maintain alumni interest in current Rutgers School of Nursing programs and promote the loyalty of its alumni.
– Foster continued interest in current programs of Rutgers School of Nursing, support its recruitment, and sustain its mission and related activities.
– Promote and encourage bachelor’s and advanced degrees in nursing education.
– Encourage involvement in professional nursing organizations.
Alumni Resources
Nursing Alumni Scholarships & Awards Gala 2025
Mark your calendars for November 20, 2025 as the Rutgers School of Nursing Alumni Association prepares for its highly anticipated annual Scholarship and Awards Gala.
This year’s event will honor exceptional nurses who have made significant contributions to the profession, featuring the presentation of the Outstanding Alumni Award and the Rising Star Award. While the honorees have yet to be named, anticipation is already building for the inspiring stories and accomplishments that will be spotlighted.
As always, a highlight of the evening will be the presentation of scholarships to deserving nursing students. All proceeds from the gala will benefit student scholarships, with sponsor-ships, guest tickets, and other opportunities for support available. The event promises to be an unforgettable celebration of dedication, achievement, and the future of nursing.
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Grand Marquis, Old Bridge, New Jersey
Alumni Awards and Student Scholarships
Each year, we recognize the outstanding achievements of our alumni and give back to the future of nursing at our annual Scholarship and Awards Gala. Learn more below.
Alumni Showcase
Leaving the Orchestra for the Operating Room
Sean Barnawell went back to school at Rutgers School of Nursing as a nontraditional student to become a nurse anesthesiologist. Now, he is creating a nursing scholarship.
Sean Barnawell came to the realization in his 20s that his planned career path of playing guitar and double bass wasn’t going to pay his bills. Leveraging his experience as an orderly at a nursing home, he turned to the nursing profession…
Spotlight: Rutgers Nursing Alumni & Published Author
RSONAA would like to take a moment to recognize Donna Gaffney GSNB’77!
Courageous Well-Being for Nurses provides nurses with the tools, practices, and strategies to enhance their well-being and protect against burnout.
Exhausting schedules and a tumultuous work environment have left many nurses feeling burned out.
The COVID-19 pandemic only compounded problems that have been plaguing nurses for decades. How can you take care of others when you don’t have the time or energy to take care of yourself?
In Courageous Well-Being for Nurses, Advanced Practice Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse, psychotherapist, and educator Donna Gaffney and National Board-certified health and wellness coach Nicole Foster provide essential strategies and resources.
Courageous Well-Being for Nurses was released in September 2023.
Nursing Degrees – Her Passport to the World
Like many who find their true love at college, Jane Coury found hers at Rutgers: public health nursing, with a focus on maternal and child health.
Her Rutgers nursing degrees became her passport to a life of adventures in faraway places: Partnering with the Minister of Health in Egypt to reduce the nation’s high smoking rate and reduce maternal childbirth deaths. Researching Navajo medical records to qualify them for settlements in a class-action suit against uranium mining. Pioneering a program that provided public health services in a high-crime area at a facility converted from a brewery.
Gallery
Rutgers School of Nursing 50th Reunion Celebration! Recognizing the Classes of ’70, ’71, ’72, and’ 73
Our alumni were invited to visit the Rutgers School of Nursing campus and facilities for a tour followed by brunch and updates from Dean Linda Flynn, staff, and fellow nursing alumni.
Alumni Association Annual Meeting and Brunch 2023
Our Alumni Association Annual Meeting took place on June 10, 2023, with a morning of mimosas, light brunch, and new beginnings as we celebrated Rutgers Nurses. Take a look back at the day’s events through our photo album!
Alumni Scholarship & Awards Gala 2023
Our alumni put away their lab coats and scrubs for a night out at our Annual Alumni Gala. Learn more about alumni awards and student scholarships.
Seeking Part-time Clinical Instructors
Immediate Openings Available
Help shape the future of nursing! We are seeking nursing professionals to teach clinical components for these specialties:
- Adult Health
- Maternal Health
- Mental Health
- Pediatrics
Positions require a master’s degree in nursing and a current New Jersey RN license (or eligibility). A doctorate in nursing or related discipline, specialty certification, and teaching experience are preferred.
Share your passion and expertise with the next generation of nurses.
Campus locations: Newark, New Brunswick, and Blackwood
Connect with Us
Rutgers School of Nursing values its relationship with alumni and invests in activities, events, and programs that bring maximum value to our students, alumni, and health care partners. The SON alumni network is available to our graduates, but it relies on our alumni to keep it active and effective.
Stay connected by reading our newsletters, sharing your own news, and contacting us directly.
Contact
Contact us by emailing rsonaa@rutgers.edu or calling (973) 353-5415. You can also reach individual board members, committee chairs, and the association liaison.