With heartfelt cheers, proud families, and moments of reflection, Rutgers School of Nursing honored 448 graduates at its 2025 Convocation held yesterday at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The event celebrated graduates awarded bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and post-master’s nursing degrees—each one stepping into the next phase of their journey in health care.

The newest additions to its ranks brings the total body of Rutgers School of Nursing alumni to 15,000.

This year’s ceremony marked the first convocation for Dean Angela Starkweather (PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN), who began her tenure as dean and professor in August 2024. Welcoming the full-house audience of graduates, faculty, staff, family members and distinguished guests, she expressed her appreciation of the Rutgers nursing community.

“Since being appointed dean of our school, I am more impressed each day with the wonderful people and programs that form our community, she said.”

Spotlighting the faculty’s role in advancing the school’s academic programs, Starkweather noted that the doctor of nursing practice program is ranked No. 4 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. In New Jersey, the school holds the top spot for its bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor of nursing practice programs. Faculty, you are the linchpin of our educational enterprise,” she said. “Thank you for all that you do.”

Keynote Speaker Encourages Graduates to Pursue What Matters Most

Cheryl Krause-Parello (PhD, FAAN, ANEF), associate vice president for research at Florida Atlantic University and founding director of C-P.A.W.W. (Canines Providing Assistance to Wounded Warriors), delivered the keynote address. A proud Rutgers alumna, she reflected on earning her PhD in Nursing at Rutgers 18 years ago.

“Graduates, I am so honored to celebrate such a memorable occasion with you… If I could go back in time and tell myself one thing on graduation day, it would be: always follow my passion.”

Krause-Parello shared memories from her early experiences as an undergraduate nursing student, and described her journey from becoming a new nurse to gaining national recognition as a funded nurse researcher using animal-assisted interventions to support the health of veterans and other vulnerable populations.

Emphasizing that “nurses are the heartbeat of health care,” she encouraged graduates to never forget what brought them into nursing.

“Being a nurse means being the voice for people who might not be heard, being an advocate, being a caregiver, being a source of strength for patients during their most vulnerable moments,” she said.

Faculty Honorees Recognized for Impact in Teaching and Research

The event also included presentation of New Jersey Health Foundation awards to two Rutgers School of Nursing faculty members.

Barbara Niedz (PhD, RN, CPHQ), recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award, was praised for her ability to simplify complex content and support students’ growth. According to one student evaluation, “Dr. Niedz gently explained statistics so well, that I now have the clearest understanding I’ve ever had in my entire college career.”

Rubab Qureshi (PhD, MD, MBBS) received the Excellence in Research Award for her work on social determinants of health in underserved populations. A colleague called her “an invaluable asset,” whose work “continues to have a lasting impact.”

PhD Graduate Receives Medal of Excellence

The prestigious Stanley S. Bergen, Jr., MD, Medal of Excellence was awarded to Angela Alberti (PhD, RN) a new PhD graduate whose dissertation research led to several state-funded initiatives for families of children with autism.

Representing the Class of 2025 advanced degree students, Alberti presented remarks focused on the importance of compassion. Research shows, she said, that there are real connections between compassion, healing, and health. “The power of nurses is greatest not just when our clinical skills are strong, but when we embody compassion in our work with patients and with our fellow nurses,” she said Further, she said, “you are the most important patient in your life and our calling as nurses and healers is a marathon, not a sprint. So I encourage you to develop your self-compassion skills alongside all your other clinical skills so that you can thrive in this profession for the long haul.”

Undergraduate Speaker Brings Humor, Gratitude, and Heart

Jenny Zijun Wang, bachelor of science in nursing Class of 2025, represented her peers with warmth and wit, while also underscoring the importance of compassion.

“This is a finish line we’ve crawled, sprinted, stumbled, and supported one another toward,” said Wang, an academic high achiever and student leader whose service to the school included president of the student senate.

Wang highlighted the moments between exams and clinicals that made nursing school unforgettable.

“What started as tutoring sessions turned into late-night study groups, pep talks, and moments of pure laughter. It was about that person who noticed you looked overwhelmed and said, ‘Hey – sit with me.’”

She reminded the audience that compassion is at the core of the profession: “The most powerful intervention we can offer isn’t always found in a Pyxis machine – it’s found in our presence, and our ability to care deeply.”

Tradition, Pledges, and Looking Ahead

Graduates received their pins and joined together in reciting the Professional Nurses Pledge, led by Cheryl Pantini (BSN, RN), president of the School of Nursing Alumni Association.

The ceremony closed with applause and a final message from Dean Starkweather: “You are now our ambassadors – we expect the very best from each and every one of you.”