Anniversary celebration honors 1956 establishment of new school and nation’s first graduate program in psychiatric-mental health nursing

Rutgers School of Nursing is celebrating 2026 as its 70th anniversary year, marking seven decades of leadership in nursing education, research, and clinical practice. The milestone also highlights the lasting influence of renowned nursing theorist Hildegard Peplau, a distinguished faculty member whose work helped shape psychiatric-mental health nursing and graduate nursing education.

In 1956, Ella V. Stonsby was appointed inaugural dean of the new Rutgers College of Nursing. Also in 1956, Hildegard Peplau launched Rutgers’ new graduate program preparing clinical nurse specialists in psychiatric nursing—widely recognized as the first such program in the nation and a major milestone in the school’s 70-year history.

“Celebrating 70 years of Rutgers School of Nursing is an opportunity to reflect on a remarkable legacy of innovation and leadership in the nursing profession,” said Angela Starkweather, dean and professor. “From the groundbreaking work of Dr. Hildegard Peplau to the accomplishments of our faculty, students, and alumni today, Rutgers Nursing has continually pushed the boundaries of what nursing education and science can achieve to improve health and advance care.”

Throughout the anniversary year, Rutgers School of Nursing will highlight many of the “first” and “only” programs and initiatives that have shaped the school since its earliest days. These milestones include pioneering educational programs, nationally recognized research, and specialized graduate training that continues to influence the future of health care.

Leading the Way in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing

Rutgers Nursing can trace its roots to 1942 when one semester of physical and social sciences were offered to nursing students enrolled in Newark hospital schools of nursing. In response to a statewide shortage of nurses in 1951, Governor Driscoll diverted $120,000 from Civil Defense funds to Rutgers for the purpose of establishing a nursing program. Initially a Division of Nursing Education, the School of Nursing became the fourth division of the College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers Newark. It was formally established as the College of Nursing in 1956.

Professor Hildegard E. Peplau, who joined Rutgers in 1954, led the planning for a 12-month master’s degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing. With support from a five-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, the College of Nursing launched the program and admitted its first six students in 1956. Internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work at Rutgers and throughout the U.S., Peplau continued to direct the program until her retirement in 1974. Often called the “mother of psychiatric nursing” and ” credited for developing the Interpersonal Relations Theory, Peplau died in 1999.

An Integration of Two Distinguished Institutions

In 2014, Rutgers College of Nursing merged with the School of Nursing from the former University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey to create today’s Rutgers School of Nursing. The school is part of Rutgers Health, New Jersey’s academic health system, which includes eight schools, a behavioral health network, and 11 centers and institutes located in Newark and New Brunswick.

Today, Rutgers School of Nursing is one of the largest and most comprehensive nursing education programs in New Jersey, with more than 1,800 students and an alumni community of more than 15,000 nurses practicing and leading across the United States and around the world.

“I am deeply grateful to the entire Rutgers School of Nursing community—our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters—whose dedication and commitment have shaped this school for 70 years,” Starkweather said. “Their work, compassion, and leadership continue to strengthen our mission and advance the impact of nursing on the health of communities everywhere.”

“Our history is defined by people who dared to lead and innovate,” Starkweather added. “As we celebrate this anniversary, we honor the visionaries who built this institution and the generations of Rutgers nurses who continue to transform health care in New Jersey and across the globe.”

As part of the celebration, the school has launched “70 Acts of Kindness,” an initiative highlighting the values of kindness, respect, compassion, and civility that guide the Rutgers Nursing community. The campaign began with a drive to collect spices and personal care items for local community organizations, with donation boxes located at campus sites in Newark, New Brunswick, and Blackwood through May 31.

In keeping with the theme, the School of Nursing Staff Council hosted a Day of Kindness on March 4 in Newark and New Brunswick, where community members stopped by campus “Kindness Stations” to enjoy hot chocolate and write notes of encouragement for others.

Additional events and initiatives will continue throughout the anniversary year.

More information about anniversary activities is available on the Rutgers School of Nursing 70th Anniversary webpage.