In Memoriam: Dr. Beverly Whipple (1941–2026)
November 10, 2026
Beverly Whipple received the Dean’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Alumni Awards and Scholarship Gala in 2022.
Rutgers School of Nursing remembers pioneering researcher, distinguished alumna and professor emerita
Rutgers School of Nursing mourns the passing of Beverly Whipple (PhD, RN, FAAN), distinguished alumna, professor emerita and internationally renowned researcher whose groundbreaking work advanced scientific understanding of women’s sexual health. Whipple died Nov. 2, 2026, at her home, surrounded by family. She was 85.
A pioneering nurse scientist, educator and author, Whipple helped bring women’s sexual physiology and sexual health into the mainstream of scientific research and public discussion. She was best known for her research on the G-spot and as co-author of the international best-seller, The G Spot and Other Discoveries About Human Sexuality, which was translated into 23 languages. Throughout her career, she championed the importance of women’s health, sexual well-being and evidence-based education.
Rutgers held a particularly special place in Whipple’s life. She joined the faculty at Rutgers College of Nursing in 1987, where she served for 14 years before retiring in July 2001. In 2016, she was named a Rutgers University 250th Anniversary Fellow and received the Rutgers Medal. Rutgers School of Nursing honored her with its Dean’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2022.
Whipple earned three degrees from Rutgers University: a master’s degree in counseling, a master’s degree in nursing and a PhD in psychobiology, with a concentration in neurophysiology. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wagner College. Noting that her husband, Jim, their two children and their youngest grandson also graduated from Rutgers, she proudly stated “We are a Rutgers Family.”
A prolific scholar and sought-after speaker, Whipple co-authored six books, published more than 200 research articles and book chapters, and delivered more than 800 presentations and keynote addresses worldwide. Her expertise also made her a prominent voice in the media, where she helped bring scientific research on women’s sexual health to broader audiences. She appeared on more than 300 radio and television programs and was featured in hundreds of magazines, including Cosmopolitan, which named her one of its “10 Sexual Revolutionaries You Should Know” in 2013.
Whipple’s extraordinary contributions earned her international recognition and more than 115 professional honors. In 2006, New Scientist named her among the 50 most influential scientists in the world. Her many distinctions included the Gold Medal from the World Association for Sexual Health for outstanding lifetime contributions; the Kinsey Award, Hugo Beigel Research Award and Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality; and the Masters and Johnson Award from the Society for Sex Therapy and Research for exceptional lifetime achievements in sexual health.
She also received the New Jersey State Nurses Association Award for Excellence in Research, the Brisben Foundation Award for Excellence in Women’s Health, and the Distinguished Service Award and Professional Standard of Excellence Award from the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. In 2013, a scientific research center in Puebla, Mexico, was named in her honor.
An influential leader in her profession, Whipple served as president of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists and the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, and as secretary-general/treasurer of the World Association for Sexual Health. She was a fellow of both the American Academy of Nursing and the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality.
Whipple’s legacy lives on through her pioneering research, her influence on generations of healthcare professionals and scholars, and her enduring contributions to the Rutgers community.
Rutgers School of Nursing extends its deepest condolences to her husband, Jim, their children, Allen and Susan, and the entire Whipple family.