Statewide organization grants majority of this year’s honors to faculty, alumni, and students from Rutgers School of Nursing

Rutgers School of Nursing earned major statewide recognition in the New Jersey League for Nursing’s (NJLN) annual honors, capturing five of eight statewide Nurse Recognition Awards and $47,000 in student scholarships.

Laura Mularz (DNP, APN, ACNS-BC, NE-BC, CRRN), clinical assistant professor and specialty director of the Nurse Leadership graduate education program at Rutgers School of Nursing, received NJLN’s Recognition Award for 2025. The statewide honor celebrates exemplary leadership, professional excellence, and dedication to advancing health care and nursing education.

Only eight individuals across New Jersey received the award this year. Five are affiliated with Rutgers School of Nursing—Mularz, a graduate of the school’s Nursing Leadership program, along with fellow alumni:

• Lois Green (DHA, MBA, BSN), senior vice president for wellness, equity & inclusion at University Hospital
• Lori Colineri (DNP, RN, NEA-BC), chief nursing officer, JFK University Medical Center
• Brenda Marshall (EdD, APN, ANEF, FAANP), professor of nursing at Montclair State University
• Swapnil Shah (DNP, AGACNP-BC, APN, NPC-BC, CCRN), clinical educator at RWJBarnabas Health

Tita Viray-Innes (MSMS, BSN, RN, CHSE), instructor and simulation and clinical learning coordinator at Rutgers School of Nursing, was also honored by the NJLN as a DAISY Award nominee for excellence in nursing education. Viray-Innes is an alumna of the school.

A Leader Who Educates with Purpose

As a clinician, educator, and mentor, Mularz leads the Nurse Leadership master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Rutgers. She also maintains an active clinical practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at JFK University Medical Center/Hackensack Meridian Health, where she works across the system to coordinate care and improve outcomes for individuals and families.

“Dr. Mularz represents the very best of nursing—a leader whose commitment to excellence and compassion elevates everyone around her,” said Angela Starkweather (PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN), dean of Rutgers School of Nursing. “Her impact extends from the bedside to the boardroom to the classroom, and her students carry forward her example as they shape the future of health care.”

Manda DiRubbo (BA, MSN, RN), a research nurse clinician who graduated from Rutgers’ Nurse Leadership program in 2025, said Mularz’s mentorship continues to guide her career.

“Dr. Mularz has redefined what it means to educate with purpose,” DiRubbo said. “She designs learning experiences that build confidence and critical thinking and sees potential in her students long before they see it in themselves. Thanks to her support, I’ve earned scholarships, attended national conferences, and pursued leadership opportunities I once thought were out of reach. Her influence goes beyond academics—she helps shape the kind of leaders nursing needs most.”

Rutgers Students Earn $47,000 in NJLN Scholarships

Ten Rutgers School of Nursing students received a combined total of $47,000 in NJLN scholarships this year, recognizing academic achievement and commitment to advancing the nursing profession.

Dr. Maureen Sullivan Foley Memorial Scholarship Award

• Khristine Ronquillo, PhD in Nursing student — $20,000
• Shannon Boyd, Master of Science in Nursing student — $10,000
• Wiktoria Domagala, Bachelor of Science in Nursing student — $10,000

NJLN Scholarship Recipients — $1,000 each

• Brianna Napoli, Doctor of Nursing Practice student
• Alexis Zamboanga-D’Arelli, Doctor of Nursing Practice student
• Diana Faye Castro, Master of Science in Nursing student
• Riley Lavelle, Bachelor of Science in Nursing student
• Maxine Onkoba, Bachelor of Science in Nursing student
• Leo Gabriel Ramos, Bachelor of Science in Nursing student
• Payton Schrager, Bachelor of Science in Nursing student

“The recognition of our faculty and students by the New Jersey League for Nursing highlights the extraordinary impact of Rutgers nurses at every level,” Starkweather said. “It reflects the strength of our programs and the shared mission that drives our community—to educate, empower, and inspire nurses who make a difference.”

The honorees are celebrated annually at the New Jersey League for Nursing’s Nurse Recognition and Scholarship Awards Gala, held this year on November 7 at the Pines Manor in Edison, which brings together nurse leaders, educators, and students from across the state to honor excellence in nursing practice and education.