Rutgers Nursing Alumni Awards are announced; gala celebration event is set for November 30

November 7, 2023

Rutgers School of Nursing Alumni Association will host its annual Scholarships & Awards Gala on Thursday, November 30, 2023 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Join us for an unforgettable evening of celebration and recognition in the elegant and gorgeous ballroom of the Primavera Regency in Stirling, NJ.

At the heart of our gala, we recognize and reward the hard work and dedication of deserving nursing students. We believe in supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals, and scholarships will be presented to those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the field.

Alumni Award Recipients


Congratulations to the 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award winner, Mary Beth Russell – CNUR’85. Dr. Russell currently serves as the Senior VP for  The Institute for Nursing Excellence at RWJBarnabas Health.

The 2023 Rising Star Alumni Award winner is Al-zada Aguilar CNUR’07, ’12, SON’18, a three-time Rutgers Nursing graduate! Dr. Aguilar currently serves as an Advanced Practice Nurse at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

The 2023 President’s Award will be bestowed on Shanda Johnson CNUR’97, GSN ’01, ’14, also a three-time Rutgers Nursing graduate! Dr. Johnson is an Assistant Professor at New Jersey City University and a certified Family Nurse Practitioner.

Honoring Retired School of Nursing Faculty

In addition to celebrating the future of nursing, we will take a moment to recognize its foundation in nursing education. We will honor three outstanding retired nursing faculty members who have been instrumental in shaping the careers of countless nursing professionals

  • Barbara Caldwell, PhD, APN-BC
  • Debora Tracey, DNP, RN, CNE
  • Suzanne Willard, PhD, APN-C, FAAN
Event Details

Date: November 30, 2023
Time: 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Location: Primavera Regency, 1080 Valley Rd, Stirling, NJ 07980

Tickets and Sponsorships:
Individual tickets are $135 and sponsorships are available. All proceeds from the awards ceremony fund scholarships to support undergraduate and graduate Rutgers nursing students!

Dress Code:
The attire for the evening is black-tie optional. Dress your best and come prepared for a memorable night.

For more information, please email rsonaa@sn.rutgers.edu