Glenn Murphy, clinical learning facilitator and clinical instructor, leads a campus tour during the 10-year anniversary celebration for Rutgers School of Nursing’s Blackwood program.

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When Rutgers School of Nursing partnered with Camden County College more than a decade ago, the goal was clear: create an affordable, direct path for South Jersey students to earn a Rutgers bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Today, 10 years later, that vision has evolved into a thriving program on Camden County College’s Blackwood campus—broadening access to nursing education and strengthening the region’s workforce.

This milestone was the focus on December 7, when alumni, faculty, students, and community partners gathered at Blackwood for an anniversary celebration to reflect not only on the program’s beginnings, but on the people whose lives it has changed. The event also launched a new scholarship fund for Rutgers nursing students at Blackwood.

View the Anniversary Celebration photo gallery

A Vision of Access, Opportunity, and Excellence

The Blackwood program, which admitted its first students in 2013 and graduated its first cohort in 2015, is a “2+2” pathway to a Rutgers bachelor’s degree in nursing. Students complete the first two years in Camden County College’s pre-nursing track before transitioning into the upper-division Rutgers curriculum, taught on the Blackwood campus by Rutgers faculty. Students have access to Rutgers support systems and extracurricular activities enjoyed by undergraduate nursing students across the school they they are awarded a Rutgers diploma at the conclusion of their studies.

The 2+2 model was designed to streamline the route to a nursing degree and remove barriers that often delay students’ progression, according to Distinguished Professor William Holzemer (PhD, RN, FAAN), who was the nursing school’s dean when he worked with Camden County College to establish the program.

“Community college students may spend years piecing together prerequisites, waiting for admission to nursing programs, and then returning again for the bachelor’s,” Holzemer has said. “With the 2+2 model, we created a seamless pathway that allows students to earn their bachelor’s degree in four years without delays.”

A Celebration Rooted in Purpose

During the anniversary celebration— a brunch and networking event — School of Nursing Dean and Professor Angela Starkweather (PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN) reflected on the program’s role in preparing nurses for a changing workforce.

“Our Blackwood program has become an important avenue for students in South Jersey to earn a Rutgers bachelor’s degree in nursing,” she said. “As the nation faces a growing nursing shortage, innovative programs that prepare RNs for the workforce have are critically important. We’re so proud that Rutgers is responding to the call.”

Kyle D. Warren (PhD, MAE), senior vice dean for administration and student affairs at the School of Nursing and associate vice chancellor for student affairs at Rutgers Health, highlighted the program’s collaborative foundation. “Our Blackwood program represents a strong partnership and a shared vision,” he said. “Today we pause to celebrate all that has been accomplished and to look ahead with excitement to the future.”

Amy Sweeney (DNP, RN), assistant dean for the Blackwood program, has  taught there since 2014. “Rutgers Nursing in Blackwood, is a community within a community,” she said. “I feel fortunate to witness our students’ success and to see how Blackwood graduates continue to support one another across South Jersey and beyond.”

The program prioritizes affordability, academic rigor, and personalized support, opening doors for students who might not otherwise envision a path to Rutgers, Starkweather noted. “Many Blackwood students balance work, caregiving, and other responsibilities as they pursue their degrees, bringing diverse life experiences that enrich clinical practice and classroom learning,” she said.

Starkweather concluded her remarks by spotlighting several Blackwood graduates:

Mark Fedorich (Class of 2023) shifted careers in midlife after decades in real estate, drawing on his volunteer work as an EMT to pursue a nursing degree at age 54. He worked as an emergency department nurse in South Jersey for two years before moving this year to Marietta, Georgia where he continues to serve in this role.

Mykhailo Osadchyi (Class of 2024) balanced full-time work as a limo driver, fatherhood, and concern for relatives in war-torn Ukraine as he completed his degree, demonstrating resilience and drive that inspired classmates and faculty alike.

Samantha Roarty (Class of 2024) mentored peers while also volunteering with Savage Sisters Recovery & Outreach in Philadelphia, providing compassionate care to people experiencing homelessness and addiction.

Luis Martinez (Class of 2025) began in hospital housekeeping before enrolling in the program, becoming class president and a Dean’s List student, and creating Spanish-language health education materials for the Camden community.