Welcome from Dean Nickitas

September 1, 2025 

Dear Students,

Welcome back! Whether you are beginning your very first semester or returning to continue your
journey, I am thrilled to welcome you to a new academic year at the Rutgers University–Camden
School of Nursing. You are not just returning to a campus—you are returning to a community.
One that is committed to your growth, your success, and your future as compassionate, courageous,
and capable nurses.

For those of you just joining us—our newest Raptors—know this: you belong here. Your
presence, your voice, and your perspective are already valued and needed in this community. You
step into a school ready to meet you as you are and walk with you as you grow into who you are
becoming: a professional nurse.

This year, I am proud to lead with a theme that resonates deeply in our profession and in our lives:

Building Bridges through Inclusivity and Communication

Bridges connect people. They span differences. They are built with care and held up by trust.
That’s what we strive to build here every day—with you, and alongside you.
Our faculty are the essential architects of the bridges we create. Their scholarship, mentorship, and
care form the scaffolding that supports your academic journey. They are committed to delivering
knowledge and nurturing your professional growth and personal confidence. Faculty across
disciplines guide you with rigor and purpose—illuminating the path ahead with both expertise and
grace.

Inclusivity is more than a word in our values—it’s how we operate. It means listening with
empathy, speaking with honesty, and showing up for each other with kindness and respect. It
means making space, sharing space, and holding space for one another. And it means ensuring that
every person here feels a sense of belonging—because belonging is not passive, it is active. It’s
something we create together through our actions, our words, and our support for each other.

To our new students: you are entering a school that is proud to call you the largest and most
diverse class we’ve ever welcomed. You represent six states, 16 New Jersey counties, and the
highest percentage of men in nursing our school has seen—continuing our national recognition as a
“Best School for Men in Nursing.” You bring rich academic backgrounds, lived experiences, and
bold aspirations to a profession that needs every one of you.

To our continuing students: your leadership, resilience, and commitment continue to define this
school’s spirit. You set the standard for excellence in the classroom, in clinicals, in student
government, and in communities near and far.

To our graduate students—those pursuing advanced practice, leadership, education, or policy
roles—you are expanding the bridge outward. You amplify the voice of nursing beyond bedside
care and into boardrooms, classrooms, and communities. You bring wisdom, depth, and inquiry to
our academic landscape, and you demonstrate what lifelong learning truly looks like.

Across both the Traditional BSN and Accelerated BSN (ABS) tracks, we are proud to have
students ranging in age from their late teens to their 30s—students who are first-generation
scholars, parents, career changers, and global citizens. This diversity of paths enriches our school
and reflects the very communities we serve.

As we move into this new academic year, I want to remind you that this is more than your
education—it is your calling. Nursing is not just a career. It is a moral commitment to equity,
compassion, and justice. It is a promise to care for all people—without exception.
Every nurse is a bridge: Between patient and provider. Between fear and hope. Between illness and
healing.

To build those bridges, you will need more than technical skill. You will need empathy. You will
need humility. And above all, you will need an unwavering respect for human dignity.

The work ahead of you is not easy—but it is meaningful. You are entering a profession grounded
in ethics, advocacy, and humanity. You will be asked to lead. To listen. To stand up for those
who cannot. And to push for systems that are more just and more inclusive for all. And that work
starts now—in how you study, how you show up for your peers, how you communicate, and how
you commit to growing as a person and a professional.

This year, I encourage you to think of yourself not just as a student—but as a bridge builder.
Because every conversation, every collaboration, every patient interaction—you are connecting
lives. And you are shaping what healthcare can and should be.

So once again—welcome back. Welcome to your next step. Welcome to the community that sees
you, supports you, and believes in your ability to make a difference.

Let’s begin this year—together. 

Warmly,
Donna Nickitas, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, FNAP, FAAN

Dean and Professor

Rutgers University-Camden School of Nursing 

SNC Dean's Leadership Circle Members

Mr. Mark Baiada

Dr. Margaret Barton-Burke

Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago

David Williams, PhD

Ms. Linda Wray

Mr. Al Smith, CPA

Terri Veneziano, MSN

Reverend Dr. Dyheim T. Watson Sr.

Paschal Nwako, PhD

Donna Nickitas, PhD

Dr. Lynne Borucki

Helene Burns, DNP

Mr. Nicholas (Nick) Cangelosi

Kathy Devine, DrNP

Natasha Dravid, MBA

Diane Juliano, DNP

Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake