Honors & Awards | The College of New Jersey

Nursing program receives top ranking from RegisteredNursing.org

The College of New Jersey’s nursing program earned the top ranking in New Jersey for 2026 by RegisteredNursing.org.

The rankings, which began in 2016, note TCNJ’s 100 percent NCLEX pass rate, comprehensive professional preparation, integrated clinical training, and advanced beginner practitioner skills through innovative instruction.

“We are pleased to be recognized for the hard work and dedication exhibited by our students and faculty every single day,” said Carole Kenner, dean of TCNJ’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences. “We are committed to excellence in the classroom, in the workforce, and in our strong showing on the NCLEX exam every year.”

New Jersey is one of several states to be experiencing a nursing shortage. The college has worked to combat the gap in several ways including the addition of an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program in 2023.

“The Garden State has a rapidly aging population, as well as diverse communities that are struggling to find adequate healthcare options,” said RegisteredNursing.org’s Catherine Burger. “Within the next 10 years, New Jersey is expected to reach a nursing position vacancy of up to 9%.”

“TCNJ will continue to strive to close that gap and prepare our nursing students to thrive in their studies and have an immediate positive impact in our communities,” Kenner said.

RegisteredNursing.org’s ranking methodology can be found on its website.

— Luke Sacks

TCNJ remains a national leader for producing high school physics teachers

The College of New Jersey’s School of Science and School of Education continue to tackle the national shortage of physics teachers by producing qualified educators at a pace that ranks among the best in the nation. The Physics Teacher Education Coalition has once again recognized TCNJ with the 5+ Award for graduating six well-prepared physics teachers in… Continue Reading

Biology major Ellie Kreider earns Fulbright U.S. Student Program award

Ellie Kreider ’25, a biology major at The College of New Jersey, has received a Fulbright U.S. Student Open Research Award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board to conduct research in Germany for the 2025–2026 academic year. Her work is entitled “Untangling the role of calcium channel proteins in… Continue Reading

Psychology and music double major named Presser Scholar

TCNJ student papers “Provide Renewed Hope for our Discipline and our World” at national health communication conference

TCNJ student papers “provide renewed hope for our health communication discipline and our world” according to Anne Nicotera, professor and organizer of the national biannual D.C. Health Communication Conference hosted by George Mason University May 1–3, 2025, in Herndon, Virginia. “To see this caliber of work produced by undergraduate students is rare and exceedingly gratifying,”… Continue Reading

Director of Res Ed Tina Tormey earns prestigious Carmen L. Vance Herstory Award

Tina Tormey, director of residential education and housing at TCNJ, was named the winner of the Carmen L. Vance Herstory Award by the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International. The award is presented to honor an outstanding female professional who has served the housing profession and assisted in supporting and creating opportunities for other female… Continue Reading

Goldwater Scholar Ravi Sangani ’26 sees a passion in his research

Public health major Ravi Sangani ’26 was recently named a 2025 Goldwater Scholar — one of the most prestigious national honors for undergraduate students in mathematics, science, and engineering. Out of 1,350 faculty-nominated students across 445 institutions, Sangani — who is minoring in biology and chemistry — was among just 441 selected for the scholarship,… Continue Reading

TCNJ students recognized for their academic achievements at the 2025 Sigma Tau Delta Centennial Convention

Twenty-four TCNJ students attended the Sigma Tau Delta Centennial Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last month, where they presented critical and creative work, participated in professional development workshops led by the Modern Language Association, and participated in roundtables focused on internships, teaching, and popular culture. “Our students were excellent ambassadors from TCNJ and have made us… Continue Reading

Grad student Jaclyn Romano earns honor for student voter engagement efforts

Jaclyn Romano, a graduate student in her final semester of the Master of Public Policy program, was named to the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Student Voting Honor Roll. Romano serves as a graduate assistant in the office of Co-Curricular and Leadership Development. Through that role, she works closely with the TCNJ Votes committee to… Continue Reading

TCNJ student life staff honored at NGLA awards ceremony

Dave Conner, director of student Life at The College of New Jersey, was awarded an inaugural 2025 Compass Award from the Northeast Greek Leadership Association. The Compass Awards recognize outstanding past volunteers who served the organization. These awards celebrate excellence in leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing the NGLA mission. Conner, who served nine years… Continue Reading