Rutgers College of Nursing and Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Steven J. Diner Host Farewell Reception for Felissa R. Lashley at The Newark Museum on May 29

Rutgers College of Nursing and Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Steven J. Diner

Host Farewell Reception for Felissa R. Lashley at The Newark Museum on May 29

(NEWARK, N.J., May 7, 2008) – The Rutgers College of Nursing and Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Steven J. Diner are hosting a farewell reception for Felissa R. Lashley, dean and professor, who is retiring as dean at the Newark Museum on May 29 at 4 p.m.

Lashley, who has served as dean of the College of Nursing at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey for more than five years, is stepping out of the deanship effective June 30. Lashley plans on taking a leave of absence for a year and then will return to a faculty position.

“I enjoyed meeting exciting and interesting people as well being involved in making decisions that have shaped the college’s future.  I am also very proud of the college’s success in attracting outstanding faculty members,” said Lashley, a West Orange, N.J. resident. “During a very difficult nursing faculty shortage and a restricted budget for the college we have attracted the highest qualified faculty to teach our students to become Rutgers nurses, who are skilled in critical thinking, clinical judgment and competent practice.”

Under her leadership, the College of Nursing initiated new graduate programs, established the Nursing Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Bioterrorism Preparedness, increased the diversity of faculty and administration, increased externally funded research, began construction of a new nursing building in New Brunswick, and experienced significant growth in undergraduate and graduate enrollments.

During her tenure, Ph.D. enrollments increased after the college introduced the first online Ph.D. program at Rutgers to attract candidates who are unable to attend school in a traditional setting.

In addition, the college launched the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program, in an online and blended format, to prepare graduates for leadership in nursing and healthcare practices. During her tenure, the college instituted the use of high-fidelity patient simulators at the undergraduate and graduate levels to better prepare students for their nursing careers.

From its headquarters at Rutgers Newark, Rutgers College of Nursing offers a broad range of academic programs on all three Rutgers campuses. The college offers a master’s program with unique practitioner specialties, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, and the first to offer a Ph.D. nursing degree in New Jersey.

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