NEWARK, N.J. -- Rutgers College of Nursing faculty member Robert Atkins will be inducted into the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance (RAAA) Hall of Fame on Sept. 30 at the Busch Campus Faculty Dining Room in Piscataway, N.J.
Atkins, assistant professor at the College of Nursing at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is one of five inductees who will receive their awards at the third annual RAAA Hall of Fame ceremony and fundraising dinner. Recently, the Concerned Black Nurses of Newark honored Atkins with its Research Nurse of the Year award in May 2006.
"I am honored that I have been selected for induction in to the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance Hall of Fame," said Atkins. "The accomplishments of the present and previous inductees are truly noteworthy and I am humbled to be associated with such a distinguished group."
A Cherry Hill, N.J. resident, Atkins earned a Ph.D from Temple University's Department of Public Health in 2004. He received his Master of Science in Nursing from Rutgers College of Nursing in 1998. Atkins earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University in 1990 and his Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania in 1994.
Atkins, a former school nurse at East Camden Middle School, has an extensive record of community service. He is co-founder and president of the STARR program (Sports Teaching Adolescents Responsibility and Resiliency), a community-based youth development program and co-founder and director of Healthy Futures for Camden Youth, a public health initiative which is affiliated with Rutgers University.
The STARR program, developed with Daniel Hart, a Rutgers Camden professor, fosters development of responsibility among Camden youth through year round recreational activity, community service, academic enrichment and the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with caring adults.
"It is nice to be recognized for my work in the STARR program but it would not be possible without the contributions of numerous individuals and organizations," he said. "I'm accepting this honor on behalf of all the Camden STARR program volunteers and funders, who have shared their resources over the past 10 years to improve the life chances of children and adolescents living in Camden."
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 and the first to offer a doctoral (Ph.D) nursing degree in New Jersey.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A photo of Robert Atkins, a Cherry Hill, N.J. resident, is available at http://nursing.rutgers.edu/files/Ratkinsphoto2005provostshot.pdf.