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Celebrating 45 Years of Excellence

Welcome to Gamma Nu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International
Chartered in 1978, Gamma Nu is Seton Hall College of Nursing's chapter and has over 300 members. 

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Gamma Nu Donates and Stuffs Backpacks
for Newark Schoolchildren

Gamma Nu donated 32 backpacks for kids in Newark and several members helped to stuff these and other donated packs.  The backpack drive was spearheaded by the Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness (DHCW), which operates several clinics for local residents.  The Mary Eliza Mahoney and Speedwell Clinics are the experiential training sites for Seton Hall nurse practitioner students participating in the Nurse-led Mobile Health Training Program. The backpacks were distributed to the children at the Health Fair sponsored by the DHCW in late August, which resulted in many excited faces.

Twana Irby (DHCW Staff), Sharon Dobrina (SHU Staff), Gamma Nu Members Patricia Hubert, Mary Pat Wall and Lori Wilt, DHCW Staff Member

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Gamma Nu Inducts New Members

Gamma Nu's Annual Induction Ceremony and Dinner was held on April 30, 2023 in Bethany Hall on the South Orange Campus.  We congratulate an welcome our 57 new members.  Maryanne Barra-Schneider, Vice-President, chaired the event which many others helped to make successful. The keynote address, Transforming Healthcare with the Next Generation of Nurse Leaders, was delivered by Katherine Connolly, DNP, APN-C, Assistant Clinical Professor at the College of Nursing and Associate Director of Seton Hall's Buccino Leadership Institute.


We welcomed these new members from the Graduate, Traditional and Second-Degree BSN Programs:

At the Induction Ceremony, Maryanne Barra-Schneider awarded the annual scholarships and research awards.  This year, the scholarships were named in honor of Carolyn Rummel, a Gamma Nu Founding Member who passed away last year.  Congratulations to this year's Carolyn F. Rummel Scholarship recipients; each received $500:

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35^th Annual Reinkemeyer Research Conference

The 35th Annual Reinkemeyer Research Conference, co-sponsored by Seton Hall University College of Nursing and Gamma Nu Chapter of Sigma, was held on March 17, 2023.  Over 80 nurses and students gathered in lovely Bethany Hall on the South Orange Campus.  Celebrating Gamma Nu’s 45^th Anniversary made it an even more joyous occasion.  The planning committee was co-chaired by Beth Jameson and Nancy Bohnarczyk.

Four podium presentations and fifteen posters provided a vast range of interesting research topics.  The conference was proud to include five poster presentations by SHU CON undergraduate students and its first ever international podium presentation (from Scotland). 

The podium presenters and topics were:

Getting A Pulse on Cardiac Mortality and 30-Day Readmission Metrics through A Multidisciplinary Collaborative

Laura Marie Geron, DNP, MSN, BS, RN, CNL, CPHQ and Maria Stratton, MSN, RN, PCCN

Implementation of Nurse Navigators for Behavioral Health 

Theresa Papagna, DNP

Using Archival Research to Better Understand Nursing History: Scotland’s Healers and Midwives Accused of Witchcraft (1563-1736)

Nicola A. Ring, PhD, MSc, BSc, Dip. Health Visiting, Registered Nurse, Nessa McHugh, RM, PhD, MA, BA, Rachel Davidson-Welch, BN, BA and Bethany Reed, LLB, Pg Dip Legal Practice

 A Human-Centered Design Approach for Evidence-Based Practice Skill Building Across a Healthcare System

Katherine Hinic, PhD, RN, CNE, CNL and Mildred Ortu Kowalski, PhD, RN, CCRP, NE-BC

The Keynote Speaker was Kathleen Neville, PhD, RN, FAAN.  Her topic, The Fulbright Experience: A Nursing Scholar’s Journey described the opportunities and application process for Fulbright as well as her recent experience as a scholar at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland.  Dr Neville is Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research at Seton Hall College of Nursing

 Poster topics were:

A Descriptive Correlational Study to Examine Innovative Work Behaviors Among Nursing Care Providers

Connecting and Communicating to Support Youth Mental Health 

Ethical Issues in Pediatric End-of-Life Care

Flash Cards for Humanity: Increasing Distribution and Utilization of an Interactive Medication Flash Cards

Improving Fluid Monitoring Compliance on a Cardiac Unit

Innovating the Sleep Experience: A Quality Improvement Project

Psychometric Testing of the Attitudes Toward Delirium (ATOD) Instrument Translated into English

Telehealth During the Covid-19 Pandemic:  Did it Increase Access to Care?

The Development of a Perinatal Loss and Bereavement Training for Nurses and Other Professionals

The Effect of an Education Program on Self-Efficacy and Readiness to Complete an Advance Directive in Adults Living in the Community: A Pilot Study

The Effect of Oral Contraceptives on the Mental Health of Adolescent Females

The Impact of Various Interventions on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

The Rise of Poliomyelitis in the Pediatric Population Worldwide

The School Nurse's Experience of Secondary Exposure to Trauma

Understanding How School Health Nurse Leadership Development Programs Influence Individual and Organizational Outcomes: An Integrative Literature Review

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Gamma Nu Mourns the Loss of Beloved Founding Member

It is with deep sadness that Gamma Nu announces that Dr. Carolyn Rummel, a founding and dedicated member of Gamma Nu Chapter, passed away on Friday, December 16.  Carolyn was a teacher, friend and mentor to countless individuals during her years of service to Seton Hall College of Nursing, Gamma Nu and the NJ Consortium of Sigma Chapters.  Carolyn attended every Sigma Theta Tau Biennial Convention until 2017.  She was President of Gamma Nu twice (1990-92 and 2012-14) and remained continually active, most recently serving as Philanthropy Chair and Archivist. She particularly loved Gamma Nu's annual Reinkemeyer Research Day, always volunteering to handle the registration desk to greet everyone as they arrived.  She was a Sigma Theta Tau Virginia Henderson Fellow and founding member of the NJ Consortium of Sigma Chapters, where she was Treasurer for 28 years and the first recipient of the Mary Anne Rooney Essence of Nursing Award. Carolyn's obituary can be found here.

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Gamma Nu provides annual Christmas Dinner to Magnificat Home

Once again, Gamma Nu helped the women of Magnificat Home in Jersey City celebrate Christmas with our annual dinner and gifts.  Seton Hall College of Nursing faculty and Gamma Nu members generously donated money for the gifts, and each woman received a gift bag with handmade hats/scarves, socks, lotion, candy and a Walgreen’s gift card.  The hats and scarves were lovingly made by Carolyn Rummel's sister and her knitting group.  Carolyn organized that donation just weeks before her death---her last service to Gamma Nu. GN member Kim Conway delivered the gift bags in person and the dinner was catered by a local restaurant.

Magnificat Home currently houses 15 previously homeless women.  In addition to the annual Christmas party, Gamma Nu supports the home throughout the year with gifts of household supplies and other requested items.  Click here to learn more about Magnificat Home.

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Dr. Kimberly Conway – Gamma Nu’s Delegate to STTI

Dr. Kimberly Conway, PhD, RN, served as Gamma Nu’s representative in the House of Delegates at the Sigma Theta Tau International’s Convention.  The 46th Biennial Convention, Honor the Past, Remember the Present, Create the Future, was held November 6-10, 2021 in Indianapolis. This was a special convention because Sigma is celebrating its 100th anniversary.  Kim was a podium presenter at Convention as well as a delegate.  Her presentation, Exploring Baccalaureate Nursing Students’ Experience with Standardized Patients in Behavioral Health Simulations, was one of many exciting educational sessions. In addition to presenting and attending programs, Kim was present for the House of Delegates discussions and voting.  Many changes to the International By-Laws were approved and new officers were elected.  Among the newly elected leaders is Dr. Amita Avadhani, a Seton Hall CON graduate.  She is now the Coordinator for North America Region 14, of which Gamma Nu is a part.  Congratulations!

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Gamma Nu's 40th Anniversary

Gamma Nu Founding Members pose with the chapter's Charter in front of a display of Gamma Nu memorabilia. Pictured (L to R): Linda Ulak, Mary Ann Scharf, Josephine DeVito, Maura Ryan and Carolyn Rummel

Five Gamma Nu Past Presidents were able to attend the 40th Anniversary Celebration.  Pictured are Diane McClure (then President), Mary Ann Scharf (1986-1988), Josephine DeVito (2006-2008), Brenda Petersen (2008-2010), Wendy Budin (1998-2000) and Carolyn Rummel (1990-1992 and 2012-2014)