News

President Richard L. McCormick has announced the appointment of Dr. William L. Holzemer as dean of Rutgers College of Nursing.  Holzemer will begin his term at Rutgers on September 1, 2009.

William Holzemer is currently associate dean for international programs and director of the International Center for HIV/AIDS Research at the School of Nursing at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He also directs UCSF’s World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Clinical Training in Nursing.

“Rutgers is extremely pleased to welcome Bill Holzemer, a scholar of great distinction in biomedical research and international education, to the College of Nursing at this exciting juncture in its long history of service to the health care profession,” stated President McCormick.

“The College of Nursing has just dedicated a new academic building that ushers in a new era of Rutgers nursing education.  Bill Holzemer will provide vigorous new leadership and a clear strategic focus to the college.”

Steven J. Diner, chancellor of Rutgers University in Newark, home to the College of Nursing, added, “We are thrilled to welcome a scholar of Dean Holzemer’s stature to Rutgers.  I am certain he will provide strong direction for the college, including expansion of the college’s doctoral and research programs. He is uniquely qualified to build a research program focused on urban health issues, consistent with our urban mission and commitment to the city of Newark.”

Holzemer has won international distinction for his research focused on living well with HIV/AIDS, including the aspects of adherence, stigma, symptoms and quality of life.  He recently completed two multi-million dollar National Institute of Health grants as principal investigator  relating to developing nursing research at the University of Puerto Rico and exploring the impact of HIV stigma on quality of care in five African nations for people living with HIV infection; and his research has been featured in numerous important health care and nursing journals.

Holzemer  holds the Lillian and Dudley Aldous Endowed Chair in Nursing Science at the University of California, San Francisco.  He is a visiting professor at St. Luke’s College of Nursing in Tokyo, Japan, and editor-in-chief of the Japan Journal of Nursing Science.

“I am very excited about working with the faculty, staff, and students at the College of Nursing to build upon Rutgers’ long-standing contributions to the care of the public,” Holzemer said.  ”Nursing education is challenged with the economic crises and the shortage of qualified nurses available to care for the public. Nursing science is also challenged to contribute strategies that will enhance the health and quality of life of the public. The Rutgers College of Nursing will work with its community partners, industry, and university colleagues to develop solutions to these challenges.”

Holzemer came to UCSF as an assistant professor in 1979 after teaching at the University of Illinois in Chicago.  He held several administrative positions at UCSF over the years, including chair of the Department of Community Health Systems, associate dean for research, director of the Office of Research and Evaluation Coordinator in the research office. Holzemer has won many honors and awards for research and teaching.  He has been a Project Hope Fellow and a Fulbright Scholar.  He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.

A native of Bremerton, Washington, Holzemer received his bachelor of science in psychology from the University of Washington, and his BSN in nursing from San Francisco State University.  He holds the master’s in counseling from Miami University, Ohio, and his Ph.D. in higher education administration from Syracuse University.

About Rutgers College of Nursing:
The Rutgers College of Nursing has been a leader in nursing education and nursing research for more than 50 years. From its headquarters in Newark, Rutgers College of Nursing offers a broad range of academic programs on all three Rutgers campuses, including the first Ph.D. nursing degree in New Jersey, a master’s program with unique practitioner specialties, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Faculty and students participate in many federally funded research programs aimed at promoting healthy living among the state’s diverse populations.

• Contact Name: Helen Paxton
• Contact Phone: 973-353-5262
• Contact Email: paxton@andromeda.rutgers.edu