Region 1 (Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren)
Rebecca Thomlinson, VP Communications Region 1 and
Jacqueline Galante, Chair, R1 Nominations Committee
Region 1 hosted an Education Dinner 9/18/2025 at the Holiday Inn in Budd Lake. Participants earned 1 CE on the topic of Beyond Birth: Addressing Black Maternal Health & Community Well Being. Donations of Baby items for Birth Haven in Newton were collected.
Region 1 congratulates the following nurse leaders elected for the 2026-2027 term pending their acceptance:
- President-Elect: Jodi Rotter, DNP, MS, RN, NPD-BC
- Vice-President to the Congress on Policy: Andrea Brassard, PhD, FNP-BC
- Sussex County Coordinator: Daria Napierkowski, DNP, APN, ANP-BC, CNE
Region 1 continues to seek candidates to fill the positions of Vice-President for Membership, Vice-President for Fundraising, Morris County Coordinator, and the Nominations Committee (2).
Please visit our Social Media on Facebook https://m.facebook.com/NJSNARegion1/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/NJSNARegion1/ & X https://x.com/njsnaregion1 for more information on the open positions and to view photos of the Region 1 Education dinne
Region 2 News (Bergen & Hudson)
Margaret Hopkins, Region 2 President
Recent meeting topics included So You Never Did a Poster Presentation by Region 2’s Jasmine Hossain-Wilson and Substance Abuse Screening by Region 4’s Dumebi Oforah. Our annual meeting is scheduled for November 19th and will be devoted to updating our bylaws. If you have a project, we want to learn about it. If you would like to disseminate something at an upcoming meeting, please reach out to Maggie Hopkins at julejess@gmail.com. This is a group for all of us.
Starting this past summer, our meetings have moved from Tuesdays to Wednesdays (3rd Wednesday of odd numbered months). Our first meeting in the new year will be January 21, 2026.
Our VP of Policy and Procedure, Sol Angelica Munoz has been on active military reserve service. We thank her for her service.
Region 3 (Essex, Union Counties)
Elsie A. Rivera, DNP, APN, FNP-C, President-Elect
Dear NJSNA Family, as my regional presidential term comes to a close, I want to express my deepest gratitude for the privilege of serving this remarkable organization. It has been an honor to work with you all in moving the nursing profession forward. Reflecting on these past two years, we have navigated challenges and embraced change that have strengthened our community and advanced our shared mission. Our accomplishments span from educational initiatives and advocating at policy level to celebrating the resilience and dedication that define nurses at their core. None of which would have been possible without the commitment, passion, and collaboration of our members. Thank you for trusting me and challenging me through all of this.
As I step down, I do so with confidence that our incoming leadership will be full of energy, vision, and integrity. I am excited to see all Dr. Elsie Rivera will do in taking us into the next chapter. She has my deepest belief and support in guiding this region. I would like to thank Dr. Lois Greene and Norma Rodgers-Frink for believing in my abilities and encouraging me to reach greater heights. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you.
Region 3 News and Updates
We extend our sincere congratulations to Dr. Shanda Johnson for her induction into the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance Hall of Fame this past October. Dr. Johnson also received two proclamations from the Township Council of Scotch Plains proclaiming National Nurses Week observed May 6-12, 2025, and April 2025 designated as Donate Life Month.
Dr. Varsha Singh facilitated six didactic virtual stroke education classes for staff nurses in Singapore.
Dr. Elsie Rivera was honored by the NJ Assemblywoman Annette Quijano with a ceremonial resolution in recognition of her dedicated service to the nursing profession and her leadership. She was also presented with a resolution from the Newark Municipal Council for educational and professional accomplishments.
If you have any news or updates to share with Region 3, please send your information to region03@gmail.com. We encourage you to stay connected through our social media channels for upcoming events and announcements, and please access our WhatsApp; we value your engagement and contributions. Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Region 4 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Bucks)
Ginnette Watkins-Keller DNP, RN, OCN, NEA-BC, NJSNA Region 4 President
NJ Nurse Region 4 – December 2025 Edition
I hope everyone had a wonderful fall and is now preparing for winter. With December upon us, we are excited to share some upcoming changes for NJSNA Region 4. Starting in January 2026, we will welcome Dr. Donna Penn as our new president of NJSNA Region 4.
Board Leadership – Upcoming NJSNA Region 4 President
With just one month remaining, we are excited to welcome our new NJSNA Region 4 President, Dr. Donna Penn. Dr. Penn, DNP, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, has served as President-elect for NJSNA Region 4 for the past two years. In addition to her role on the board, she is the Director of the Holy Name Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Dr. Penn earned her BSN and MSN from The College of New Jersey and her DNP in Systems Level Leadership from Thomas Edison State University. She has been a registered nurse for over 45 years and has worked as a nurse educator for 25 years. Throughout her career, she has held faculty and administrative positions in both diploma and associate degree nursing programs. Her clinical expertise is in critical care nursing.
Dr. Penn has successfully led faculty teams through curriculum revisions and ACEN accreditation processes. She currently serves as the President of the National Coalition of Hospital-Associated Schools and Colleges of Nursing, as well as The New Jersey League for Nursing. Additionally, she is a board member of the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing.
We look forward to Dr. Penn assuming the role of NJSNA Region 4 President starting in January 2026.
NJSNA Region 4 Annual Meeting
Monthly Meetings
Our monthly meetings take place on the second Thursday of each month at 7 pm via Zoom. To attend, please email Ginnette Watkins-Keller at President@Region4NJSNA.onmicrosoft.com to get a Zoom link.
Are You Interested in Joining?
If you’re interested in joining Region 4, please contact our president, Ginnette Watkins-Keller, at President@Region4NJSNA.onmicrosoft.com. We look forward to meeting you at an upcoming meeting n
Warm regards,
Ginnette Watkins-Keller DNP, RN, OCN, NEA-BC
NJSNA Region 4 President
Region 5 – A Year in Review (Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem)
Christine Savini MSN, RN, CMSRN, CPPS, CNL, NPD-BC, VP Communications Region 5
As 2025 draws to a close, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the milestones and celebrations that made this year so special for Region 5. From leadership transitions to engaging events and meaningful recognitions, Region 5 has truly thrived! In January, we proudly celebrated the installation of our new Region 5 President, Marilyn Mapp, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, and congratulated our past President, Kristin Sagedy, PhD, RN, CEN, on becoming President-Elect of NJSNA. Both leaders are passionate advocates for nursing and continue to elevate our profession.
February brought fun and fundraising with our Quizzo Night, supporting the Dr. Barbara Chamberlain Scholarship Fund. In March, we hosted the C.A.R.E.S Awards Gala, honoring excellence in nursing. Congratulations to Sara Barry, RN, winner of the Clinical Practice Award, and Barbara McCormick, RN, Honorable Mention in Education!
Over the summer Region 5 partnered with Sigma Phi Nu Chapter to host our first virtual CE event, featuring the powerful documentary “Everybody’s Work: Healing What Hurts Us All.” The event sparked deep reflection and discussion on the nurse’s role in community healing and was very well attended. In August, we welcomed Tim Marks as Vice President for Membership and Deborah Maguire as Treasurer. We’re excited to have their energy and expertise on the board!
Region 5 we want to hear from you! Consider joining us and sharing your voice. Our meetings are open to all Region 5 nurses and are held on Third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM via Zoom. It is a great opportunity to come and hear about current events and activities happening in our area. Not receiving our updates via email? Email is NJSNARegion5@gmail.com to be added to our distribution list. Follow us on social media too! Facebook: New Jersey State Nurses Association Region 5 and Instagram: @NJSNARegion5.
Wishing everyone a beautiful holiday season and looking forward to a bright 2026
Region 6 News (Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, Ocean)
Kathleen Mullen, DNP, MA, RNC-MNN, CNE, Region 6 VP Communications
Hello RNs in Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean, and Monmouth counties!
If you are a member of Region 6 and have not received email blasts about our Region meetings, please update your profile on the NJSNA website and check the group correspondence box in the Email Preferences section of your account. If you are not a member, join us! Region 6 has a robust membership – please let us know how you’d like to share in Region 6 events and activities and benefit from your membership. There are many subcommittees and every member’s participation is welcome.
Plans for next year include a meeting in Atlantic County in early spring, and our General Membership meeting in June. Find Region 6 meetings on the NJSNA website. After login, click on events and scroll until you find us. To tell us about the content you’d like to see on the Region 6 forum: email Kathy Mullen, VP Communications, at kmmullen@comcast.net.
The Region has experienced many leadership changes recently and the President-Elect Denise Nash assumed the Presidency in September. The elections last month filled vacancies and Region 6 will move forward with a new Board following Officer Induction in January. It’s never too early to think about participating in Region 6 activities or taking on a leadership role in the Region. Join us as a guest at a Board meeting to explore opportunities. Joining the nominating committee or working with county directors is also a great way to learn more about leadership on those committees
