Submit Nominations for the Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Program

May 27, 2026

Dear Rutgers Health Community,

I want to encourage all members of Rutgers Health to take part in the 2026 Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Program by nominating deserving colleagues by July 1.

Across Rutgers Health, we are fortunate to have extraordinary faculty, staff, and teams whose work advances patient care, research, education, community engagement, and operational excellence every day. This program is an important opportunity to celebrate the many outstanding individuals whose dedication improves the health of all people each and every day.

The award categories recognize both individual and team achievements, with the exception of the Lifetime Contribution Awards:

Rutgers Lifetime Contribution Award (Faculty):

Recognizes a faculty member with more than two decades of exceptional service whose scholarship, teaching, and mentorship have profoundly shaped Rutgers and its academic community. This award honors a career of sustained excellence and lasting impact across generations of students and colleagues.

Rutgers Lifetime Contribution Award (Staff):

Recognizes a staff member with more than two decades of exemplary service whose dedication, innovation, and commitment have significantly strengthened the university. This award honors sustained contributions that enhance Rutgers’ mission and operations over time.

Rutgers Gateway Award (Service to Students):

Recognizes faculty, staff, or teams who remove barriers and expand access for students. Recipients demonstrate a deep commitment to student success, equity, and the belief that a Rutgers education should be accessible and achievable for all.

Rutgers Gateway Award (Service to Employees):

Recognizes faculty, staff, or teams who improve the employee experience by reducing barriers, strengthening workplace culture, and advancing collaboration and efficiency across the university.

Rutgers University Spirit Award:

Celebrates individuals or teams who foster a strong sense of community and belonging at Rutgers. Recipients actively promote dialogue, respect, and inclusion, helping to create an environment where all voices are valued.

Rutgers Outstanding Service Award:

Recognizes faculty, staff, or teams whose efforts extend beyond the university to advance the common good. Recipients demonstrate a commitment to meaningful engagement and positive impact in local, national, or global communities.

Pride of Rutgers in Frontline Service Award:

Recognizes and celebrates the dedication, exceptional performance, and positive impact of frontline staff members at Rutgers University. This award honors both individuals and teams who provide outstanding services that contribute significantly to the effective operation of the university—often behind the scenes—and enhance the overall experience of the Rutgers community.

Pride of Rutgers in Frontline Health Care Award:

Recognizes and celebrates the dedication, exceptional performance, and positive impact of frontline health care employees at Rutgers University. This award honors both individuals and teams who provide outstanding health care support that contributes significantly to the effective operation of the university's health care system—often behind the scenes—and enhance the overall experience of Rutgers patients and their loved ones.

I encourage you to take a moment to recognize the colleagues and teams whose work inspires you and exemplifies the very best of Rutgers Health.

Please visit the Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Program website to learn more about eligibility criteria and the nomination process. All nominations are due by July 1, 2026.

Thank you for helping us celebrate the exceptional people who make Rutgers Health such a strong and impactful community.

Robert L. Johnson, MD, FAAP
Dean, New Jersey Medical School
Interim Chancellor, Rutgers Health