‘A Calling to Serve Others’: UR Nursing Class of 2025 Celebrates Next Steps

The School of Nursing honored more than 250 current and future nurses and healthcare professionals across its bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs Friday, May 16, as they turned their tassels. 

Among the graduates were new bachelor’s-prepared nurses on their way to earning RN licensure, RNs returning to school for their bachelor's degrees, and current nurses pursuing advanced degree pathways in education, leadership, nurse practitioner specialties, and the PhD and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.

Sarah Mullen ’25N, chosen by her cohort as the undergraduate student speaker, changed careers to nursing by pursuing the 12-Month Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing, following a previous career in human resources and payroll.

“As much as this program has conditioned us to work hard, it has also reminded us why we work hard. Nursing is a vocation, a calling to serve others when they are most in need,” said Mullen, a UR Nursing Scholar who is beginning her career with Strong Memorial Hospital’s solid organ transplant team this fall. “This requires strength achieved by continuing to challenge ourselves and not shy away from what is difficult. The world needs nurses who understand the importance of compassion and respect for human dignity.”

Graduate speaker Rachael Howe ’22N, ’25N (MS), a nurse manager in the Department of Psychiatry and recent alumna of the Leadership in Healthcare Systems master’s program, shared how her time at UR Nursing has made her a better collaborator and leader.

“It’s very easy to keep your head down and silo yourself within your own unit or department when you are in the thick of it… I feel at the heart of this program is to always make the effort to keep improving, make the change, learn something new, and always try to better your best,” Howe said.

The ceremony was officiated by Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Innovation Lydia Rotondo, DNP, RN, CNS, FNAP, who celebrated her final graduation before retiring later this summer. Alumna and URMC Chief Nursing Executive E. Katherine Valcin '18N (PMC) '20N (DNP) delivered the keynote address.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing Linda Migliore, MS, RN, NPD-BC, CNL, received the annual Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award. She was recognized for her mentorship of emerging healthcare and nursing leaders over the past decade through her role as specialty director for SON’s Leadership in Healthcare and Clinical Nurse Leader master’s programs.

Find more details on the Class of 2025 here, including a photo gallery, booklet, and Commencement Ceremony broadcast. Subcribe to UR Nursing's monthly newsletter.