2025: A Year in Review
December 12, 2025
As the clock struck midnight on December 31, Rutgers University welcomed 2026 following a year defined by growth, leadership, and impact. Throughout 2025, the Rutgers community advanced research, teaching, and public service in ways that strengthened New Jersey, the nation, and the world. From major leadership appointments and milestone commencements to nationally recognized student achievements, the year reflected Rutgers’ ongoing commitment to improving the common good.
Rutgers stories in 2025 highlighted excellence across campuses and disciplines. Students and alumni have earned some of the nation’s most prestigious honors, including the Goldwater and Rhodes Scholarships, while faculty experts have provided timely insights on public health, religion, culture, and language. Rutgers also celebrated innovation and inclusion—from groundbreaking autism research and a nationally modeled pre-college pipeline for first-generation students to the opening of New Jersey’s first freestanding cancer hospital in partnership with RWJBarnabas Health.
Community and culture remained at the heart of Rutgers’ story. From unveiling a reimagined Scarlet Raider mascot and celebrating graduates ranging in age from 18 to 85, to spotlighting rising leaders, creative voices, and even campus folklore, these most-read stories capture the depth and diversity of Rutgers’ impact in 2025. Together, they tell the story of a university moving forward with purpose, creativity, and service at its core.