February 24, 2026

by Lauren Ferguson

A Ramapo College of New Jersey nursing professor has gained national accolades for his dedication to nursing education.

Dr. Christopher de la Victoria, assistant professor of nursing at Ramapo College, was awarded the 2025 Nursing Excellence Award in the Nurse Educator category by the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA).

De la Victoria was honored for “advancing nursing education and inspiring professional growth across the field” of nursing, according to the PNAA. The non-profit professional nursing organization represents 55 chapters with more than 5,000 members nationwide.

The nursing professor, who joined Ramapo in 2024, was humbled to be recognized by his peers. “The fellow Filipinos nationwide saw my contributions and gave great value to it,” he said.

He said he was also recognized for his service activities to promote health, wellness and awareness, especially related to Alzheimer’s disease. For the last two years, de la Victoria has attended the National Walk to End Alzheimer’s with his students.

“It’s my passion, being a part of the community and bringing the change that the community needs, and being an educator,” he said. “I just want to let the students know about the resources available, and the people needing help in the community because we are training them to become nurses. Nursing and communities really work hand in hand together to promote the health of the population.”

Ramapo nursing students participated in the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Overpeck Park in Ridgefield, NJ.

De la Victoria has also been recognized within New Jersey. He was recently awarded the Nurse Recognition Award by the New Jersey League for Nursing.

In announcing the award, the New Jersey League of Nursing stated: “Dr. de la Victoria’s career reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing nursing practice and education with over a decade of experience in academic and clinical instruction. He has shaped future nurses through innovative teaching strategies, simulation-based learning, and mentorship across foundational, mental health, community health, and leadership courses.”

The organization also stated: “His professional journey reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing nursing education, mentoring future leaders, and elevating patient care through evidence-based practice and community engagement.”

De la Victoria comes from a family of educators. When he was a bedside nurse, he served as a preceptor – mentoring, teaching and supervising nursing students during their clinical rotations. The experience “created a deep spark,” he said. He realized “I think teaching is really for me,” he said.

Ramapo has been named a top nursing school in New Jersey. To learn more about nursing at Ramapo College, including the BSN, RN to BSN, MSN and DNP degree programs, visit ramapo.edu/nursing.