School of Nursing 2022 - 2023 Catalog

School of Nursing Administration



School of Nursing Dean

Michael L. Evans, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAAN
Dean and Grover E. Murray Professor, UMC Endowed Chair for Excellence in Nursing


Business and Finance

Lori Franco, MBA
Assistant Dean, Business and Finance


Admissions, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Education Technology and Customer Support

Karla J. Chapman, PhD
Executive Associate Dean, Admissions, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

Traditional BSN Undergraduate Department

Amanda Veesart, PhD, RN, CNE
Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair, Traditional BSN Program
Hollis Franco, PhD, RN, MEDSURG-BC
Associate Professor, Assistant Dean of Wellness
Ann Hagstrom, EdD, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor, Director of Admissions/Progressions, Traditional BSN Program
Kyle Johnson, PhD, RN, CHSE
Associate Professor, Clinical and Simulation Director, Traditional BSN Program


Non-Traditional BSN Undergraduate Department

Laura Opton, DHSc, RN, CNE
Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair, Non-Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Richard Pullen, EdD, MSN, RN, CMSRN, CNE-cl, CNE, ANEF
Professor, RN to BSN Program Director

Irene Salinas, DNP, RN, CNE-cl
Assistant Professor, Accelerated BSN Program Director
Debbie Sikes, DNP, RN, CNE
Professor, Director of Veteran Education Initiatives for Non-Traditional Undergraduate Programs


Graduate Department

LaMicha Hogan, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Assistant Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Program
Kellie Bruce, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Associate Professor and Program Director, FNP Track
Tara Hilliard, PhD, APRN, ACNP-BC
Associate Professor and Program Director, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Track
Elizabeth Hudson, PhD, APRN-CNP, PMHNP-BC
Associate Professor and Program Director, Psychiatric Mental Health NP Track
Inola Mello, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Associate Professor and Program Director, BSN to DNP Program
Julie Kuzin, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC/AC
Assistant Professor and Program Director, MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Primary and Acute Care) Tracks
Erin Sing, DNP, APRN, CNM, FACNM
Associate Professor and Program Director, Nurse-Midwifery Track
Laura Thomas, PhD, RN, CNE
Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair, Leadership Program
Cindy Acton, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Associate Professor and Program Director, MSN Nursing Administration Track
Lisa Campbell, DNP, RN,APHN-BC, FAAN
Professor and Program Director, Post-Master's DNP Program
Steph Hoelscher, DNP, RN-BC, CPHIMS, CHISP, FHIMSS
Associate Professor and ProgramDirector, MSN Nursing Informatics Track
Ronda Mintz-Binder, DNP, RN, CNE
Associate Professor and Program Director, MSN Nursing Education Track


Regional Administration


Sharon Cannon, EdD, RN, ANEF
Professor and Regional Dean, Odessa, Medical Center Hospital Endowed Chair and Co-Director for the TTUHSC Center of Excellence in Evidence-Based Practice, University Distinguished Professor
Valerie Kiper, DNP, RN, NEA-BC

Associate Professor and Regional Dean, Amarillo
Pearl Merritt, EdD, MSN, MS, FAAN
Professor and Regional Dean, Abilene, University Distinguished Professor, and Regional Director for the Laura Bush Institute
Tiffani Wise, DNP, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor and Regional Dean, Dallas, AACN Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing Fellow


Academic Services




Alyce Ashcraft, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship
Yondell Masten, PhD, WHNP-BC, RNC-OB
Professor and Associate Dean for Outcomes Management and Evaluation
Linda McMurry, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Professor and Associate Dean for Clinical Services and Community Engagement