School of Nursing 2023 - 2024 Catalog

School of Nursing Administration



Office of the Dean

Michael L. Evans, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAAN
Dean and Grover E. Murray Professor, UMC Endowed Chair for Excellence in Nursing
Karla J. King Chapman, PhD
Executive Associate Dean, Admissions, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
Lori Franco, MBA
Associate Dean, Business and Finance

Traditional BSN Undergraduate Department

Amanda Veesart, PhD, RN, CNE
Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair, Traditional BSN Program
Erin Gibson, PhD, RN, CCRN-K
Associate Professor, Director of Clinical and Simulation, Traditional BSN Program
Heather Guest, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE
Assistant Professor, Director of Curriculum, Traditional BSN Program
Terry Hill, DNP, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor, Director of Curriculum, Traditional BSN Program
Brandy Pitts, DNP, RN, CCRN-K
Assistant Professor, Director of Admissions and Retention


Non-Traditional BSN Undergraduate Department

Laura Opton, DHSc, RN, CNE
Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair, Non-Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Richard Pullen, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, CNE-cl, ANEF, FAAN
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

Patricia Allen, EdD, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN
Professor and Associate Dean/Department Chair, Leadership Studies
Cindy Acton, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Associate Professor and Program Director, MSN Nursing Administration Track
Steph Hoelscher, DNP, RN-BC, CPHIMS, CHISP, FHIMSS
Associate Professor and Program Director, MSN Nursing Informatics Track
Ronda Mintz-Binder, DNP, RN, CNE
Associate Professor and Program Director, MSN Nursing Education Track
Laura Thomas, PhD, RN, CNE
Professor and Program Director, Post-Master's DNP Program
LaMicha Hogan, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Assistant Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Program
Kellie Bruce, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Professor and Program Director, Family Nurse Practitioner Track
Tara Hilliard, PhD, APRN, ACNP-BC
Associate Professor and Program Director, MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Track
Elizabeth Hutson, PhD, APRN-CNP, PMHNP-BC
Associate Professor and Program Director, MSN Psychiatric Mental Health NP Track
Inola Mello, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Professor and Program Director, BSN to DNP Program
Julia Kuzin, DNP, 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, MSN Nurse-Midwifery 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, RN, MS, FAAN
Professor and Regional Dean, Abilene, University Distinguished Professor, and Regional Director for the Laura Bush Institute
Tiffani Wise, DNP, RN, CNE
Associate Professor and Regional Dean, Dallas, AACN Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing Fellow


Academic Services


Alyce Ashcraft, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, FGSA, FAAN

Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship
Joe Ferrer, MEd
Assistant Dean, Education Technology
Patricia Francis-Johnson, DNP, RN, CDP
Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean of Culture and Climate
Hollis Franco, PhD, RN, MEDSURG-BC
Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Wellness
Kyle Johnson, PhD, RN, CHSE, ANEF
Associate Professor, Associate Dean of Simulation
Yondell Masten, PhD, WHNP-BC, RNC-OB
Professor and Associate Dean for Outcomes Management and Evaluation
Amy Moore, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Professor and Assistant Dean of Global Health
Lauren Sullivan, EdD, CDP
Assistant Dean of Advising, Admissions, and Recruitment


Clinical Services and Community Outreach


Linda McMurry, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Professor and Associate Dean for Clinical Services and Community Engagement