School of Nursing 2025 - 2026 Catalog

Catalog is in Review Mode, NOT approved

School of Nursing Administration



Office of the Dean

Holly Wei, PhD, RN, CPN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Dean and Professor

Laura Opton, DHSc, RN, CNE

Professor, Executive Associate Dean

Lori Franco, MBA
Associate Dean, Business and Finance

Undergraduate Department

Amanda Veesart, PhD, RN, CNE
Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair for the Undergraduate Nursing Department
Erin Gibson, PhD, RN, CCRN, CHSE
Associate Professor, Traditional Senior Levels BSN Program Director
Brandy Pitts, DNP, RN, CCRN
Assistant Professor, Traditional Junior Levels BSN Program Director
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, Assistant Dean Outcomes Management and Evaluation, Co-Director of Veteran Education Initiatives for Non-Traditional Undergraduate Programs

Jonathan Menchaca, MSN, RN
Co-Director of Veteran Education Initiatives for Non-Traditional Undergraduate Programs


Graduate Department

Barbara Cherry, DNSc, MBA, RN, NEA-BC 
Professor Emerita and Interim Associate Dean/Department Chair for the Graduate Department
Cindy Acton, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Associate Professor and Program Director, MSN Nursing Administration Track
Steph Hoelscher, DNP, RN, NI-BC, CPHIMS, CHISP, FHIMSS
Professor and Program Director, MSN Nursing Informatics Track
Ronda Mintz-Binder, DNP, RN, CNE
Professor and Program Director, MSN Nursing Education Track
Jeff Watson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, CPPS, CPHQ 
Associate Professor, Program Director, Post-Master's DNP Program
Kellie Bruce, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Professor and Program Director, Family Nurse Practitioner Track
Tara Hilliard, PhD, APRN, ACNP-BC
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
Julie Kuzin, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC/AC
Associate 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


Heather Guest, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE
Associate Professor and Regional Dean, Abilene
Valerie Kiper, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Professor and Regional Dean, Amarillo
Kelly Moseley, DHSc, MSN, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor and Regional Dean, Odessa
Vacant
Regional Director, Dallas
Kara Moellenberg, MSN, RN, CPNP
Regional Director, Austin, and San Antonio

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
Hollis Franco, PhD, RN, MEDSURG-BC
Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Wellness and Retention
Amy Moore, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Professor and Assistant Dean of Global Health

Debbie Sikes, DNP, RN, CNE ;

Professor, Assistant Dean Outcomes Management and Evaluation, Co-Director of Veteran Education Initiatives for Non-Traditional Undergraduate Programs

Lauren Sullivan, EdD, CDP
Assistant Dean of Admissions and Enrollment


Clinical Services and Community Outreach


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




 

Catalog is in Review Mode, NOT approved