School of Nursing - Student Handbook 2021 - 2022


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


Traditional BSN Undergraduate Department

Amanda Veesart, PhD, RN, CNE
Associate Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair, Traditional BSN Program
Ruth Bargainer, MSN, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor, Regional Program Director, Traditional BSN Program
Ann Hagstrom, EdD, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor, Director of Admissions/Progressions, Traditional BSN Program
Kyle Johnson, PhD, RN, CHSE
Assistant 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
Associate Professor, Director of Veteran Education Initiatives for Non-Traditional Undergraduate Programs


Graduate Department

Emily Merrill, PhD, APRN, FNP BC, CNE, FAANP
Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair, APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) Program
Jeff Watson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CNE
Associate Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair, Leadership Program
Lisa Campbell, DNP, RN, PHNA- BC, FAAN
Professor and Director, Post-Master's DNP Program
Inola Mello, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Associate Professor and Director, BSN to DNP Program
Cindy Acton, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Associate Professor and Director, MSN Nursing Administration Track
Susan McBride, PhD, RN-BC, CPHIMS, FAAN
Professor and Director, MSN Nursing Informatics Track
Laura Thomas, PhD, RN, CNE
Associate Professor and Director, MSN Nursing Education Track
Kellie Bruce, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Associate Professor and Program Director, FNP Track
Karen Esquibel, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC
Professor and Program Director, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Primary and Acute Care) Tracks
Tara Hilliard, PhD, APRN, ACNP-BC
Associate Professor and Program Director, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Track
Elizabeth Huston, PhD, APRN-CNP, PMHNP-BC
Associate Professor and Program Director, Psychiatric Mental Health Track
Erin Sing, DNP, APRN, CNM, FACNM
Associate Professor and Program Director, 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
Pearl Merritt, EdD, MSN, RN, FAAN
Professor and Regional Dean, Abilene,
University Distinguished Professor, and Regional Director for the Laura Bush Institute


Academic Services


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


Business and Finance


Linda Lane
Assistant Dean, Business and Finance