School of Nursing - Student Handbook 2025 - 2026


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 and Executive Associate Dean
Lori Franco, MBA
Associate Dean, Business and Finance


Undergraduate Department

Amanda Veesart, PhD, RN, CNE, FACHE
Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair for the Undergraduate Department
Erin Gibson, PhD, RN, CCRN-K, 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-cl, CNE, 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, Co-Director of Veteran Education Initiatives for Non-Traditional Undergraduate Programs and Assistant Dean for Outcomes, Management and Evaluation


Graduate Department

Barbara Cherry, DNSc, MBA, RN, NEA-BC
Professor Emerita and 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-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, MSN 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, 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, CPNPRegional 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 of Education Technology
Debbie Sikes, DNP, RN, CNE
Professor and Assistant 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 Admissions and Enrollment
Hollis Franco, PhD, RN, MEDSURG-BCAssociate Professor and Assistant Dean of Wellness and Retention

Clinical Services and Community Outreach


Linda McMurry, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
 


Professor and Associate Dean for Clinical Services and Community Engagement