Administration

We are passionate about improving the field of nursing and the well-being of the communities we serve. We work to foster an environment in which teams are welcoming, supportive and creative and we proudly bring together influential leaders in the nursing field to work to that end. 

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Leadership & Committees

Academic and Student Affairs Committee

Co-Chair

Majeda El-Banna, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
Vice Dean
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Members

Linda Cassar, DNP, MSN, BSN
Director, Accelerated BSN Program
Clinical Associate Professor

Asefeh Faraz Covelli, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Stanley Ebede, EdD
Director, Student Services

Mercedes Echevarria, DNP, APN
Associate Dean, DNP Program
Track Director, DNP Nursing Practice
Associate Professor

Crystel Farina, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, CHSE
Associate Dean, BSN Program
Interim Director, Simulation & Learning Center
Assistant Professor

Tina Le, BS
Manager, Academic Affairs

Cara Padovano, DNP, APRN
Associate Dean, MSN Program
Assistant Professor

Arlene Pericak, DA, MS, FNP-BC, FAANP
Associate Professor

Michelle Rumble, DNP, MPH, MSN, BSN
Assistant Professor

Whitney Shanley, MSN, BSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Clinical Education Instructor

Laurie Theeke, PhD, FNP-BC, GCNS-BS, FAAN
Associate Dean, PhD Program
Professor

Laurie Wilson, MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC
Research Instructor
 

Academic Leadership Team

Majeda El-Banna, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
Vice Dean
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Crystel Farina, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, CHSE
Associate Dean, BSN Program
Interim Director, Simulation & Learning Center
Assistant Professor

Cara Padovano, DNP, APRN
Associate Dean, MSN Program
Assistant Professor

Mercedes Echevarria, DNP, APN
Associate Dean, DNP Program
Track Director, DNP Nursing Practice
Associate Professor

Laurie Theeke, PhD, FNP-BC, GCNS-BC, FAAN
Associate Dean, PhD Program
Professor

Administrative Leadership Team

Ashley Darcy-Mahoney, PhD, NNP, FAAN
Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Director of Infant Research, Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute
Professor (Tenured)

Majeda El-Banna, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
Vice Dean
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Kathleen Griffith, PhD, MPH, FNP-BC
Associate Dean of Research

Ken Schappelle, MA
Director of Marketing & Communications

Betsy Shaw, BS
Human Resources Manager

Srijana Silwal, MBA, MBS
Director, Finance

Administrative Policy Management Committee

Chair

Angela Stanley, DNP, FNP-BC, APRN, PHCNS-BC, NEA-BC
Clinical Assistant Professor

Members

Johana Amaya Rivas
Manager, Human Resources

Kyla Arager, MEd
Research Grants Administrator

Stanley Ebede, EdD
Director, Student Services

Crystel Farina, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, CHSE
Associate Dean for BSN Programs
Interim Director of Simulation and Experiential Learning
Assistant Professor

Hee Jun Kim, PhD, RN
Associate Professor

Miro Liwosz, MSIT
Assistant Dean, Online Learning and Instructional Technology

Michelle Odlum, EdD, MPH
Assistant Professor

Priyanka Shrestha, PhD, MGS, RN
Assistant Professor

Laurie Theeke, PhD, FNP-BC, GCNS-BC, FAAN
Associate Dean, PhD Program
Professor
 

BSN Curriculum Subcommittee

Members   

Karen Dawn
Assistant Professor

Patsy Deyo, MSN
Director, Assessment, Evaluation & Accreditation

Majeda El-Banna, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
Vice Dean
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Crystel Farina, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, CHSE
Associate Dean, BSN Program
Interim Director, Simulation & Learning Center
Assistant Professor

Adriana Glenn, PhD, MA, MN, RN, FNP-BC, CNE
Director, RN-BSN Track
Assistant Professor

Michelle Rumble, DNP, MPH, MSN, BSN
Assistant Professor

Whitney Shanley, BSN, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Clinical Education Instructor
 

Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure (APT) Committee

Chair

Linda Briggs, DNP, ACNP-BC, FAANP
Track Director, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Ashley Darcy-Mahoney, PhD, NNP, FAAN
Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Director of Infant Research, Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute
Professor (Tenured)

Kathleen Griffith, PhD, MPH, FNP-BC, FAAN
Associate Dean, Research
Professor (Tenured)

Arlene Pericak, DA, MS, FNP-BC, FAANP
Associate Professor

Laurie Posey, EdD
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Richard Ricciardi, PhD, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN
Associate Dean for Clinical Practice & Community Engagement
Exe. Director, Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement
Professor

Tony Roberson, PhD, PMHNP-BC, RN, FAANP
Track Director, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Associate Professor

Rhonda Schwindt, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BS
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Tony Yang, ScD, LLM, MPH
Associate Dean for Health Policy and Population Science
Endowed Professor in Health Policy (Tenured)

 

Bylaws Committee

Chair

Pearl Zhou, PhD, RN
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Members  

Cynthia Allen, PhD, APRN, BC, FNO
Assistant Professor

Carol Braungart
Track Director, Family Nurse Practitioner

Crystel Farina, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, CHSE
Associate Dean, BSN Program
Interim Director, Simulation & Learning Center
Assistant Professor

Daisy Le, PhD, MPH, MA
Assistant Professor

Cheryl Toulouse, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Clinical Assistant Professor

Margaret Venzke, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, MS
Track Director, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Dean's Executive Council

Ashley Darcy-Mahoney, PhD, NNP, FAAN
Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Director of Infant Research, Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute
Professor (Tenured)

Majeda El-Banna, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
Vice Dean
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Kathleen Griffith, PhD, MPH, FNP-BC
Associate Dean of Research

Ken Schappelle, MA
Director of Marketing & Communications

Betsy Shaw, BS
Human Resources Manager

Srijana Silwal, MBA, MBS
Interim Finance Director

Diversity Council

Chair

TBA

Members

Sue Bhati, PhD, MSN, MA, NEC, BSN, FNP-BC, RN
Clinical Assistant Professor

Julia A. Clarke, MSN, RN, CNS
Clinical Education Instructor

Karen Dawn, DNP, RN, PHCNS-BC, CDE
Assistant Professor

Adriana Glenn, PhD, MA, MN, RN, FNP-BC, CNE
Director, RN-BSN Program
Assistant Professor

Dawn Griffin, BS
Web Lead

Karen Kesten, DNP, APRN, CCNS, CNE, FAAN
Track Director, DNP Scholarly Projects
Associate Professor

Sydnae Law
Director, Community Engagement & Partnership Operations 
 

Faculty Senate

Linda Briggs, DNP, ACNP-BC, FAANP
Track Director, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Rhonda Schwindt, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BS
Associate Professor (Tenured)
 

MSN/DNP Curriculum Committee

Chair

Karen Whitt, PhD, RN, FNP-C, AGN-BC, FAANP
Associate Professor

Members

Cynthia Allen, PhD, APRN, BC, FNO
Assistant Professor

Carol Braungart DNP, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC
Track Director, Family Nurse Practitioner

Asefeh Faraz Covelli, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Majeda El-Banna, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
Vice Dean
​​​​​​​Associate Professor (Tenured)

Mercedes Echevarria, DNP, APN
Associate Dean, DNP Program
Track Director, DNP Nursing Practice
Associate Professor

Patsy Deyo, MSN
Director, Assessment, Evaluation & Accreditation

Crystel Farina, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, CHSE
Associate Dean, BSN Program
Interim Director, Simulation & Learning Center
Clinical Assistant Professor

Karen Kesten, DNP, APRN, CCNS, CNE, FAAN
Track Director, DNP Scholarly Projects
Associate Professor

Joyce Knestrick, PhD, FNP-C, APRN, FAANP, FAAN
Track Director, MSN Nurse Leadership & Management
Track Director, DNP Executive Leadership Track

Cara Padovano, DNP, APRN
Associate Dean, MSN Program
Assistant Professor

Cheryl Toulouse, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Clinical Assistant Professor
 

Partnership Council

Chair

Sydnae Law, MHA
Director, Community Engagement & Partnership Operations

Members

Karen Dawn, DNP, RN, PHCNS-BC, CDE
Assistant Professor 

Kathleen Griffith, PhD, MPH, FNP-BC, FAAN
Associate Dean, Research
Professor (Tenured)

Christina Johnson, BSN, BS
Director, Clinical Education & Compliance

Tina Le, BS
Manager, Academic Affairs

Cara Padovano, DNP, APRN
Associate Dean, MSN Program
Assistant Professor
 

PhD Curriculum Committee

Chair

Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN-BC, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN
Director, Center for Aging, Health & Humanities
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Patsy Deyo, MSN
Director, Assessment, Evaluation & Accreditation

N. Maritza Dowling, PhD
Associate Professor (Tenured)

Majeda El-Banna, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
Vice Dean
​​​​​​​Associate Professor (Tenured)

Daisy Le, PhD, MPH, MA
Assistant Professor

Laurie Theeke, PhD, FNP-BC, GCNS-BS, FAAN
Associate Dean, PhD Program
Professor

Pearl Zhou, PhD, RN
Associate Professor (Tenured)
 

Staff Council

Chair

Ken Schappelle, MA
Director, Marketing & Communications

Vice Chair   

Kristen Kent
Director, Student Program Administration

Secretary

Jessica Taylor
Community Coordinator, Acute & Chronic Care 

Onboarding Officer

Shawn Bayrd
Program Associate, Office of Community Engagement

Social Officer

Brandon Burton
Program Associate, Veterans BSN

Treasurer   

Christopher DeJean
Manager, Clinical Education Operations

Professional Development Chair

Heidi Schroeder
Senior Instructional Designer

Wellness Officer   

Ioana Hojda Temoka
​​​​​​​Assistant Director of Admissions