University of Texas at El Paso Academic Catalog

Academic Catalog

School of Nursing

The School of Nursing offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and various certificate programs. Students enrolling in the Master of Science in Nursing degree program can elect majors in Nursing Education, Nurse Practitioner (concentrations in Adult Gerontology Acute Care, Family, Pediatrics Acute Care and Pediatrics Primary Care, and Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan), and Nursing Administration and Management. The MSN nursing degree programs are accredited and qualify students for national certification in their specialty. Certificate Programs include a Nurse Educator Certificate, Nursing Administration and Management Certificate,  and a Post Graduate APRN certificate: the Post-Master’s Certificate with concentrations in Acute Geriatrics, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Acute Care, Pediatric Nurse Primary Care.

The Graduate Program (MSN) in Nursing has national accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the agency that accredits the majority of baccalaureate and higher nursing degree programs. Students completing the Graduate Program in Nursing earn a degree leading to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as an administrator, an educator, or a nurse practitioner.

Vision

The vision of the School of Nursing (SON) is to be the leader in nursing education, evidence-based practice, and research in the global healthcare environment.

Mission

The mission of the School of Nursing is to prepare professional nurses at baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels to meet complex human needs in a competitive global healthcare environment. Inspire evidence-based lifelong learning and utilization of advanced technologies by providing a progressive research environment where students, faculty and researchers investigate and meet global healthcare needs. Improve healthcare and quality of life in our diverse multicultural underserved local communities by preparing graduates to make significant contributions to nursing, local, national, and global communities.

Through excellence, innovation, and diversity, the SON graduate program curriculum prepares professional nurses for advanced leadership in enhanced practice, clinical scholarship, and role expansion. Enhancement of practice occurs through augmentation, refinement, and application of knowledge and theory. Supervised evidence-based projects enhance students’ inquiry and research skills. Role expansion occurs through advanced practice in the clinical, educational, management and leadership arenas; functions to improve health care delivery, access, and quality; and increases professional responsibilities to society.

Admission Requirements

Prior to admission, applications and official transcripts are submitted online to the Graduate School for evaluation. Final decisions regarding admission are made by the Dean of the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the appropriate Program Director in the School of Nursing. Applicants for specific majors are evaluated based on academic history, experience, letter of intent, and interview (if required).

Students are admitted into all MSN programs twice a year (Fall and Spring). Students are admitted into the DNP program annually into the fall.

ADA Statement for Nursing Profession

Nursing is a physically and mentally challenging profession. Nurses are required to think critically and quickly in order to respond to patient care needs. Providing patient care in the clinical setting is physically and mentally demanding. If you have a disability and need class accommodations, contact The Center for Accommodations and Support Services (CASS) at 915-747-5148, or visit their office located in the UTEP Union East, Room 106. For additional information, please visit the CASS website.  CASS’ Staff are the only individuals who can validate and if need be, authorize accommodations for students with disabilities.  

Dean

Leslie Robbins
Contact Information: lhrobbins@utep.edu; 915-747-7227
Education: ADN, Garland County Community College; BSN, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education

Laura Rodriguez
Contact Information: lrodriguez21@utep.edu; 915-747-7224
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; DNP, The University of Texas at El Paso

Associate Dean, Graduate Education 

Diane Monsivais
Contact Information: dimonsivais@utep.edu; 915-747-8209
Education: BSN, Duke University; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Associate Dean, Student Affairs

Myrna Anchondo

Professor

Maria Amaya
Contact Information: mamaya@utep.edu; 915-747-8583
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, Texas Woman's University; Ph D, New Mexico State University; Certificate, Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Certificate, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Training in Molecular Lab, The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center; Graduate Certificate, The Johns Hopkins University

Diane Monsivais
Contact Information: dimonsivais@utep.edu; 915-747-8209
Education: BSN, Duke University; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Leslie Robbins
Contact Information: lhrobbins@utep.edu; 915-747-8194
Education: ADN, Garland County Community College; BSN, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Associate Professor

Hsuen-Fen Kao
Contact Information: hkao@utep.edu; 915-747-7279
Education: Diploma, National Taipei College of Nursing; MSN, National Taiwan University; Ph D, The University of Texas at Austin; Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina

Guillermina Solis
Contact Information: gsolis2@utep.edu; 915-747-7254
Education: ADN, New Mexico State University; BS, The University of Texas at El paso; MSN, The University of Arizona; Post Masters Degree, University of San Diego; Ph D, The University of Texas at El Paso; Post Doctoral Fellowship, University of Utah

Assistant Professor

Cristina Dominguez De Quezada
Contact Information: cdominguez14@utep.edu; 915-747-7227
Education: BSN, New Mexico State University; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, The University Texas at Tyler

Karen Fowler
Contact Information: krfeptx@yahoo.com; 915-747-7206
Education: Ph D, University of Phoenix

Sarah Jimenez
Contact Information: syjimenez2@utep.edu; 915-747-6609
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso

Jacob Martinez
Contact Information: jmartinez41@utep.edu; 915-747-8289
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies

Franchesca Nunez
Contact Information: feoberhelman@utep.edu; 915-747-7226
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, The University of Kansas; Certificate, Drexel University

Faculty Member Test User SON
Contact Information: facultysuccess@utep.edu;

Melissa Wholeben
Contact Information: mwholeben@utep.edu; 915-747-7264
Education: BSN, UTEP; MSN, UT Tyler; Ph D, New Mexico State University

Clinical Instructor

Teresa Acosta
Contact Information: tacosta2@utep.edu;
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; DNP, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Andrea Amato
Contact Information: aamato@utep.edu;
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso

Berenice Becerra
Contact Information: bbecerra@utep.edu;

Koby Mitchell
Contact Information: kamitchell2@utep.edu;
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso

Lynda Pena-Human
Contact Information: lpena4@utep.edu;
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, Texas Tech Health Science Center; MSN, New Mexico State University; DNP, The University of Texas at El Paso

Clinical Associate Professor

Lisa Hennessy
Contact Information: lhennessy@utep.edu; 915-747-7249
Education: BSN, West Texas State University; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, New Mexico State University

Hector Morales
Contact Information: hmorales1@utep.edu; 915-747-7235
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; DNP, The University of Texas at El Paso

Laura Rodriguez
Contact Information: lrodriguez21@utep.edu; 915-747-7224
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; DNP, The University of Texas at El Paso

Ronnie Stout
Contact Information: rcstout@utep.edu; 915-747-8271
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at Austin; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MBA, University of Phoenix; DNP, The University of Nevada at Las Vegas

Audrey Tolouian
Contact Information: actolouian@utep.edu;
Education: MSN, University of Phoenix; EDD, University of Phoenix

Clinical Assistant Professor

Shalla Copeland
Contact Information: smcopeland@utep.edu; 915-747-7255
Education: MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, The University of Texas at Tyler

Roberta Durk-Gomez
Contact Information: radurk@utep.edu; 915-747-7285
Education: MSN, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; DNP, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Elizabeth Escalera
Contact Information: ehagelsieb@utep.edu; 915-747-7257
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Ph D, The University of Texas at El Paso

Jana Gainok
Contact Information: jgainok@utep.edu; 915-747-7257
Education: DNP, The University of Texas at El Paso

Mercedes Martinez
Contact Information: mhidalgomartinez@utep.edu; 915-747-8229
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; DNP, The University of Texas at El Paso

Tracey Merworth
Contact Information: tsmerworth@utep.edu; 915-747-7286
Education: MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso

Manuel Miranda
Contact Information: momiranda@utep.edu;
Education: MSN, University of Texas at el Paso; DNP, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Elizabeth Portugal
Contact Information: eaportugal@utep.edu;
Education: BSN, University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, University of Texas at El Paso; DNP, University of Texas at El Paso

Karim Singh
Contact Information: Kcsingh2@utep.edu; 915-747-5315
Education: MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; DNP, The University of Texas at El Paso

Janise Tinsman
Contact Information: jptinsman@utep.edu; 915-747-7228
Education: DNP, Liberty University

Alejandra Valenzuela
Contact Information: abvalenzuela@utep.edu; 915-747-7293
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; DNP, The University of Texas at El Paso

Monica Vasquez
Contact Information: mvasquez5@utep.edu;
Education: MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; DNP, The University of Texas at El Paso

Programs

Master of Science in Nursing

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Doctor of Philosophy

Certificate

The University of Texas at El Paso
Health Sciences and Nursing Building
500 W University
El Paso, Texas 79968

Email: nursing@utep.edu

Phone: 915.747.7259
Fax: 915.747.8295 

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