Faculty Highlights 2023

Awards and honors

Cathy L. Rozmus, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Sandra K. Hanneman, PhD, RN, FAAN, have been named Distinguished Teaching Professors at The University of Texas System.

Kala Christopherson, DNP, FNP-C, received the school’s first DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty.

Sandra K. Hanneman, PhD, RN, FAAN, received the Regents’ Outstanding Teacher Award and was selected by students for the John P. McGovern Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in the undergraduate category for the fourth time.

Peter Slivinski, DNP, CRNA, was selected by students for the John P. McGovern Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in the graduate category for the second time.

Veronica Brady, PhD, FNP-BC, was named a fellow in the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (FADCES).

Allison Edwards, DrPH, MS, RN, received the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Innovations in Professional Nursing Education Award for her leadership in disability nursing education.

Emily Barr, PhD, CPNP-PC, was named Researcher of the Year by the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.

Robin L. Hardwicke, PhD, FNP-C, received the 2023 American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) State Award for Excellence in Texas. She was also inducted as a fellow of the AANP.

Chao Hsing Yeh, PhD, RN, FAAN, was posthumously inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of fame.

Promotions

Maja Djukic, PhD, RN, FAAN, was awarded tenure and appointed Assistant Dean for Research.

Omobola A. Oyeleye, EdD, JD, RN-BC, was appointed Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies.

Haley DeLaGarza, DNP, CRNA, was named the nurse anesthesia program’s director, and Amy Blok, DNP, CRNA, was named the program’s assistant director.

Latarsha S. Cheatham, DNP, FNP-BC, was named co-director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

Sara Lewandowski, DNP, MS, RN, was named RN to BSN track coordinator.

Diane Santa Maria, DrPH, MSN, PHNA-BC, FAAN, was promoted to professor with tenure.

Elda Ramirez, PhD, FNP-BC, ENP-C, FAANP, FAAN, was named co-director of the UTHealth Houston Center for Interprofessional Collaboration.

Mary Ellen Ross, DrPH, MSN, GCNS-BC, was promoted to professor on the clinical track.

Linda Cole, DNP, CCNS, CPHQ, was promoted to associate professor.

Kelly D. Kearney, DNP, PMHNP-BC, was promoted to associate professor.

Carole L. Mackavey, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, was promoted to associate professor.

Diane Wardell, PhD, WHNP-BC, was appointed as professor emerita.

Professional Service

Susan D. Ruppert, PhD, FNP-C, ANP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, has been appointed chair-elect for FAANP and to the FAIR Health Project Advisory Board for “National Dissemination and Piloting of Decision-Making Tools and Resources for Older Adults,” a three-year project funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation. Ruppert has also been reappointed to the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Report Review Committee for a second three-year term.

Myron Arnaud, DNP, CRNA, has been selected to serve as a Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs on-site reviewer for a three-year term.

Doncy J. Eapen, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, has been selected to serve as co-chair on the Academy on Violence and Abuse Scholar Committee.

Mitzy Kobeissi, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, was reappointed to serve a second two-year term on the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Telehealth Committee.

Diane Santa Maria, DrPH, MSN, PHNA-BC, FAAN, was reappointed to serve a two-year term on the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research (FNINR) Board of Directors and chair of the Nominations Committee.

Debbie McCrea, EdD, MSN, FNP-BC, EMT-P, has been selected to serve in the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Annual Conference Planning Committee for a two-year term.

Francine Snow, DrPH, MSN, RN, has been elected to a second two-year term on the Board of Directors of the Association for Leadership Science in Nursing and will serve as Board Secretary and Chair of the Bylaws Committee through December 31, 2024.

Erica Yu, PhD, RN, serves as a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education onsite evaluator for accreditation.

Allison Edwards, DrPH, MS, RN, serves as Vice President of the Texas Board of Nursing.