• About APU
• Academics
• Admissions
• Athletics
• Resources

School of Nursing

• About the School of Nursing
• • About APU
  • Historical Timeline
  • Meet the Faculty
  • Nursing Research
  • Community Connections
• Undergraduate Programs
• Graduate Programs
• Continuing Education Programs
• Find Your Program
• Resources and Scholarships
• News and Calendar
• Contact Information

Meet the Faculty

Dean

• Aja Tulleners Lesh, PhD, RN
  Dean and Professor, School of Nursing

Associate Deans

• Renee Pozza, PhD, CNS, FNP, RN
  Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor
• Catherine M. Todero, PhD, RN, FAAN
  Associate Dean and Professor; Director of the MSN Program and Site Director, San Diego Regional Center, School of Nursing
• Sheryl Tyson, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC
  Associate Dean, Research and Faculty Development; Professor, School of Nursing
• Cheryl Westlake, RN, PhD, ACNS-BC, PN
  Professor and Associate Dean, International and Community Programs

Professors

• Lina Badr, DNSc, CPNP, RN, FAAN
  Professor, School of Nursing
• Vicky R. Bowden, DNSc, RN
  Professor, School of Nursing; Vice Provost for Undergraduate Programs; WASC Accreditation Liaison Officer
• Connie Brehm, PhD, FNP, RN
  Professor of Nursing
• David Colachico, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Nursing
• Linda Crawford
  Director, High Desert Regional Center Nursing Program
• Vivien Dee, RN,DNSc,NEA-BC,FAAN
  Director, Nursing PhD Program; Professor
• Felicitas dela Cruz, DNSc, FAANP, RN
  Professor
• John Doyle, PhD, MFCC
  Chair and Professor of Graduate Nursing Programs, School of Nursing
• Elaine Goehner, PhD, RNC, CHQP
  Chair and Professor, Entry Level Master's (ELM), School of Nursing
• Patricia Frohock Hanes, PhD, MSN, MAEd, RN, CNE
  Professor of Nursing; Undergraduate/Graduate Programs
• Rosemary Liegler, RN, Ph.D.
  Interim Dean, School of Business and Management; Vice Provost for Graduate Programs, Emerita; Professor of Nursing
• Leslie Van Dover, Ph.D., PN, RN
  Professor, Graduate Programs

Associate Professors

• Pamela Cone, PhD, CNS, RN
  Associate Professor of Nursing
• Marie N. Fongwa, RN, MPH, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Nursing
• Sabrina Friedman, EdD, PMHCNS-BC, FNP-
  Associate Professor
• Janice Haley, FNP, PNP, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor
• Anna Marie Hefner, MSN, MAEd, CPNP, RN
  Director of Academic Support
• Susan Mckeever Smith, MN, RN
  Professor Emeritus
• Karla Kendall Richmond, PhD, CNS, RN
  Associate Chair of Undergrad Department and Associate Professor

Assistant Professors

• Khaled Alomari, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Jan Bazner-Chandler, RN, MSN, CNS, CPNP
  Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Nemesio Del Rosario
  Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Melinda Dicken, MSN, RN, CNS
  Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Patricia Esslin, MSN, RN, CNS, CNE
  Assistant Professor
• Shirley Farr, MSN, CNS, RNC
  Director, Entry Level Masters Program--Azusa
• Sharon Favazza, MSN, RN
  Director, Entry Level Masters Program--Inland Empire
• Sarah Fox, MSN, CNS, CCRC, RN
  Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Karen French, FNP-C, MSN, RN
  Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Marcia Harris-Luna
  Assistant Professor
• Catherine Heinlein, EdD, RD, MS, CDE, RN
  Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Bonita L. Huiskes, Ph.D., RN
  Director of Master's Degree Programs; Assistant Professor
• Mary Anne Kilday, MSN, RN
  Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Laurie Lang, MSN/ED, BC, RN
  Assistant Professor and Associate Chair, Undergraduate Program
• Connie-Marie Lapadat, MSN-FNP
  Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Elizabeth Lopez, MSN, FNP-C, RN
  Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Mario Macayaon, MSN/Ed, PHN, RN
  Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Simulation/Skills Lab Coordinator
• Katie McCoy-Hill, RN, MSN, CNS, ANP-C
  Assistant Professor
• Cathy McPhee, MSN, FNP, RN
  Interim Chair, Accelerated (APS) RN to BSN Traditional and Online Program; Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Grace Moorefield, PhD, APRN, BC
  Chair, Undergraduate Program and Assistant Professor
• Bulaporn Natipagon-Shah, Ph.D., RN
  Assistant Professor
• Sheryl Nespor, MSN, RN
  Assistant Professor
• Laurel A. Owen, MSN
  Assistant Professor
• Debra Palmer, RN, DNP, FNP-BC
  Assistant Professor
• Jane Pfeiffer, RN, MSP
  Assistant Professor of Nursing
• Marie Podboy, BSN, M.A.
  Assistant Professor
• Lynda Reed
  Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Karen E. Schaid
  Assistant Professor, Nursing ; On-Site Simulation Coordinator
• James Schwark
  Simulation and Skills Lab Coordinator
• Janet Wessels, MSN, RN, PHN
  Director, Entry Level Masters Program--San Diego

Professors Emeriti

• Barbara Artinian
  Professor Emeritus
• Phyllis Esslinger, MS, RN
  Director, Recruitment and Professor Emeritus

Instructors

• James F. Adams, MSN, RN, PMHCNS-BC
  Instructor
• Cheryl Boyd, MSN, RN, APRN-CNS
  Clinical Instructor
• Viann Duncan, PMHCNS-BC, MSN, RN
  Director of Undergraduate Retention and Student Support
• Marilyn Klakovich, RN, DNSc, CNAA
  Director, Continuing Education; Clinical Instructor
• Cheryl Mercurio, MSN
  Instructor
• Melissa Muddell, RN, MSN/ED
  Instructor, School of Nursing
• Sarah Obermeyer, MSN, CNM, NP
  Clinical Instructor
• Julie Phillips, RN, MSN, C-FNP
  Instructor, School of Nursing
• Julia Pusztai, MN, RNC
  Director, Azusa Neighborhood Wellness Center and Instructor
• Carmen Spalding
  Assistant Director, RN to BSN program, San Diego Regional Center

Lecturer

• Margaret Brady, PhD, PNP, RN
  Lecturer

Adjunct Professors

• Rhoberta Jones Haley, PhD, RN, FNP
  Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing
• Zarmine Naccashian, PhD, GNP/FNP, MN, RN
  Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing