Meet the Faculty
Dean
Aja Tulleners Lesh, PhD, RN
Dean and Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-5384
- Email: alesh@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One
Associate Deans
Ruth Mielke, PhD, CNM, FACNM, WHNP-BC, MS, BSN, RN
Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-5383
- Email: rmielke@apu.edu
- Office Location: West Campus, Building One, Room #311
Grace Moorefield, PhD, APRN-BC
Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5377
- Email: gmoorefield@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Office #313
Renee Pozza, PhD, RN, CNS, FNP-BC
Senior Associate Dean of Academic Initiatives and Innovation and Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-5403
- Email: rpozza@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #303
Sheryl Tyson, PhD, APRN, CNS
Associate Dean of Research, Executive Director Institute of Health Research and Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5942
- Email: styson@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #236
Professors
Lina Badr, PhD, PNP, FAAN
Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6178
- Email: lbadr@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #316
Vicky Bowden, DNSc, RN
Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-2034
- Email: vbowden@apu.edu
Pamela Cone, PhD, RN, CNS, PHN
Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-5466
- Email: pcone@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #315
Vivien Dee, PhD, RN, NEA-BC,FAAN
Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-5387
- Email: vdee@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #313
Felicitas dela Cruz, DNSc
Executive Director Office of Evaluation & Assessment and Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-5395
- Email: fdelacruz@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #233
Teresa Dodd-Butera, PhD, RN/DABAT
Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-2120
- Email: tbutera@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #301
John Doyle, PhD, MFCC
Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5215
- Email: jdoyle@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #302
Nabil Hanna, MD
Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5411
- Email: nhanna@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #357
Constance Milton, PhD, RN
Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6185
- Email: cmilton@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #307
Lowell Renold, PhD
Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5593
- Email: lrenold@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #302
Leslie Van Dover, PhD, MScN, PN, RN, FNP-BC
Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-5378
- Email: lvandover@apu.edu
- Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, Room #208I
Associate Professors
Najood Ghazi Azar-Chaaya, PhD, MSN, MSN-Ed, RN
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6314
- Email: nazar@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #216
Linda Crawford, DNP, APRN, NP
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5390
- Email: ljcrawford@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #301
Tina Escobedo, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 3864
- Email: tescobedo@apu.edu
- Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, Room #208P
Marie N. Fongwa, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5380
- Email: mfongwa@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #234
Karen French, DNP, FNP-C, RN
Program Director, MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Azusa and Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-5569
- Email: kfrench@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #317
Anna Marie Hefner, PhD, MAEd, CPNP, RN
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-5397
- Email: ahefner@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #353
Catherine Heinlein, EdD, RD, MS, CDE, RN
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5558
- Email: cheinlein@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, #348
Wendy Johnson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2218
- Email: wjohnson@apu.edu
- Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, Room 208N
Aurelia Macabasco-O’Connell, PhD, MSN, ACNP-BC, FAHA
Department Chair, Department of Doctoral Studies and Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6309
- Email: amacabascooconnell@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #308
Sanggon Nam, PhD, MS
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6187
- Email: snam@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #309
Patricia Quinn, PhD, ANP-BC
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2159
- Email: pquinn@apu.edu
- Office Location: San Diego Regional Campus, Room #119
Lynda Reed, DNP, RN, FNP-C
Department Chair of Advanced Practice Nursing and Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5594
- Email: lreed@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #318
Regina Rico, PhD
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5272
- Email: rrico@apu.edu
- Office Location: West Campus, Building One, Room 315
Diana Rodriguez, PhD, MS, CNS, RN
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2150
- Email: drodriguez@apu.edu
- Office Location: San Diego Regional Campus, Room #112
Kathleen Ruccione, PhD, MPH, RN, CPON, FAAN
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 3050
- Email: kruccione@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #317
Nancy Sabin, DNP
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2159
- Email: nsabin@apu.edu
- Office Location: San Diego Regional Campus, Room #315
Brent A. Wood, PhD
Nursing Site Director, Monrovia Site and Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6317
- Email: bwood@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #116
Diana Lynn Woods, PhD, APRN-BC, FGSA, FAAN
Associate Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6310
- Email: dwoods@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #221
Assistant Professors
James F. Adams, MSN, RN, PMHCNS-BC
Director, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5943
- Email: jfadams@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #316
Rose Theresa Anderson, MSN, BSN, RN, PMHNP-BC
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2276
- Email: randerson@apu.edu
- Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, Room #208G
Christina Bivona-Tellez, DNP, MPH, BSN, NEA-B
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (951) 312-2915
- Email: cbivonatellez@apu.edu
- Office Location: West Campus, Room #338
Marissa Brash, DrPH, EdD, MPH, CPH
Department Chair, Master of Public Health, and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6186
- Email: mbrash@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Suite 604B, Office 306
Kathryn Cortes, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6351
- Email: kcortes@apu.edu
- Office Location: West Campus, Room #363
Semise Daley
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2141
- Email: sdaley@apu.edu
- Office Location: San Diego Regional Campus, Room 104
Nemesio Del Rosario, MN/Ed, RN, PHN
Skills Center Coordinator and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 812-6000, Ext. 6312
- Email: ndelrosario@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site
Melinda Dicken, MSN, RN, CNS
Department Chair of Baccalaureate Nursing and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5936
- Email: mdicken@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #314
Meaghan Ellis, PsyD, RN, MSN
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2711
- Email: meaghanellis@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #212
Patricia Esslin, PhD, APRN-CNS, CNE
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5941
- Email: pesslin@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #346
Shirley Farr, PhD, RNC, CNS
Program Director, Entry-Level Master's Program and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6306
- Email: sfarr@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #220
Ana-Maria Gallo, PhD, CNS, RNC-OB
Nursing Site Director, San Diego Regional Campus and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2163
- Email: agallo@apu.edu
- Office Location: San Diego Regional Campus, Office #108
Marcella Hardy-Peterson, DNP
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5596
- Email: mpeterson@apu.edu
- Office Location: West Campus
Lori Keith, DNP, WHCNP
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2342
- Email: lkeith@apu.edu
- Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, Room #208M
Beverly Kelley, MS, RN, CNS, CCRN
Director, Entry Level Master's Program Inland Empire Regional Center and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2338
- Email: bkelley@apu.edu
- Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, Room #208K
Laurie Lang, PhD, RN
Academic Curriculum Specialist and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5599
- Email: llang@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #305
Elizabeth Lopez, PhD, RN, FNP-C
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5957
- Email: elopez@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #345
Mario Macayaon, MSN/ED, RN, CHSE
Director of Simulation and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 3196
- Email: mmacayaon@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #356
Renee Marquez, DNP, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2296
- Email: rmarquez@apu.edu
- Office Location: High Desert Regional Campus
Katie McCoy-Hill, MSN, APRN, CCRN, CNS
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-5396
- Email: khill@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #359
Pamela Surla Milligan, DNP, RNC-NIC, FNP-BC
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6350
- Email: pmilligan@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #212
Elsa Murdoch, DNP, MSN, BSN, CLNC, CPHRM
Program Director, RN to BSN Online and Inland Empire Regional Center and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2290
- Email: emurdoch@apu.edu
- Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, Room #208D
Sheryl Nespor, PhD, JD, MSN, BA
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (619) 718-9655, Ext. 2168
- Email: snespor@apu.edu
- Office Location: San Diego Regional Campus, Room #360
Sarah Obermeyer, PhD, CNM, WHNP
Department Chair, Entry-Level Master's Program and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-5935
- Email: sobermeyer@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #218
Jill Olausson, PhD, RN, CDE
Assistant Chair, Master's of Nursing in Healthcare Administration and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5968
- Email: jolausson@apu.edu
Koy Parada, MPH, PhDc
Assistant Professor and Coordinator, International and Urban/Rural Health Nursing
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5500
- Email: kparada@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #348
David Picella, PhD, FNP, CNS, GS-C
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 4482
- Email: dpicella@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #355
Marie Podboy, MA, BSN, CFRN
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2131
- Email: mpodboy@apu.edu
- Office Location: High Desert Regional Campus
Amy Puzantian, MSN, RN, PHN
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5115
- Email: apuzantian@apu.edu
- Office Location: West Campus, Building One, Room #302
Orel Ramirez, DNP, MSN-ED, RN, PHN, CCRN
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2278
- Email: oramirez@apu.edu
- Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, Room #208E
Nicole Ringo, PhD, MSN/ED, RN
Department Chair, Upper Division Transfer 2+2 & LVN to BSN and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6346
- Email: nringo@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #217
Diane Sadoughi, MSN, RN, NP
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5960
- Email: dsadoughi@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #343
Lawrence Santiago, EdD
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6191
- Email: lsantiago@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #314
Karen E. Schaid, MAEd, BSN, RN
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2295
- Email: kschaid@apu.edu
- Office Location: High Desert Regional Campus, Room #222
Lori Silao, PhD, RN, MN NNP-BC
Department Chair, RN to BSN and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6352
- Email: lsilao@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #222
Valerie Joy Smith, PhD, APRN, CCRN
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5401
- Email: vjsmith@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #344
Janette Tingson, MSN, RN, CPN
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6313
- Email: jtingson@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Rom #205
Sharon Titus, PhD, MSN, RN
Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6313
- Email: stitus@apu.edu
Jie Yu, PhD, RN
Program Director, 2+2 & LVN to BSN Monrovia Site and Assistant Professor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6322
- Email: jyu@apu.edu
- Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, Room #208H
Instructors
Margaret Brady, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC
Instructor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5431
- Email: mbrady@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #309
Beth Colangelo, MSN/ED, RNC
Instructor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2289
- Email: bcolangelo@apu.edu
- Office Location: High Desert Regional Campus
Tara Devila, MSN-Ed, RN, PHN
Instructor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2702
- Email: tdevila@apu.edu
- Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, Room #208O
Lydia Garcia-Usry, RN, MSN, PHN
Instructor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2289
- Email: lgarciausry@apu.edu
- Office Location: High Desert Regional Campus, Room #200A
Dayna Holt, MSN, RN, CPN, CRNI, VA-BC
Program Director, Entry Level Master's Program San Diego Regional Center and Instructor
- Phone: (619) 718-9655, Ext. 2140
- Email: dholt@apu.edu
- Office Location: San Diego Regional Campus, Room #113
Bridget Miranda, MSN, FNP-C
Instructor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2117
- Email: bmiranda@apu.edu
- Office Location: San Diego Regional Campus, Room #118
Melissa Muddell, MSN/Ed, RN
Instructor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2298
- Email: mmuddell@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #206
Jessica Oliver, MSN Ed., RN, CPN
Instructor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2193
- Email: joliver@apu.edu
- Office Location: San Diego Regional Campus
Brianna Pack, MBA
Instructor, Chair of Online Education Committee
- Phone: (626) 815-6000
- Email: bpack@apu.edu
Arianna Smith, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC
Instructor
- Phone: (626) 815-5121
- Email: agsmith@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One, Room #341
Karen Soikkeli, MSN, FNP-C, RN
Instructor
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2118
- Email: ksoikkeli@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #202
Professors Emeritae
Connie Brehm, PhD, FNP, PHN, RN
Professor Emerita
- Phone: (626) 815-6000
- Email: cbrehm@apu.edu
Phyllis Esslinger, RN, PHN, MSN
Professor Emerita; President, Western Conservancy of Nursing History
- Phone: (626) 815-6328
- Email: pesslinger@apu.edu
- Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #240
Elaine Goehner, PhD, RNC, CPHQ
Director of Continuing Education and Adjunct Faculty
- Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5406
- Email: egoehner@apu.edu
- Office Location: Building One