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

• Teresa Dodd-Butera, PhD, RN/DABAT

  Associate Dean of Research and Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-2120
  • Email: tbutera@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #301
• 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

Professors

• Vicky Bowden, DNSc, RN

  Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-2034
  • Email: vbowden@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Building One, Room 302
• 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
• Marie N. Fongwa, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN

  Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5380
  • Email: mfongwa@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #234
• 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
• Christine Joy Phongdara

  Program Director, Associate Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2872
  • Email: cphongdara@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, 208 H
• 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
• Marissa Brash, DrPH, EdD, MPH, CPH

  Department Chair, Master of Public Health, and Associate Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6186
  • Email: mbrash@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Suite 604B, Office 306
• Eurina Yujin Cha, PhD, MSN, RN, CRRN, PHNA-BC, CHES

  Department Chair, Upper-Division BSN Transfer and Associate Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6315
  • Email: echa@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #217
• 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

  Interim Department Chair of Advanced Practice Nursing and Associate Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2323
  • Email: tescobedo@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, Room #208P; Azusa WCAM Room #318
• 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
• Hong Li, PhD

  Director, APU Institute of Health Research and Associate Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6324
  • Email: hli@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room 235
• 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
• Sarah Obermeyer, PhD, CNM, WHNP

  Associate Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-5935
  • Email: sobermeyer@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #218
• 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

  Associate Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5594
  • Email: lreed@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Building One, Room #318
• Regina Rico, PhD

  Director of Skills Labs and 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
• Mary Ann Shinnick, PhD

  Director of Simulation and Associate Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6189
  • Email: mshinnick@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room 314
• Lori Silao, PhD, RN, MN NNP-BC

  Department Chair, RN to BSN and Associate Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6352
  • Email: lsilao@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #222
• 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

• 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
• 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
• Meaghan Ellis, PsyD, RN, MSN

  Department Chair, Entry-Level Master's Program and Assistant Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2711
  • Email: meaghanellis@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #212
• 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
• Ragi George, PhD, MSN/ED, RN, GERO-BC, CMSRN, CNE

  Assistant Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2712
  • Email: rgeorge@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus
• 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

  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
• Mario Macayaon, MSN/ED, RN, CHSE

  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
• Brianna Pack, MBA

  Assistant Professor and Chair of Online Education Committee

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000
  • Email: bpack@apu.edu
• Koy Parada, PhD (Cand)

  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

  Interim Department Chair, Traditional Undergraduate Program and 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
• Jenna Reyes, MSN/Ed, RN, PHN, CHS

  Interim Department Chair, Nursing Education and Assistant Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 2164
  • Email: jereyes@apu.edu
  • Office Location: San Diego Regional Campus, Suite 300, Room 117
• Nicole Ringo, PhD, MSN/ED, RN

  Assistant Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6346
  • Email: nringo@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Building One, Room #316
• Lawrence Santiago, EdD

  Assistant Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6191
  • Email: lsantiago@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Room #314
• Melissa D. Scalia, PhD

  Assistant Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6351
  • Email: mscalia@apu.edu
• Geoffrey Schroder, Ed.D, RN, MSN, PHN

  Assistant Professor, Department of Undergraduate Professional Programs, RN to BSN Program (Online)

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000
  • Email: gschroder@apu.edu
• Valerie Joy Smith, PhD, RN, MSN, 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
• 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, DNP, 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, Room #111
• 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

  Professor Emerita, Director of Continuing Education and Adjunct Faculty

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5406
  • Email: egoehner@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Building One
• Cheryl Westlake, PhD, RN, ACNS

  Professor

  • Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5587
  • Email: ccanary@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Monrovia Regional Site, Office #231

Professor Emeritus

• Jane Pfeiffer, PhD, RN

  Associate Professor

  • Phone: (626) 857-2265
  • Email: jpfeiffer@apu.edu
  • Office Location: Inland Empire Regional Campus, Room #208K