Nursing Advisory Council

The TXHES Nursing Advisory Council unites leaders from across Texas to strengthen collaboration and expand access to nursing education statewide. Established under House Bill 2851, the Council is charged with developing recommendations and an implementation plan for a centralized nursing application service operated by the Texas Health Education Service at the UT System. This initiative represents a transformative opportunity to build a more student-centered, transparent, and data-driven admissions process—one designed to support future nurses, empower institutions, and close the state’s nursing workforce gap through shared vision and partnership.

While this council represents a sample of the nursing schools in Texas, all nursing schools in the state will have an opportunity to provide feedback to inform the plan.

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Deans

Dr. Diane Santa Maria
Dean, School of Nursing
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Dr. Holly Jeffreys, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CRHCP
Distinguished University Ware Professor and Dean for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences
West Texas A&M University 

Dr. Ruth Eby
Director of Nursing
Texas Lutheran University

Dr. Gary Sayed
Dean, College of Health Professions
St. David's School of Nursing at Texas State University

Dr. Jene' Hurlbut, Ph.D., RN, CNE
Interim Dean, Associate Dean
Texas Tech Health El Paso, Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing

Dr. Eun Ok Im, PhD, MPH, RN, CNS, FAAN 
Dean, Laura Lee Blanton Chair & Maureen Healy Decherd '73 Distinguished Professor
The University of Texas at Austin College of Nursing

Dr. Leann Horsley, PhD, MBA, RN, CHSE, CNE
Dean & Professor
Texas A&M University College of Nursing

Dr. Linda Plank, PhD, RN, NEA-BC
Dean, School of Nursing
Baylor Louise Herrington School of Nursing

Dr. Holly Wei, PhD, MBA, CPN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Dean & Professor
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Dr. Jerry S Findley
Dean of Health Sciences & Nursing
Tarrant County College Nursing Program

Dr. Cindy Weston, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN
Dean & Professor
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth

Dr. Kathryn Tart, EdD, MSN, RN, FNAP
Dean & Professor
University of Houston Andy and Barbara Gessner School of Nursing

Dr. Deborah J. Jones, PhD, MSN, RN ,FAAN  
Senior Vice President & Dean, School of Nursing, Chief Integration Officer, Rebecca Sealy Distinguished Centennial Chair
University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing

Dr. Stephanie L. Woods, PhD, RN
Dean, College of Nursing
Texas Woman's Unviersity

 

Technology

Dr. Kandice Bledsaw, PhD, RN
Chief Nursing Information Officer
University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing

Tony Murry
Associate Vice President, IT Infrastructure
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Caroline Hunter
Director of Technology & Systems
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth

 

Policy

Jack Frazee, J.D.
Director of Government Affairs and General Counsel
Texas Nurses Association

Dr. Maja Djukic, PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor Cizik School of Nursing
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Elizabeth Mayer, M.P.A.
Assistant Commissioner of Academic and Health Affairs
TX Higher Education Coordinating Board

Dara M. Newton, M.Ed.
Senior Associate Vice President for Outreach & Access
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

 

Student Association

 

Analytics

Dr. Joel Robles
Executive Consultant
Texas Health Education Service