Executive Team

USHA MENON, PHD, RN, FAAN

Dean and Professor, College of Nursing Senior Associate Vice President, USF Health University of South Florida Umenon@usf.edu

Usha Menon, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Dean and Professor at the USF College of Nursing and Senior Associate Vice President of USF Health. Previously, she was Associate Dean of Research and Global Advances in the College of Nursing and co-principal investigator of the NIH-funded All Of Us Research Program at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. A major emphasis of her research is culturally sensitive health promotion and illness prevention behaviors among under-represented populations, focusing on cancer and diabetes with a strong emphasis on transdisciplinary implementation science. She has garnered over $60 million in total research funding with her team. Her leadership focus is on diversity of thought and scholarship in nursing as well as equity across faculty advancement. She has taught in programs across the nursing curriculum, from the BSN to the PhD, and mentors junior faculty across health sciences in medicine, microbiology, and pharmacy, in the United States and Ethiopia, with a focus on translational research and team science. She was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing (2010) and to the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame (2014) and was recognized as a Top 100 Alumni Legacy Leader by the Indiana University School of Nursing (2014). Dr. Menon is a recognized expert in behavior change theory, interventions, and health equity. An engaging and passionate public speaker, she is a frequent consultant and presenter to national and international groups of researchers, clinicians, and community members.

TRACEY L. TAYLOR, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC

Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Educational Innovation, College of Nursing University of South Florida traceytaylor@usf.edu

Tracey Taylor, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, is the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Educational Innovation at the USF College of Nursing. She received her master of science in nursing with a specialization as an acute care nurse practitioner and Doctor of Nursing practice degrees from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in 2005 and 2010, respectively. From 2010 through 2019, Dr. Taylor was at the University of South Alabama College of Nursing where she served for several years as the Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs. In 2019, Dr. Taylor joined the USF College of Nursing as the Associate Dean for Graduate Clinical Programs. In 2020, she moved into the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Educational Innovation role, where she presently serves. Since 2005, Dr. Taylor has continued clinical practice as an acute care nurse practitioner in a variety of settings, including emergency and inpatient medicine. In 2020, Dr. Taylor was the recipient of the USF Health Culture Coin Award and received recognition for her work during the pandemic from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 2020 Year of the Nurse & Midwife. She is a member of several professional nursing organizations, including Sigma Theta Tau International, the AACN, and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). In 2021, she was appointed as a member of the NONPF curricular leadership committee.

ELIZABETH T. JORDAN, DNSC, RNC, FAAN

Senior Associate Dean of Assessment, Evaluation, & Accreditation, College of Nursing University of South Florida Ejordan2@usf.edu

With over 30 years of clinical experience and significant research expertise in labor and birth, Elizabeth “Betty’ Jordan is a recognized international nursing leader in maternal and newborn outcomes research, education, and practice. She previously was the Baccalaureate Program Director at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the Associate Director of the Johns Hopkins University Global mHealth Initiative. At Johns Hopkins, she was recognized for her exemplary clinical and teaching skills with the 2005 Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence. She served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses and the Board for the Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition. Dr. Jordan was recognized as one of the “Top 100 Women in Maryland” for her dedication and service to Maryland in helping address the issue of poor birth outcomes. She served as a content expert and internal program evaluator for the first national mobile health program titled “Text4baby.” At the USF College of Nursing, Dr. Jordan led the prelicensure program curriculum revision and, in 2018, launched an accelerated baccalaureate program. Dr. Jordan continues to facilitate and to grow key academic practice partnerships, blending research, evidence-based practice, and leadership, to create a positive learning environment for students and inspire faculty to share her vision of a healthy, student-centric environment. Dr. Jordan received her BSN from the University of Maryland, MSN from the University of Delaware, and DNSc from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.

Senior Associate Dean of Alumni, Community, and Global Engagement, College of Nursing University of South Florida maguired@usf.edu

Denise Maguire, PhD, is the Senior Associate Dean of Alumni, Community, and Global Engagement and tenured Associate Professor at the USF College of Nursing. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Niagara University, a master of nursing in Parent-Child Nursing from Boston University, and her PhD in nursing science from the University of Florida. She spent the majority of her clinical nursing career as a neonatal intensive care unit nurse and nurse manager, practicing in New York, Boston, and St. Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Maguire joined the College of Nursing faculty in 2007, where she has served in several faculty, research, and administrative roles. She was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 2017.

DELEISE S. WILSON, PHD, MED, RN, CSSGB

Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, College of Nursing University of South Florida dwilson37@usf.edu

Deleise S. Wilson, PhD, MEd, RN, CSSGB, is Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Associate Professor at the USF College of Nursing. Dr. Wilson received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Northern Caribbean University (1986) and a master in nursing education from Teachers College, Columbia University (1994). She completed a PhD in nursing with an emphasis on healthcare systems effectiveness (2011) and a three-year postdoctoral fellowship in implementation science (2014) at the University of Michigan. Between 1994 and 2006, she served as adjunct faculty at Columbia University and the University of Michigan Schools of Nursing. She was an assistant professor at Loma Linda University School of Nursing (2002-2006) and at the University of Michigan School of Nursing (2014-2015). From 2015 to 2020, she was the Director of Nursing at Kettering College, where she led innovative educational approaches that improved student, faculty, and program outcomes. In 2017, she was selected for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) - Wharton Executive Leadership program. Dr. Wilson conducts research and publishes in the following areas: high reliability behaviors among charge nurses, the association between safety organizing and perceptions of patient safety culture, and targeted fall prevention interventions. She is also a coinvestigator of the largest epidemiologic study of Caribbean Adventist Families. Her area of clinical expertise is pediatric critical care. Dr. Wilson is involved in several community service programs. In 2019, she was a recipient of a congressional citation for her work as President of the Association of Black Seventh-Day Adventist Nurses.

IVONNE HERNANDEZ PHD, RN, IBCLC

Chief Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Assistant Professor, College of Nursing University of South Florida ifhernandez@usf.edu She/Ella/Hers

Ivonne Hernandez, PhD, RN, IBCLC, is the inaugural Chief Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and an Assistant Professor at the USF College of Nursing. Dr. Hernandez received her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from USF and has over 20 years of experience in maternal-child health with a specialization in lactation. She provided her clinical expertise in the role of nurse consultant for the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative (FPQC), Mother’s Own Milk (MOM) Statewide Initiative, 2016-2019. Her current research interests include innovations to improve maternal-child health with a focus on infant feeding practices of underserved, vulnerable populations and to create measurable change to impact diversity, equity, and inclusion in the nursing profession to positively impact health outcomes for our nation. Dr. Hernandez serves on the Status of Latino (SOL) USF Presidential Advisory Committee, the Chair of the Diversity Committee, and is a member of the Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee. She is actively engaged in community service as the President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses West Florida local chapter. She serves as a member of the College of Nursing Community Advisory Board and a board member of the Brain Expansions Scholastic Training (BEST) Medical Academy, a premier pipeline program to support the mission of working with underserved groups to prepare future, diverse healthcare professionals.

TANYA L. HODGES, EDD

Director of Student Affairs, College of Nursing University of South Florida

Tanya Hodges. EdD, is the Director of Student Affairs at the USF College of Nursing. Dr. Hodges received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of St. Joseph and her master’s degree in educational leadership, management, and policy from Seton Hall University. In May 2016, she successfully defended her dissertation at Drexel University in fulfillment of a doctorate in educational administration. The focus of her research was to explore perceptions of underrepresented minority medical students on factors influencing academic performance. Prior to joining USF, Dr. Hodges served as the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs from 2014 to 2019 at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York, and as the Director of Academic Retention/Operations for Hospitality Management from 2009 to 2014 at Monroe College in New Rochelle, New York. While at Monroe College, she also served on the faculty, teaching

communication and hospitality management courses from 2011 to 2014. Before pursuing her passion for leadership in higher education, Dr. Hodges served under the superintendent of a large consolidated public school district and as a marketing and research development coordinator in the spinal division at the former Tyco Healthcare/US Surgical, both in Connecticut. Throughout her professional career, she has done continuous research on the impacts of inclusivity and multicultural awareness in education and has spent a significant portion of her higher education experience as an administrator, leader, educator, mentor, and advisor centered on creating and measuring student-learning outcomes and potential barriers to student success.

BRITTANY SHEEHY, PHD

Executive Liaison to the Dean, College of Nursing University of South Florida (813) 974-9091 / Bsheehy@usf.edu

Brittany Sheehy, PhD, serves as the Executive Liaison to the Dean at the USF College of Nursing. Dr. Sheehy received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science, her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in student affairs, and her doctorate degree in higher education administration from USF. Prior to joining the College, Dr. Sheehy served as the Director of Student Affairs at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine from 2018 to 2021 and as the Associate Director of Academic Affairs for the College of Marine Science from 2014 to 2018. While at the College of Marine Science, she also served as an adjunct instructor, teaching academic success and university experience courses. Dr. Sheehy has also served in a number of high-level administrative roles and settings, including leadership administration, admissions, undergraduate advising, pre-health professional programs, graduate student advising, graduate student academic affairs and student affairs, and professional academic and student affairs. Dr. Sheehy’s focus is on developing and leading the administration of policies and procedures through systematic and data-driven approaches. She has an unmatched ability to create strong partnerships within both the community and the university. She is a collaborative team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills to foster meaningful relationships.

JESSICA GELABERT, MSM

Director, Finance, Administration, and Operations, College of Nursing University of South Florida (813) 396-9654 / jgelabert@usf.edu

Jessica Gelabert, MSM, is the Director of Finance, Administration, and Operation at the USF College of Nursing. She received her bachelor of science in biology and environmental science and policy from Clark University in 2000. She earned her Master of Science in management from USF in 2021. She oversees budget, finances, human resources, and operations and serves as the College’s IT liaison. A lifelong analyst, Jessica has a passion for data quality and reporting.