The school of nursing welcomed two new faculty members into the department at the beginning of the spring semester: Dr. Sandra Curtis and Dr. Melanie Quilla-Deza.

new nursing faculty

Assistant Professor Dr. Sandra Curtis obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1985 from Mount St. Joseph University, a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Capella University, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Capella University. Dr. Curtis is board-certified in Gerontological nursing and has worked in many areas of nursing over the span of her career, but her love is nursing education. Her research areas of interest include Dementia Knowledge and Care in African Americans, Spirituality in Health Care, and Nursing Education as Practice of Social Justice. According to Dr. Curtis, the Mount has treated her royally so far. “I am thrilled to return to the place that provided me with such a rich and well-rounded education. I am also excited to share my love of nursing with future and current nursing students at the University. It feels good to be back home at the Mount.”

Associate Professor Dr. Quilla-Deza obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 2000, followed by a Master of Science in Nursing degree in 2007, and lastly, a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in 2020. Although Dr. Quilla-Deza has been working in higher education since 2007, her clinical background includes medical-surgical and critical care nursing. Professionally, “Dr. Deza,” as her students refer to her, obtained her Certification for Nurse Educators (CNE) in 2017 from the National League for Nursing (NLN) and is an active member and officer of the local chapter of the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA). Her research areas of interest include exploring the social determinants of success for nursing students. She believes the “development of knowledge in this area would allow nursing programs to support students better and enhance student retention and success.” According to Dr. Quilla-Deza, the Mount community has been incredibly welcoming. She feels blessed to be a part of a cohesive, supportive, and dynamic team that wants nothing but success for its students.

Welcome Dr. Sandra Curtis and Dr. Melanie Quilla-Deza. The nursing faculty are excited to have you on board.

Kerri Getz MSN, MBA, RN, CNE

BSN Program Director

 

Department of Nursing

CATEGORIES: Nursing