The Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences welcomes Dr. Helina Hoyt, as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Dr. Hoyt brings over 16 years of experience serving San Diego State University Imperial Valley, where she played a pivotal role advancing nursing education, practice, research, and innovation in the rural, border region of Imperial County, California.  As the Associate Director for the SDSU School of Nursing and Co-Founder of the SDSU Imperial Valley RISE (Research, Innovation, Student Engagement) Center, she has demonstrated her commitment to fostering novel academic nursing pathways, student engagement, and student success at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

Throughout her career, Dr. Hoyt has been dedicated to enhancing nursing student knowledge, skill, and empathy through immersive technologies, promoted health equity through multi-disciplinary scholarship, and was integral in facilitating her county’s designation as a California Accountable Community for Health. Dr. Hoyt brings a deep understanding of acute and community-based nursing care having practiced across multiple settings.  She completed a BSN at Azusa Pacific University, a MS in Community Health Nursing with School Nurse Specialization from San Diego State University, and a PhD in Education from Claremont Graduate University and San Diego State University.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Hoyt and confident that her experience and passion will greatly contribute to the continued growth and success of the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, said Julie Anne Hoff, dean of the college.