Carol Velas, Ed.D., Founding Director of Westmont's ASBN Program

Nurse! Nurse! Our guest this episode is here to answer the call. Dr. Carol Velas is the Founding Director of Westmont’s new Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. The new program, housed in Westmont College's satellite building in downtown Santa Barbara, has an inaugural cohort of two dozen students.

While new to Santa Barbara, Dr. Velas has had extensive experience in state licensing and accreditation throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada. Dr. Velas has been in nursing education for more than 20 years at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels in public and private institutions. Dr. Velas earned a Master of Nursing from CSU Dominguez Hills and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy from CSU Northridge. Her nursing experience includes care in oncology, medical/surgical, labor and delivery, post-partum, newborn nursery and pediatric nursing. As an administrator, Dr. Velas has directed a women’s unit, managed a cancer program, developed hospital staff, and served as both an assistant nursing program director and nursing program director.

Bits of Music You May Notice: Yo La Tengo, "Georgia Vs. Yo La Tengo," David Sylvian, "Silver Moon," David Byrne and Brian Eno, "My Big Nurse."

This episode first aired on KCSB-FM 91.9 on December 8, 2022.