The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost recently announced changes to the plan for transitional leadership in the School of Nursing. Dr. Imelda Reyes, a professor in residence and previously serving as associate dean for advanced education, has been named acting dean, effective July 1, 2023. She will be supported by Dr. Lorraine Evangelista in the role of associate dean for research and other dedicated leaders currently serving in the dean's office.

As the school prepares to search for a permanent dean, Reyes will provide stable leadership to advance its mission of education, research, and community engagement. She is dual certified as a family and pediatric nurse practitioner. Prior to her tenure at UNLV, Reyes held leadership positions in the primary care PNP program and DNP program at Emory University. Her clinical experience is extensive, with roles at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory Healthcare, and U.S. Navy Healthcare. Reyes is a fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP), and she proudly served as a Medical Service Corps officer in the U.S. Navy from 2001-06, where her last position was as the chief financial officer at Naval Hospital Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Reyes is widely recognized for her clinical work, particularly for her expertise in broadening access to quality education and enhancing pediatric care within the Latinx community. Her principal areas of impact have been in education and service. She is a well-respected national leader in pediatric care, having served on several national boards and developed curriculum that is utilized across the nation to teach nursing students about the social determinants of health and culturally-sensitive primary care pediatrics.

Her clinical research focus is in the area of identifying and managing overweight and obesity in children and the parental perception of weight and health of children. Her field of expertise extends to pediatrics and adolescent healthcare. She has successfully secured funding for projects related to teaching innovation, language applications, and rural health. Dr. Reyes earned her BS in nursing from Western Michigan University, her MPH from the University of Michigan, her MSN from Emory University, and her DNP from Vanderbilt University.