Westmont Magazine Bringing Compassionate Care to Westmont's New Nursing Program
Carol Velas, a registered nurse for 35 years, directs Westmont’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, which begins January 10, 2022. She helped design the nursing program while serving as a consultant for the initial feasibility study. Velas served as the senior manager for state licensing and accreditation at Chamberlain University in Chicago.
“I’m thrilled that Carol Velas is leading our nursing program, and I’m grateful for all her work securing the needed approvals,” says President Gayle D. Beebe. “It’s an historic time for Westmont.”
“I’ve developed the curriculum for this pre-licensure program with an acute understanding of the needs of the diverse, vulnerable populations in Santa Barbara County,” Velas says. “I’ve integrated the theory of compassionate care so students will have tools to care for the whole patient.”
In keeping with its FAITHFUL mission, Westmont has grounded the nursing program in the Christian tradition of the liberal arts. “My faith as a young Christian called me to nursing,” Velas says. “It supported my empathy and emotion as a young nurse, and it gave me patience with students learning and applying complex concepts as a young nursing educator. Now, as a Christian woman, I thank God every day for life and the ability to continue caring for other people, communities and populations of his children, including his students. I hope to build a space at Westmont Downtown where nursing students feel safe and excited about learning to care for others holistically using their faith as a guide.”
Velas earned a Master of Nursing from CSU Dominguez Hills and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and policy from CSU Northridge. Her extensive nursing experience includes care in oncology, medical/surgical, labor and delivery, post- partum, newborn nursery and pediatrics nursing.
“Being the founding director of Westmont’s ABSN program gives me the joy of watching students study, graduate and work in the Santa Barbara community,” Velas says. “My passion as an educator is providing the faculty with the tools they need to teach a diverse student body effectively. I’ll collaborate with faculty to provide the best learning environment available both at Westmont Downtown and in the clinical settings at Cottage Health.”
As an administrator, Carol has directed a women’s unit, managed a cancer program, developed staff and served as both an assistant nursing program director and a nursing program director. She has taught nursing at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels in public and private institutions.
“I look forward to admitting the inaugural cohort of 24 students and beginning the legacy of educating baccalaureate nurses for Santa Barbara County,” she says.
For more information about the inaugural cohort and to apply to the nursing program, contact the Westmont admissions team at (805) 565-6200.