Carol Velas, Ed.D.

Carol Velas, a registered nurse for 35 years, is the Founding Director of Westmont’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. 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.

“I understand the needs of the diverse, vulnerable populations in Santa Barbara County and have developed the curriculum for this pre-licensure program with this in mind,” Velas says. “I’ve integrated the theory of compassionate care so students will have tools to care for the whole patient throughout their lives and with a variety of conditions and diseases.”