Your Chapter Board

President: Evelyn Acosta MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC

Evelyn has been a nurse for more than a decade. She began her nursing journey as a CNA in high school, then continued in the nursing program at the University of Texas at El Paso. After completing her BSN, she worked as a newborn nursery nurse and low-risk neonatal nurse. She pursued her master’s in nursing systems management with a certification in nursing education. She has taught nursing courses at El Paso Community College and UTEP. Before pursuing her NP, she was a coordinator for women's services, assisting with the NICU level IV certification. She has been a pediatric nurse practitioner for five years, working in primary care for three years before transitioning to the endocrinology clinic.

President-elect: Sondie Skory DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC

Dr. Skory has been a pediatric nurse for 35 years, including 13 years as a pediatric nurse practitioner. She works part-time in a pediatric clinic and full-time in the graduate nurse practitioner program at the University of Texas at El Paso. She loves her little patients but equally loves teaching future pediatric nurse practitioners. She also believes in giving back to her community and volunteers regularly for the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence, Special Olympics, HOPE Fair, and the El Paso Cleft Palate Clinic.

Treasurer: Cathaline L. Hermosillo

Social Media Chair: Gabriela Baida-Mendez MSN, APRN, PNP-PC, PMHNP-BC

Gabriela has been a nurse for more than a decade and a nurse practitioner for six years. She started her career as a nurse in the NICU, moved to the pediatric emergency room, and lastly the general pediatric floor. She worked in pediatric primary care as a nurse practitioner for three years before venturing to start the Texas Southwest NAPNAP chapter in 2020. In 2021, she completed her second certification in psychiatric mental health and currently work at an inpatient psychiatric hospital.

Secretary: Alejandra Valenzuela DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC

After graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1996, Dr. Valenzuela cared for hospitalized children for 23 years. She completed her master's in nursing as a clinical nurse specialist in 2001 and as a nurse practitioner in 2010. Her dedication to providing the best care possible to the community motivated her to continue her studies and graduate with her doctorate in nursing practice in 2015. Currently, she serves as an assistant clinical professor at UTEP School of Nursing. She is the clinical coordinator for the acute care pediatric nurse practitioner program. Dr. Valenzuela is board-certified in both acute and primary care and holds certifications as a pediatric oncology/hematology nurse from APHON and general pediatric nurse from ANCC. She continues to be involved in the community as a volunteer for Texas Special Olympics, the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence, the Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic, and as a member of the El Paso Area Advanced Practice Nurses, NAPNAP Southwest Chapter, and APHON. She is proud to be part of the team at Dr. Ricardo Reyna III, MD PLLC.