Dr. Nina Almasy has been named Austin Community College District's (ACC) new Health Sciences dean. She replaces Pat Recek, who retired after 24 years with the college in March.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the college and our students in this new role. The Health Sciences Division is an important part of the college and the community and I look forward to continuing the great work," said Almasy.

Almasy has been with ACC for 18 years and currently serves as the department chair for Professional Nursing where she oversees the Associate Degree and RN-to-BSN programs across three campuses. Prior to joining ACC in 2003, she worked as a cardiac nurse at Seton Medical Center.

She earned her baccalaureate degree in nursing from Ahwaz Medical Sciences University in Iran and obtained her master's and doctorate in Nursing Practice degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.

"I am excited to be working with Nina in this new role for her," says Dr. Gretchen Riehl, Workforce Education associate vice president. "In the four years she has been department chair for Professional Nursing, she has shown herself to be a capable and thoughtful leader, dedicated to student success. I am looking forward to what she will do as dean."

Almasy is a recipient of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Teaching Excellence award. She served on the Texas Board of Nursing from 2012-2019 and is currently a board member for the Healthcare Workforce Alliance of Central Texas and the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. She also serves on the advisory panel for the University of Texas Center for Excellence in Aging Services and Long Term Care.

Almasy will assume her duties as dean on June 1.