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In her role as assistant vice president of Academic Affairs at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso), Dr. Herber-Valdez coordinates various academic processes and programs to enhance and support the institution’s academic mission. In addition to overseeing the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE), she serves as institutional liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College - the accrediting body for degree-granting higher education institutions in the southern United States - and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. She played an instrumental role in TTUHSC El Paso receiving SACSCOC accreditation in 2018 and Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) status in 2019.

Dr. Herber-Valdez holds a faculty appointment as assistant professor in the Foster School of Medicine’s Department of Medical Education and also serves as principal investigator for the Title V Hispanic Serving-Institutions (HSI) grant from the U.S. Department of Education for TTUHSC El Paso. The $3 million award - Puentes Hacia el Exito (Bridges Toward Success) – provides programming for Hispanic students, with a specific aim to address the critical shortage of Hispanic nurses and nurse educators.

With a focus on supporting Hispanic students in their pursuit of higher education, Dr. Herber-Valdez has built her career exclusively at HSIs. Prior to joining TTUHSC El Paso, she held positions at the University of Texas at El Paso and New Mexico State University. Positions included the areas of student services, as well as the management and evaluation of large-scale, federally funded program grants of the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.  

Dr. Herber-Valdez earned her B.A. in psychology, her M.A. in clinical psychology and her Ed.D. in educational leadership with a concentration in higher education administration from UTEP.

Oliana Alikaj-Fierro, Ph.D., M.B.A., is the managing director for the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE) at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso).  

Dr. Alikaj-Fierro manages institution-wide planning and assessment processes at TTUHSC El Paso to assure compliance with SACSCOC accreditation. Dr. Alikaj-Fierro was instrumental in writing narratives for TTUHSC El Paso’s application and compliance certification submitted to SACSCOC for separate accreditation.  

She is experienced with institution-wide planning and assessment processes with a demonstrated history of working in both private and higher education. Prior to her work in higher education, she honed her business and leadership skills working for private industry as a managing purchasing director and business specialist. Her background and expertise are in higher education, administration, program management, professional and faculty development, curriculum development, strategic planning and accreditation. 

Originally from Albania, and now a proud Texan, she possesses over 10 years of experience in higher education and speaks three languages: Albanian, English and Spanish. 

Before coming to TTUHSC El Paso, Dr. Alikaj-Fierro served as the assistant director for the bioinformatics program at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).  

In May 2015, Dr. Alikaj-Fierro obtained her Ph.D. in teaching, learning, and culture from UTEP. She also earned her M.B.A. from UTEP in December 2007.