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In her role as assistant vice president of Academic Affairs at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center 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 Texas Tech Health 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 Texas Tech Health 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 Texas Tech Health 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.