Esther Valenzuela, MA, MBA, director, Admissions and Recruitment, for Loma Linda University School of Dentistry since 2006, has accepted an appointment to the position of assistant dean for Admissions and Student Affairs.
Esther ValenzuelaMs. Valenzuela replaces the retiring Graham Stacey, PhD, associate dean, Student Affairs, 2008-2014, and for Admissions and Student Affairs, since 2015.
A registered nurse, and an educational guidance counselor, Ms. Valenzuela brought her combined expertise to the positions of associate dean of women, between 1985 and 1989, at what is now La Sierra University, and, from 1990 to 1994, as director, Admissions and Student Affairs, for the LLU School of Nursing.
Before joining the School of Dentistry in 2006, Ms. Valenzuela occupied the position of nurse manager at LLU Medical Center beginning in 1996, where she supervised a combined staff of 56 surgical and GI laboratory employees, and along the way earned an MBA in 2001.
Ms. Valenzuela was born in Chile to missionary parents and grew to adulthood on or around several different SDA college campuses on which her father, an SDA pastor, served as professor or administrator. It is not surprising then that she is passionate about SDA higher education and the opportunity to inspire young people to achieve their dreams.
Ms. Valenzuela says that in her new position she looks forward “to leading a collaborative Admissions and Student Affairs team that will select qualified LLUSD applicants who will excel and graduate with the skills and the desire to provide optimal whole person care to their patients and their communities.”
“It is a pleasure for me to welcome Ms. Valenzuela to her new responsibilities well acquainted as I am with her service to the School over the past twelve years,” said Dean Robert Handysides, “and I look forward to having her on our administrative team.”