University of New Mexico Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs James Holloway has named Dr. Sabrina Ezzell as chancellor for the UNM-Gallup branch campus, effective Jan. 1, 2023.

Ezzell brings 20 years of experience in higher education to UNM-Gallup where she has served as interim chancellor since July 2022. Ezzell began her academic career in 2003 as a clinical instructor in the UNM-Gallup Nursing Program after a rewarding career as a registered nurse.

Sabrina Ezzell
Dr. Sabrina Ezzell

“Dr. Ezzell is dedicated to the Gallup-McKinley community,” said James Holloway, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “Her dedication as an educator and her tremendous skill as an academic administrator makes her the perfect leader for UNM-Gallup. She has excelled as interim chancellor, and I look forward to continuing to work with her for the benefit of the people of New Mexico.” 

"I am very honored to be selected as the UNM-Gallup Chancellor. The leadership role supports collaboration with so many people who care about our community,” said Ezzell. “I look forward to working with UNM-Gallup faculty and staff to identify ways to further support student success. I also look forward to working with community members to increase opportunities for our graduates. UNM-Gallup is a wonderful resource and I appreciate being able to work with my colleagues and community to provide essential education and professional opportunities."

Originally from Clovis, N.M., Ezzell has a long history of serving in healthcare in the Gallup-area, a place she’s called home since 2002 and has spent the past seven years at UNM-Gallup in a variety of positions. Prior to her appointment as interim chancellor, she was an associate professor and chair of the Education, Health and Human Services department, and as an assistant professor and the nursing program director. Ezzell began her career at UNM-Gallup as a nursing instructor in 2015 and served the institution on two previous occasions as a lecturer/clinical instructor position at the branch campus (2007-08), and clinical instructor in the nursing program (2003-05).

In each of her roles at UNM-Gallup, Ezzell has worked with local and statewide industries. As nursing program director, she formed partnerships with primary schools, hospitals, and clinics across the northwest region to provide nursing students with the required clinical experiences. She continues to work closely with leaders in health care serving on the board of the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence and as a participant in the UNM Health Sciences Center strategic planning process.

Ezzell’s collegiate service also includes committee work at UNM-Gallup for curriculum and distance learning, the New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium as a Leadership Council Member (2016-19), the New Mexico Board of Nursing Education Advisory Committee and the Curriculum and Articulation Committee for the N.M. Higher Education Department.  

In the public health arena, Ezzell has served in two areas for the New Mexico Department of Health as a Hepatitis Program Nurse Contractor (2009-13) and McKinley County Nurse Manager (2005-07). She began her career in a hospital setting as a registered nurse at Lovelace Medical Center ((1991-97), Sage Memorial Hospital on the Navajo reservation in Ganado, Ariz. (1997-2002) and Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital (2002-04).

“One thing I learned as a public health nurse was that education was directly linked to a higher quality of life,” said Ezzell. “My hope was, and still is, that helping individuals achieve their educational goals will improve their mental and physical health, positively affecting their lives and the lives of those around them.”

Ezzell belongs to several professional organizations including the American Nurses Association, New Mexico Nurses Association and the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence where she is a current member of the board of directors. Her community service work includes efforts with Battered Families Services, New Mexico Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board and Special Olympics as a volunteer coach.

Ezzell holds an Ed.D. from Creighton University (Omaha, Neb.), a Master of Science in Nursing from Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, Ariz.) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UNM. She also earned an Associate of Science in Nursing from Eastern New Mexico.

Ezzell fills the position previously held by James Malm, who completed his term as chancellor of UNM-Gallup this summer after serving since 2017.