Elias Provencio-Vasquez

Elias Provencio-Vasquez, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAANP, has dedicated over 40 years to transforming healthcare, championing vulnerable populations, and inspiring the next generation of nurses. From his humble beginnings at a community college to becoming Dean of the University of Colorado Anschutz College of Nursing, Dr. Provencio-Vasquez embodies the true spirit of perseverance and passion.

He's not just an educator ‒ he's a pioneering researcher, a compassionate clinician, and a national leader who has made significant contributions to healthcare for at-risk women and their families. As a bilingual expert, he has broken barriers, leading groundbreaking research projects funded by the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health that have made real differences in communities across the United States.

Under his leadership, the CU Anschutz College of Nursing has become Colorado's #1 nursing program, with nationally ranked programs including the #2 Nurse-Midwifery program, #10 DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care program and #12 Online Master's program, demonstrating how one passionate individual can create meaningful change in healthcare.

Dr. Provencio-Vasquez earned his Associate of Arts in Nursing from Gateway Community College (1978), bachelor's in Nursing from Northern Arizona University (1981), and both his master's in Maternal/Child Nursing (1986) and PhD in Nursing Research (1992) from the University of Arizona College of Nursing. He was trained as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner at the University of Arizona and a Post-Graduate Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from the University of Texas-Houston School of Nursing.