Anna Villena

Dr. Anna Liza Villena brings over three decades of nursing experience, seamlessly integrating clinical expertise, academic leadership, and a commitment to advancing nursing education. She earned her PhD in Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco, and is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Currently serving as Core Faculty at Walden University, Dr. Villena teaches in the Nurse Practitioner Program, where she emphasizes a student-centered, evidence-based approach to graduate education. Her teaching philosophy is grounded in fostering critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and reflective practice. She believes in empowering students to become compassionate, culturally competent, and ethically grounded healthcare providers who are prepared to meet the complex needs of diverse populations. Many of the students she has mentored have gone on to pursue advanced degrees, including Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD programs.
Dr. Villena’s research focuses on improving outcomes for individuals with co-occurring medical and behavioral health disorders. She has pioneered integrated care models that bridge primary care and community mental health, promoting holistic and accessible healthcare. Her work has been presented at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
With a career dedicated to mentoring future nurse practitioners and enhancing patient care, Dr. Villena continues to inspire excellence in nursing practice, education, and research.

Courses Taught

NURS 6531 - Advance Practice Care of Adults

NURS 6541 - Primary Care Adolescent & Child

NURS 6565 - Synthesis in Advance NP Primary Care

NURS 6501 - Advanced Pathophysiology

NURS 6551 - Primary Care of Women

Education

PhD, University of California San Francisco

MSN, San Francisco State University

BSN, San Francisco State