Senior Associate Dean

Christopher M. Ledingham, MPH, PhD, FASHA  

Phone: 956-882-5756  
Email: christopher.ledingham@utrgv.edu 

Dr. Christopher M. Ledingham serves as Senior Associate Dean in the College.  In this role, Dr. Ledingham works to assist faculty with any issues related to Faculty Governance in the College; serves as a resource person for issues concerning Tenure, Promotion, Post-Tenure Review, and Annual Evaluation; and facilitates community engagement activities and initiatives at the college level and serves as the “Point Dean” when Dr. Lehker is out of the office.    

Dr. Ledingham is also the Program Director for the Bachelor of Science in Integrated Health Sciences  and a Professor in the Department of Health & Human Performance. Dr. Ledingham holds a PhD in Health Education from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, and both a BCH and MPH in Community Health Education from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM.  Dr. Ledingham’s research interests include community & school health program evaluation, obesity prevention in children, and children’s empathy towards animals.   

Associate Dean - Accreditation, Assessment and New Program Development

Dr. Rene Gonzalez

Associate Dean - Research  

Murat Karabulut, PhD, FACSM, CSCS, CEP  

Phone: 956-882-7236 
Email:  murat.karabulut@utrgv.edu      

Dr. Murat Karabulut is an Associate Dean for Research and Professor in the College of Health Professions at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where he has been a faculty member since 2008. Dr. Karabulut's research interests center on the development and improvement of non-pharmacological interventions to prevent health problems and improve the health status of those who have metabolic problems, cardiovascular problems, and age-related health problems.  

He obtained his Ph.D. in Exercise Science from The University of Oklahoma at Norman. He is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (FACSM). He also has two of the most recognized certifications in the field (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)). Additionally, Dr. Murat Karabulut contributes as a reviewer for numerous academic journals and holds membership in various professional organizations.  

Dr. Murat Karabulut, in his role as Associate Dean for Research, spearheads the development and continuation of research endeavors. He actively identifies and resolves challenges that hinder faculty progress in research, while also collaborating with the dean's leadership team to orchestrate research-oriented initiatives.  

Associate Dean - Interprofessional Education, Clinical Education, and Affiliation and Placement

Diana L. Paz, PharmD, MBA                                                         

Phone: 956-665-3701
Email:  diana.paz@utrgv.edu 

Dr. Diana Paz has been a faculty member in the Physician Assistant Department since 2017, where she primarily teaches pharmacology. Since joining the College of Health Professions, she has actively collaborated with departments both within and beyond the college to design, implement, and coordinate interprofessional education (IPE) activities and initiatives. As a member of the COHP IPE Committee and an IPE Fellow, Dr. Paz has played a key role in overseeing student competitions and fostering meaningful, collaborative learning experiences across disciplines and colleges.

Dr. Paz now serves as Associate Dean of Interprofessional Education, Clinical Education, and Affiliation and Placement, where her overarching goal is to strengthen collaborative practice readiness among health professions students while expanding high-quality clinical education experiences. In this role, she is committed to advancing interprofessional learning, enhancing clinical partnerships, and ensuring well-coordinated, sustainable affiliation and placement models that support student success and workforce development.  

Associate Dean - Student Success  

Dr. Lin Wang 

Phone: 956-665-5263 

Email:  lin.wang@utrgv.edu

Dr. Lin Wang serves as the Associate Dean for Student Success in the College of Health Professions. She is committed to supporting student learning/engagement and promotes undergraduate and graduate recruitment, retention, graduation, and overall student success at every step of a student's journey at the College.  She collaborates with offices/centers across the University on a range of issues including relations with community colleges, student conduct, student research and travel support, and professionalism building with University College and Career Center.  

Dr. Wang holds a Ph.D. in Motor Learning and her research focus has been a contributing factor to an effective learning environment for all learners. She is also a proud member of the South Texas Early Prevention Studies (STEPS) team exploring the best learning environment to promote healthy lifestyle s among children in the Rio Grande Valley.