Staff

Tara started at the Student Health Center as a nurse practitioner in 2011 and has been Director of the SHC since 2017. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Pacific Lutheran University in 1993 and worked as an RN in the ICU for the next 12 years. In 2006, she received her Master of Nursing from the University of Washington with an emphasis in infectious disease and is board certified through AANP as an Adult Registered Nurse Practitioner. Tara’s special interests include preventative health and wellness in young adults, reproductive health, and infectious diseases. Outside of work Tara enjoys travelling, spending time with her family, and watching soccer and football.

Elizabeth attended SU as an undergraduate, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. As a nursing student, she developed a passion for working with children and underserved communities. Upon graduating, Elizabeth moved to Chicago where she spent several years working in pediatrics at Lurie Children’s Hospital. After volunteering in a free clinic on Chicago’s south side, Elizabeth decided to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner to practice family medicine in underserved communities. Upon graduating with her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Rush University, Elizabeth worked in community health for several years before returning to SU in 2021 as a nurse practitioner in the Student Health Center. Elizabeth enjoys working with SU’s student population, and she has a particular interest in trauma-informed care and partnering with patients to meet their health and wellness goals. Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys long walks and hikes, reading, swimming, paddle boarding, and going on adventures with her husband, son, and dog.

Kristine has a MSN from Seattle University and has been in clinical practice since 2014. She is board certified in Psychiatry/Mental Health and in Addictions. Prior to starting at Seattle University in 2021, she worked as a Psychiatric Attending in an involuntary psychiatric hospital and as a lead prescriber/psychiatric consult in residential addictions treatment in the Seattle area. Her areas of interest include neuropsychiatry, childhood trauma and ACES, and neurodiversity. In her time away from work, she is active in the Washington organization for Psychiatric ARNPs as a volunteer on committees and as a Past President.  Also, she attempts to practice what she preaches by enjoying exercise and quality time with family and friends.

Chuy started at the Student Health Center in the September of 2017. Their education includes a BA from The Evergreen State College and studying Latin American history at The University of Texas at Austin (where he acquired a love of breakfast tacos and Texas-style BBQ). Chuy has worked as an administrative assistant at Children’s Hospital, Fred Hutch and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Personal interests include watching & discussing movies, frequenting coffee houses, reading Man Booker prize winning novels, spending time with their large family, listening to music, traveling, being in nature and meditation.

Kathryn was raised in Maple Valley, WA and then moved to Portland, OR where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Portland. After graduating in 2012, Kathryn worked on an inpatient Medical Surgical unit, specializing in Orthopedics where she frequently collaborated with Nurse Practitioners, inspiring her to pursue an advanced nursing practice role. Kathryn returned to the University of Portland in 2014 to become a Family Nurse Practitioner and graduated with her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in 2018. She then started practicing in the Primary Care setting at an outpatient Family Medicine Clinic in Beaverton, Oregon where she served patients across the lifespan (newborn to geriatric). After practicing for a few years, Kathryn moved back to Seattle to be closer to family, which brought her to Seattle University. Outside of work, Kathryn enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, boating, and reading.

Elsa joined the student health center staff in December 2022.