Anielka Contreras (she/her/ella) serves as the Director for Academic Program Review (APR) and Accreditation at the College of Health Solutions, acting as the primary liaison between the University Program Review and Accreditation (UPRA) Office and the Arizona Board of Regents. In this role, Anielka oversees the coordination of Academic Program Reviews, ensuring compliance with the Arizona Board of Regents' requirement for periodic evaluations at least once every seven years. These reviews provide faculty with a structured process to assess the effectiveness, progress, and status of academic programs, including undergraduate and graduate offerings.
In addition to program reviews, Ms. Contreras leads the college’s accreditation efforts, guiding degree programs through the process of obtaining and maintaining specialized accreditations from external governing bodies. Working closely with program directors, faculty, and administrators, Anielka ensures programs meet industry and national standards. This involves coordinating meetings with stakeholders, site visitors, and university administrators, reviewing self-studies and briefing papers, collecting site visitor reports, and managing all accreditation-related documentation.
Before joining the College of Health Solutions, Anielka built a dynamic career at Thunderbird School of Global Management’s Executive Education unit, where she managed a diverse portfolio of international corporate clients. She worked closely with major organizations such as The Hershey Company, Magna International, Grupo Alfa, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, leading needs assessments, stakeholder interviews, contract negotiations, and program delivery. As Client Director, she ensured that each partnership resulted in meaningful learning and development solutions.
With over a decade of experience spanning the private and public sectors, non-profit organizations, and higher education institutions in the Southwest, Anielka has developed deep expertise in program development, project management, stakeholder relations, and coaching. Ms. Contreras has served as Chair of the Board of Directors for Mountain Park Health Center, a vital community health organization serving the Phoenix metropolitan area.
A dedicated leader, Anielka is an alumna of the Valley Leadership Institute, Class 31, and was honored as one of the Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 in 2009. She holds a Master’s in Administration with a focus on Organizational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Spanish Literature from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Guided by creativity, connection, and adaptability, Anielka is passionate about community organizing, social justice, and global exploration. She finds joy in traveling, culinary adventures, and making lasting memories with her family—her seven-year-old twins, Ava and Lucas, their spirited mixed-breed dog, Scout, and her wife, Nikki, with whom she shares life’s many adventures.