Dr. Simi Gunaseelan, a nationally recognized leader in health professions education, has joined the Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed) as assistant dean of evaluation and assessment and instructional professor.
With more than 15 years of experience in competency-based assessment, programmatic evaluation, and accreditation for health professions programs, Gunaseelan brings a student-centered, data-driven approach to her new role.
She is committed to building a culture of assessment that prioritizes academic excellence, continuous improvement, and measurable outcomes to drive growth and accountability.
“I view assessment as a strategic tool to measure outcomes and guide decisions that enhance educational quality and student success,” Gunaseelan stated. “My leadership and service are rooted in collaboration, transparency, and integrity, ensuring assessment practices align with our institution’s goals.”
She previously served as director of assessment and instructional associate professor at the Texas A&M University Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy. During her eight-year tenure, she led accreditation efforts aligned with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), developed best practices for curricular and co-curricular assessment and taught in the Pharm.D. and Ph.D. programs.
She also held founding faculty roles at the University of Texas at Tyler College of Pharmacy and West Coast University School of Pharmacy in California, where she helped launch new Pharm.D. programs with a strong emphasis on evaluation and accreditation.
As a trained ACPE site evaluator, she has assessed pharmacy programs across the country—experience that parallels accreditation standards set by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for medical schools.
Originally from Shillong, the capital of the state of Meghalaya in India, Gunaseelan earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from North-Eastern Hill University and later conducted extensive postdoctoral research in HIV and cancer therapeutics at Rutgers University’s Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy in New Jersey. While her early professional career focused on translational research, her interest in education began much earlier.
“My passion for teaching has been present since I was in the 11th grade when I began tutoring students in mathematics and science, sparking my interest in a future career in academia,” she shared.
Gunaseelan’s dedication to education and leadership has earned her several notable recognitions, including the 2021 Texas A&M Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Former Students and the 2021 Texas A&M Provost Academic Professional Track Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. She was also selected for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Academic Leadership Fellows Program from 2019 to 2020, a nationally competitive yearlong leadership program.
At EnMed, Gunaseelan intends to apply her expertise to support faculty development, uphold accreditation standards, and help prepare students to meet the challenges of integrating engineering and medicine.
“The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is the importance of being proactive rather than reactive,” she said. “Planning, anticipating problems, and making informed decisions have defined my leadership approach. I lead by example and hold myself to high standards.”
Through a leadership style grounded in empathy, emotional intelligence, and mutual respect, Gunaseelan hopes to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals and educators.
“Trust, compassion, and courage are the true foundations of lasting influence,” she said.
Gunaseelan’s appointment is set to strengthen EnMed’s long-term efforts around assessment, student outcomes and institutional accountability.
