Sharon Schaaf, PhD, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, AG-ACNP is a clinician educator - associate professor at The University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Nursing. She is board certified as an adult/gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AG-ACNP) and a family nurse practitioner, and holds a Post-Master's Certificate in cardiology. She is also the concentration coordinator for the College's AG-ACNP program.

She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Texas Woman's University, a post-master's certificate from UNM and one from Loyola University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas – Pan American and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wyoming.  She has practiced as a cardiovascular nurse practitioner for 16 years, in both inpatient and outpatient settings, at a premier cardiology practice in Albuquerque, NM. Schaaf is currently working on a postdoctoral Doctor of Philosophy degree with the Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences department.