Sallie Tucker-Allen Annual Meeting & Scientific Conference
40 Years of Excellence: Advancing Nursing Through Research, Education, and Practice
June 9 - 12, 2027
Hilton Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
40th Annual ABNF Meeting and Scientific Conference
Four Decades of Impact. One Unbroken Legacy.
In 1987, the Association of Black Nursing Faculty, Inc. (ABNF) was founded to ensure Black nurse educators had a voice, an enduring community, and an uncompromised seat in academia. In 2027, we return to Atlanta to celebrate 40 years of scholarship, advocacy, and trailblazing leadership.
The 40th Sallie Tucker-Allen Annual Meeting & Scientific Conference is both a celebration of that rich history and a blueprint for the future of nursing. From June 9–12, 2027, at the Hilton Atlanta, we convene to advance the research shaping patient outcomes, transform the classrooms educating tomorrow’s nurses, and elevate the clinical practices defining health equity across our communities.
Under this year’s milestone theme—40 Years of Excellence: Advancing Nursing Through Research, Education, and Practice—we invite nurse educators, scientists, clinicians, students, and policymakers to join us for four days of purposeful dialogue, scholarly exchange, and collective empowerment.
Call for Abstracts
ABNF seeks innovative work that amplifies Black nursing faculty voices while addressing healthcare disparities in minority communities. Submissions should demonstrate transformative impact through original research, evidence-based educational strategies, culturally responsive pedagogical approaches, health equity interventions, leadership development models, or policy innovations that advance nursing education excellence.
Abstract submission deadline
January 15, 2027
acceptance notification date
February 15, 2027
Conference Leadership Speaker
Bimbola Akintade, PhD, MBA, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Bimbola Akintade, PhD, MBA, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP, FAAN, is a Professor and Dean at East Carolina University (ECU) College of Nursing. Now serving as a member of the Board of Directors and on the Finance Committee for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), he was an inaugural member of its Essentials Implementation Steering Committee, Chair of the Assessment Expert Working Group, and completed AACN's inaugural Diversity Leadership Institute program. He serves on the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on the Future of the Nursing Workforce and on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Nurses Association.
Bimbola Akintade, PhD, MBA, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Bimbola Akintade, PhD, MBA, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP, FAAN, is a Professor and Dean at East Carolina University (ECU) College of Nursing. Now serving as a member of the Board of Directors and on the Finance Committee for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), he was an inaugural member of its Essentials Implementation Steering Committee, Chair of the Assessment Expert Working Group, and completed AACN's inaugural Diversity Leadership Institute program. He serves on the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on the Future of the Nursing Workforce and on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Nurses Association. He is a former commissioner with the Maryland Healthcare Commission and a founding member of the Board of Directors for the Doctor of Nursing Practice of Color. He served as a Board Member of the Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty and its Finance Committee and now serves as Vice Chair of the Eastern Area Health Education Centers Board of Directors. He is a Co-founder and Co-chair of the Board of Directors of the Network of Black Male Nurse Leaders. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Association for Men in Nursing. He was recently inducted into the ECU College of Nursing’s Hall of Fame and the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina. The impact of Dr. Akintade’s work as a leader, expert clinician, and scholar is evident in his roles as Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor, editorial board memberships, peer-reviewed publications, professional awards, and acknowledgments.
Conference Leadership Speaker
Bimbola Akintade, PhD, MBA, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Bimbola Akintade, PhD, MBA, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP, FAAN, is a Professor and Dean at East Carolina University (ECU) College of Nursing. Now serving as a member of the Board of Directors and on the Finance Committee for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), he was an inaugural member of its Essentials Implementation Steering Committee, Chair of the Assessment Expert Working Group, and completed AACN's inaugural Diversity Leadership Institute program. He serves on the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on the Future of the Nursing Workforce and on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Nurses Association.
Bimbola Akintade, PhD, MBA, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Bimbola Akintade, PhD, MBA, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP, FAAN, is a Professor and Dean at East Carolina University (ECU) College of Nursing. Now serving as a member of the Board of Directors and on the Finance Committee for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), he was an inaugural member of its Essentials Implementation Steering Committee, Chair of the Assessment Expert Working Group, and completed AACN's inaugural Diversity Leadership Institute program. He serves on the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on the Future of the Nursing Workforce and on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Nurses Association. He is a former commissioner with the Maryland Healthcare Commission and a founding member of the Board of Directors for the Doctor of Nursing Practice of Color. He served as a Board Member of the Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty and its Finance Committee and now serves as Vice Chair of the Eastern Area Health Education Centers Board of Directors. He is a Co-founder and Co-chair of the Board of Directors of the Network of Black Male Nurse Leaders. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Association for Men in Nursing. He was recently inducted into the ECU College of Nursing’s Hall of Fame and the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina. The impact of Dr. Akintade’s work as a leader, expert clinician, and scholar is evident in his roles as Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor, editorial board memberships, peer-reviewed publications, professional awards, and acknowledgments.
Conference Keynote Speaker
Deborah J. Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN
Deborah J. Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN, serves as President of Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions (formerly MGH Institute of Health Professions) and holds the John Hilton Knowles Professorship. A transformative healthcare and higher-education executive, Dr. Jones has built her career at the intersection of academic excellence, workforce development, clinical innovation, and strategic integration across complex health systems.
Deborah J. Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN
Deborah J. Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN, serves as President of Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions (formerly MGH Institute of Health Professions) and holds the John Hilton Knowles Professorship. A transformative healthcare and higher-education executive, Dr. Jones has built her career at the intersection of academic excellence, workforce development, clinical innovation, and strategic integration across complex health systems.
Before joining the University, Dr. Jones served as Senior Vice President and Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and as the institution’s inaugural Chief Integration Officer, a role created to align UTMB’s tripartite mission of education, research, and clinical missions. She deepened academic–practice partnerships; advanced digital transformation and micro-credentialing; expanded research and strengthened faculty development; and fostered cultures of belonging, engagement, and professional success.
A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Jones is a nurse scientist whose funded interprofessional research has reduced healthcare-associated infections, strengthened the adoption of evidence-based practice, and improved patient outcomes. Her leadership has expanded research infrastructure and mentoring programs, increasing extramural funding and national visibility for nursing and interprofessional scholarship.
At the University, Dr. Jones is focused on expanding access to health professions education and on preparing clinicians who train inside one of the nation's most complex care environments, advancing interprofessional education and research, and strengthening the health and well-being of communities locally and globally in partnership with Mass General Brigham.
Dr. Jones earned her PhD in Nursing (Biobehavioral Clinical Research) and MSN (Nurse Executive track) from Virginia Commonwealth University, and her BSN from Radford University.
Conference Keynote Speaker
Deborah J. Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN
Deborah J. Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN, serves as President of Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions (formerly MGH Institute of Health Professions) and holds the John Hilton Knowles Professorship. A transformative healthcare and higher-education executive, Dr. Jones has built her career at the intersection of academic excellence, workforce development, clinical innovation, and strategic integration across complex health systems.
Deborah J. Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN
Deborah J. Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN, serves as President of Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions (formerly MGH Institute of Health Professions) and holds the John Hilton Knowles Professorship. A transformative healthcare and higher-education executive, Dr. Jones has built her career at the intersection of academic excellence, workforce development, clinical innovation, and strategic integration across complex health systems.
Before joining the University, Dr. Jones served as Senior Vice President and Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and as the institution’s inaugural Chief Integration Officer, a role created to align UTMB’s tripartite mission of education, research, and clinical missions. She deepened academic–practice partnerships; advanced digital transformation and micro-credentialing; expanded research and strengthened faculty development; and fostered cultures of belonging, engagement, and professional success.
A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Jones is a nurse scientist whose funded interprofessional research has reduced healthcare-associated infections, strengthened the adoption of evidence-based practice, and improved patient outcomes. Her leadership has expanded research infrastructure and mentoring programs, increasing extramural funding and national visibility for nursing and interprofessional scholarship.
At the University, Dr. Jones is focused on expanding access to health professions education and on preparing clinicians who train inside one of the nation's most complex care environments, advancing interprofessional education and research, and strengthening the health and well-being of communities locally and globally in partnership with Mass General Brigham.
Dr. Jones earned her PhD in Nursing (Biobehavioral Clinical Research) and MSN (Nurse Executive track) from Virginia Commonwealth University, and her BSN from Radford University.
Registration
Registration includes all conference materials, continuing education credit, continental breakfast, and Awards Banquet.
Early-bird Registration Period (September 1 - January 31, 2027)
- Member - $500.00
- Non-member - $625.00
- *Student (unlicensed) - $300.00 (include copy of current school ID)
Pre-Conference Registration Period (February 1 - May 31, 2027)
- Member - $600.00
- Non-member - $725.00
- *Student - $400.00 (include copy of current school ID)
*Student refers pre-license undergraduate/basic education only.
Cancellations: Available through May 27, 2027 (A $100 administrative fee applies).
Refunds: There are no refunds after May 27, 2027.
Important registration Notice
Advance registration is strictly required. Please note that no onsite registration will be available at the Hilton Atlanta. All attendees must complete their registration online prior to arrival.
Conference Venue & Lodging
Stay in the Heart of Downtown Atlanta
Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta at 255 Courtland Street NE, the Hilton Atlanta serves as the official host venue for the Association of Black Nursing Faculty’s 40th Anniversary Conference. Offering direct access to the city’s cultural core, the hotel provides a seamless blend of conference facilities, premier hospitality, and diverse dining options designed to accommodate attendees throughout the event.
Onsite Dining Experiences
Guests can choose from a range of dining environments located directly within the property:
- Nikolai's Roof: Upscale fine dining situated on the hotel rooftop, offering sweeping skyline views.
- Southern Elements: Traditional Southern cuisine prepared with a contemporary culinary twist.
- Trader Vic’s: A classic Polynesian restaurant and lounge located on the lower level (reservations preferred).
- Market Place: A casual dining venue offering fresh coffee and quick grab-and-go selections for busy conference schedules.
