39th Annual Meeting
Sallie Tucker-Allen Annual Meeting & Scientific Conference
June 10 - 13, 2026
cancun, mexico
(hilton Cancun)
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
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 Speaker
Catherine Alicia Georges, EdD, RN, FAAN
Dr. Catherine Alicia Georges is professor and chairperson emerita of the Department of Nursing at Lehman College and Professor (adjunct) at Meharry Medical College. She is a leader in academic nursing, health policy development, community engagement, organizational development, and healthy aging. She is committed to assuring social justice and equity for marginalized and vulnerable communities, and increasing diversity, equity, inclusivity and belonging in the health care workforce.
Catherine Alicia Georges, EdD, RN, FAAN
Dr. Catherine Alicia Georges is professor and chairperson emerita of the Department of Nursing at Lehman College and Professor (adjunct) at Meharry Medical College. She is a leader in academic nursing, health policy development, community engagement, organizational development, and healthy aging. She is committed to assuring social justice and equity for marginalized and vulnerable communities, and increasing diversity, equity, inclusivity and belonging in the health care workforce.
Dr. Georges earned a BSN from Seton Hall University College of Nursing, MA in Nursing from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Vermont. In addition, she is the recipient of three Honorary Doctorates from the College of New Rochelle, A.T. Still University, and Chestnut Hill College.
Dr. Georges served as the national volunteer president of AARP from 2018-2020; the world’s largest consumer organization. She served as the 5th President of the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) and is the President of the National Black Nurses Foundation. She is a Lifetime member of NBNA and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She served as Chair of the National Board of Easterseals from 2021-2023. Dr. Georges served as a member of the RAISE National Family Caregiving Advisory Council of the US Department of Health and Human Services. She is a fellow of the NY Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Georges is also a Fulbright Specialist of the U.S. Department of State`s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
In 2019, she was named a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing. In June 2020, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from Seton Hall University. In October 2021, she received the Academy of Nursing Lifetime Legacy Achievement Award. In November 2025, she received the Nell J. Watts Lifetime Achievement award from Sigma theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing.
Conference Leadership Speaker
Karethy (Kay) Edwards, DrPH, FNP-BC, FAAN
Dr. Karethy Edwards the CEO of Caring-based Consultants in Grant Writing and Nursing Education and professor emerita at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). With 48 years of distinguished service in academic nursing, she has held roles spanning from instructor to tenured professor, co‑founder of the Center for Cultural Diversity and Healthcare Excellence at the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing, professor and associate dean for academic programs at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at FAU, the John F. Wymer Endowed Professor in Nursing, and the inaugural CEO of the FAU Northwest Community Health Alliance Community Health Center, a College of Nursing managed Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike designated by the Health Research Services Administration.
Karethy (Kay) Edwards, DrPH, FNP-BC, FAAN
Dr. Karethy Edwards is the CEO of Caring-based Consultants in Grant Writing and Nursing Education and professor emerita at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). With 48 years of distinguished service in academic nursing, she has held roles spanning from instructor to tenured professor, co‑founder of the Center for Cultural Diversity and Healthcare Excellence at the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing, professor and associate dean for academic programs at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at FAU, the John F. Wymer Endowed Professor in Nursing, and the inaugural CEO of the FAU Northwest Community Health Alliance Community Health Center, a College of Nursing managed Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike designated by the Health Research Services Administration.
Dr. Edwards’ clinical practice, teaching, and service are grounded in her foundational belief that nursing is a discipline rooted in caring. This philosophy shapes her approach to education, practice, and scholarship, which center on advancing health equity and social justice. Guided by this commitment, she has secured more than $17 million in external funding to reduce health disparities and strengthen health and education outcomes.
A respected national leader, Dr. Edwards is a charter member and past president of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty (ABNF), and current president of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty Foundation. She has served on the American Nurses Association and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Minority Fellowship Program Advisory Board, the Ann Boykin Institute for the Advancement of Caring in Nursing Advisory Board, and as co-editor of the Journal of Cultural Diversity, an Interdisciplinary Journal. Her leadership has been recognized through a fellowship in Cultural Competency Leadership sponsored by the Health Research & Educational Trust of the American Hospital Association, a W.K. Kellogg Interprofessional Fellowship in Bioethics, and induction as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
Her numerous honors include the ABNF Lifetime Achievement Award in Nursing Education and Research, the AMOCO Excellence in Teaching Award (University of Oklahoma), the DAISY Award (FAU), the Fran and Earl Ziegler Outstanding Leader in an Academic Setting Award, induction into the Nurses Hall of Fame (University of Texas Medical Branch), and recognition as an Indigenous Nurse Leader by the International Indigenous Nurse Researchers.
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.
