Members on the Move
The Association of Black Nursing Faculty, Inc. is proud to showcase its members who are on the move! Our members are dedicated nurses and faculty members who strive for excellence in their fields. From making advancements in nursing research to training the next generation of nurses globally, our members are trailblazers leading the way. We’re honored to work with such passionate and energetic individuals who are changing the face of nursing. Join us as we celebrate our incredible members and all they do for our profession! Congratulations to the movers and shakers within ABNF!
Dr. Catherine Alicia Georges Receives Living Legend Award from ABNF
Dr. Catherine Alicia Georges is unquestionably deserving of the Living Legend Award for her enduring, national-level impact on nursing, public health, and leadership. She stands out as a transformational leader, beginning with her presidency of the National Black Nurses Association, where she advocated for the Black voice to be heard at the national level with […]
Dr. Erik V. Carter Advances Cardiovascular Health Equity Through Genomic Science and Mentorship
Erik V. Carter, PhD, MSN, APRN-ACNS, CCRN-A, PHN, serves as Director of Undergraduate Programs and Associate Professor, Clinical, in the College of Nursing at Wayne State University, an R1 research institution in Detroit, Michigan. A cardiovascular nurse scientist and clinical nurse specialist, Dr. Carter studies the biological and social mechanisms that drive cardiovascular disease, with […]
Dr. Julia Ugorji — Global Health Advocate Named 2026 AAN Fellow
Julia Ugorji, DNP, MSN/Ed, RN is an accomplished nurse leader, educator, and global health advocate whose career spans nursing education, mental health, leadership, public policy, and international health initiatives. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Nursing at Southwest Minnesota State University, where she teaches across multiple nursing programs and is committed to advancing student […]
Dr. Maxine Adegbola — A Legacy of Service, Mentorship, and Scholarly Generosity
Maxine Adegbola, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, ADSL is a Clinical Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) College of Nursing and Health Innovation whose career exemplifies service leadership, professional generosity, mentorship, and advocacy. Over nearly five decades in nursing, she has distinguished herself through sustained service to local, national, and international organizations dedicated […]
Dr. Audwin Fletcher Receives Living Legend Award from ABNF
Dr. Audwin B. Fletcher, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, ELAN-F, FAAN, professor of nursing, assistant dean for graduate and post-graduate programs in the UMMC School of Nursing, has accepted the Living Legend Award from the Association of Black Nursing Faculty. Fletcher, who is also director of the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner track, received the honor at […]
Dr. Valeria Ramdin Champions Global Health and Mentorship
Valeria A. Ramdin, PhD, MS, APRN-BC, CNE, FPCC, is the Director of Global Health Affairs-Nursing and Clinical Professor at Northeastern University, Boston, MA. Her four-decade career spans a national and an international context for both training and practice. Dr. Ramdin’s journey includes foundational nursing education in Barbados as a registered nurse, advanced degrees; Bachelor of […]
Dr. Tracie Augusta Advances Nursing and Health Advocacy
Tracie L. Augusta, PhD, DNP, ACNP/FNP/ACNS, MSN-ed, RN, is an assistant professor at the Loewenberg College of Nursing, University of Memphis, Tennessee. She began her nursing career with an associate degree from Shelby State Community College (1995) and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Tennessee State University (1997). Excelling in critical care, she […]
Dr. Tara Walker Leads with Equity and Mentorship
Tara Walker, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, ELAN-F, FAANP, was recently inducted as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners for her advocacy for nursing mentorship and Black maternal disparities. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and is board-certified as an acute care nurse practitioner. Dr. Walker currently serves as Assistant Professor, Clinical for […]
Championing Rural Health and Cancer Equity: Dr. JoAnn S. Oliver’s Impactful Journey in Nursing and Research
Advancing Nephrology and Nursing Education: Dr. Jami S. Brown’s Multifaceted Contributions to Healthcare
Jami S. Brown, DHEd, MSN, RN, CNN, is an Associate Professor and the Traditional BSN Concentration Coordinator in the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, in 2002; a […]
Pioneering Pediatric and Family Care: Dr. Cheryl Thaxton’s Journey in Advanced Nursing Practice and Education
Cheryl Thaxton, DNP, MN, APRN, CPNP, FNP-BC, CHPPN, ACUE, FPCN, FAANP is board certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner. Dr. Thaxton currently serves as the Associate Dean, Professor, and Chair of Graduate Studies for College of Nursing (CON) at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) at Fort Worth. […]
Dr. Wanda Chukwu: Amplifying Nursing Voices as a Podcast Co-Host and Advocate for Diversity and Health Literacy
Dr. Wanda Chukwu was selected to be one of the first co-host for the American Nurse Association (ANA) Michigan podcast, Voices for Nurses: A podcast for Michigan Nurses by ANA Michigan Nurses. Dr. Chukwu is serving a consecutive two-year term on the ANA Michigan Nursing & Health Policy committee. She is an active member of […]
Dr. Karen E. Alexander: Trailblazer in Nursing Education and Advocate for Veterans and Vulnerable Populations
Karen E. Alexander, PhD, RN, CNOR CNE, is an associate professor and founding director of all nursing programs at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL), College of Human Sciences and Humanities, Texas. She was the first faculty nurse educator ever to receive tenure at UHCL. As a registered nurse (RN) with over 35 years of […]
Dr. Benita Chatmon: A Multifaceted Leader in Nursing Education, Research, and Advocacy
Benita Chatmon, PhD, RN, CNE, is an assistant professor and the assistant dean for Clinical Nursing Education at LSU Health-New Orleans School of Nursing. She obtained her Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing in 2007 and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Education in 2010 from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, […]
Voncella McCleary-Jones Leads Academic Affairs in the College of Health Professions at Wichita State University
Voncella McCleary-Jones, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, directs academic affairs in the college of Health Professions at Wichita State University in Wichita, KS, and is immediate past chair of its School of Nursing. Her academic leadership experience includes...
Umeika Stephens Uplifts and Empowers Nurses of Color With No Nurse Left Behind, LLC
Umeika Stephens, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC is the founder of No Nurse Left Behind, LLC. It was founded to uplift and empower nurses of color. The sole purpose of No Nurse Left Behind (NNLB) is to provide mentorship, encouragement, and career direction and coaching for nurses seeking to advance their nursing education at all levels of Nursing. The organization strives to assist individuals in addressing the barriers that delay or hinder professional advancement within the profession of Nursing.
Derek Holt Selected to Participate in the American Associations of Colleges of Nursing’s Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing Fellowship
Derek Holt, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, ENP-BC, is an assistant professor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) School of Nursing. Dr. Holt specializes in family and emergency medicine. A graduate of Vero Beach (Florida) High School, Holt received his BSN [cum laude] in 2003 from Alcorn State University (ASU).
Cynthera McNeill, Assistant Professor and director of the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program
Cynthera McNeill, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-C, FAANP is an Assistant Professor and director of the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program at Wayne State University. Dr. Cynthera McNeill holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Wayne State University...