PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – As Prairie View A&M University counts down to University Charter Day this August, PVAMU legacy Candace Mike is preparing to add a new degree to her family’s Panther Pride: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
This August, PVAMU celebrates 150 years since its founding in 1876. As the University marks its sesquicentennial, graduates and legacy families like Mike’s continue to shape its story.
The Houston native and nursing operations manager at Houston Methodist Hospital will graduate with her doctorate from PVAMU’s College of Nursing – the fourth degree in a nursing career that began in 2011 with an associate degree from San Jacinto College and continued through a bachelor’s and master’s from Western Governors University.
For Mike, the timing is fitting: as the University celebrates, she is preparing to carry its name into health care leadership.
Mike, along with her brother Cleveland Earl Sims Jr.
PVAMU has been part of Mike’s family story since before she ever set foot on campus. Her brother, Cleveland Earl Sims Jr., played offensive line for the Panther football team from 2012 to 2017 while earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2016 and his MBA in 2017. Today, he is the owner of Sims Way Construction, where he continues to demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit he developed at Prairie View.
“Watching his journey and seeing the impact Prairie View had on his life made me even more proud to become a Panther myself,” Mike said. “Continuing our family’s Panther legacy means carrying forward the University’s tradition of excellence, leadership, service, and perseverance. It is an honor to represent Prairie View in health care leadership and continue building on the foundation our family has established.”
The siblings and fellow Panthers are also best friends.
“We have celebrated each other’s accomplishments, encouraged one another through challenges, and remained each other’s greatest cheerleaders,” Mike said. “Sharing this journey with him has made earning my doctorate incredibly meaningful because he understands every sacrifice that went into achieving this goal. This milestone belongs to both of us because we have always believed in each other.”
Mike considers earning her doctorate while working full time as a health care leader and raising her family to be her proudest accomplishment at PVAMU. Along the way, she also served as Miss Graduate Student Association, representing graduate students and strengthening the servant leadership philosophy that continues to guide her career.
Mike’s doctorate is a step toward a larger goal: leading a hospital system as a chief nursing officer or chief operating officer, because she believes in the transformational power of leadership to improve patient care and the health care system.
“I want to build cultures where employees feel valued, leaders invest in their teams, and patients receive exceptional, compassionate care,” Mike said. “My goal is to create systems that improve quality, expand access to care, and empower future nurse leaders to achieve their full potential.”
As PVAMU marks a century and a half of history, Mike said she feels the weight and honor of joining that story as both a graduate and a member of a Panther legacy family.
“Being part of Prairie View’s 150-year legacy is both humbling and inspiring,” she said. “I recognize that I stand on the shoulders of generations who broke barriers and created opportunities for students like me. To now contribute to that legacy as both a graduate and a member of a Panther family is an incredible honor. I hope my journey encourages future Panthers to believe that there are no limits to what they can accomplish.”
PVAMU is unique, Mike says.
“Whether you’re a first-year student or an alumna, you’re always part of the Panther family,” she said. “The lifelong relationships, traditions, and unwavering support make Prairie View unlike any other university.”
She advises current and future Panthers to leave their own legacy at PVAMU: “Take advantage of every opportunity. Get involved, build relationships with mentors, serve others, and never be afraid to step into leadership roles.”
“Your legacy is built through the way you serve people, the integrity you demonstrate, and the impact you leave on those around you,” Mike said. “Success is not just about earning a degree; it is about using that education to make a difference.”
Click here to view a complete listing of this semester’s notable graduates.
By Christine Won
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