For more than a century, the Prairie View A&M University College of Nursing (PVAMU CON) has educated professional nurses who reflect the diversity, strength, and resilience of the communities they serve. Today, the College continues this legacy by preparing nurse leaders equipped to address the complex health challenges of the present and the future.

Twice each year, the PVAMU College of Nursing Leadership Lecture Series brings nationally and internationally recognized nurse leaders to campus. These distinguished speakers share insights on critical issues in health care, education, leadership, and policy—advancing the College’s vision to address the social determinants of health and improve health equity for all.

In partnership with the Good Samaritan Foundation, the College of Nursing is pleased to present the Spring 2026 Leadership Lecture:

Health Care, Education & Stakeholders: Views from Diverse Nurse Leaders

Dr. Kortney Floyd James PhD, RN, PNP

Where Curiosity Takes You. One Nurse’s Journey from the Bedside to Health Policy

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

5:00–6:00 p.m.

PVAMU College of Nursing Auditorium
6436 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas

Dr. James is an Associate Health Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, CA, and Associate Editor of the Nursing for Women’s Health Journal. Her research aims to improve the accessibility, acceptability, and quality of care for women across the reproductive life span.

As a Black woman and mother who has navigated health care in the US, Dr. James brings a personal understanding to this work. Dr. James’ work has been supported by various funders, including the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Nursing Research, the American Nurses Foundation, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Partnership with the Good Samaritan Foundation

The PVAMU College of Nursing is proud to partner with the Good Samaritan Foundation (GSF), which is providing support for the 2026–2027 Leadership Lecture Series.

Founded in 1951 by Reverend Clyde Verheyden and six community leaders, the Good Samaritan Foundation has a long-standing legacy of cultivating highly skilled nurses devoted to the health and well-being of Texans. Today, the Foundation provides educational scholarships to students in nearly every professional nursing program across Texas and has awarded grants to more than 50 nursing programs statewide.

In addition to its scholarship and grant programs, GSF actively advocates for the nursing profession and annually honors outstanding nurses through its Excellence in Nursing Awards.