Lauranne Brown Sams was the first African American faculty member at the IU School of Nursing (1958-1973). She was a leader among nursing faculty during her years at IU and went on to become Dean and Professor of Nursing at Tuskegee University's School of Nursing. In 1971, Sams founded the National Black Nurses Association and served as its first president until 1977.
At the IU School of Nursing, Sams was a leader in the curriculum development and program evaluation. She also served the IUPUI community on the Equal Opportunity Committee, Salary Equalization Committee, Campus Development Planning, Metropolitan Affairs, and Science & Humanities Advisory Committee. In the early 1970s, shortly before she left IU to become Dean at Tuskegee, Sams was appointed by Governor Bowen to the Indiana State Board of Nurse Registration & Nursing Education.
Sams died November 28, 2007. The Davis-Sams Distinguished Visiting Professorship at the IU School of Nursing is named partly in her honor.
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