In this episode, Dr. Nelva Lee shares what it looks like to act with courage by stepping into public leadership, trusting her voice, and refusing to shrink herself to fit expectations — even while running for statewide office.
This is a conversation about public leadership, authenticity, and the courage to run your own race — even when politics, expectations, and fear try to push you into a mold that doesn’t fit.
You’re listening to the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Episode 48.
Meet Dr. Nelva Lee ✨
Dr. Nelva Lee is the Founder and CEO of Concrete Build Financing. Dr. Lee was also the CEO of a vocational school for 20 years, has over 20 years of experience in healthcare and over 10 years in academia as an adjunct professor for various Universities.
Dr. Lee was a Governor Kemp appointed board member to the Department of Community Health. She is the Vice Chairman of the board of the Henry County Pregnancy Resource Center (Bridge Wellness South), a former Republican candidate for State Senate in District 17, and current candidate for Georgia Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Lee has authored several Christian-based books including: “Stay and Fight” and “Be the Super Hero of Your Story.”
Dr. Lee volunteers at Relevant, her local church, and the Joy FM as a Prayer Partner. She was a Home-School Mom, and a Substitute Teacher for a Christian School. She has been married to her best friend Donnie for 25 years, and together they have 3 children.
Conversation Highlights 🎙️
- Running for office takes courage every day — Dr. Lee shares what it means to put herself in the public eye as a candidate for Georgia State Superintendent of Schools, knowing that leadership always invites scrutiny, criticism, and risk.
- Choosing authenticity over the “cookie-cutter politician” mold — She reflects on the pressure women candidates face to look, dress, and behave a certain way in politics — and why she has chosen to run her race as her full, authentic self.
- Adopting through foster care despite fear — Dr. Lee describes the internal conflict she experienced before adopting her daughter and how choosing courage over comfort changed her family in powerful ways.
- Aligning leadership with personal values — Whether in parenting, public leadership, or physical endurance, she shares how discipline and clarity about her values allow her to lead with confidence and without guilt.
- Living courage as a daily decision — From overcoming PTSD in her twenties to running for public office today, Dr. Lee emphasizes that courage often begins with a single decision to pursue something better.
“Don’t be a victim — be victorious.” — Dr. Nelva Lee
Stay in Touch 🔗
With Dr. Nelva Lee
Website ↗: https://drnelvalee.com
Social media and books available through her website.
With Dr. Kristi McClamroch
LinkedIn ↗: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch
Website ↗: www.CourageousPublicHealth.com
Follow for weekly reflections on courage and leadership ↗: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6
Public Health Consulting to Support You 🤝
We partner with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations to design and facilitate interactive workshops for women leaders in public health — turning courage into a leadership skill so it becomes an organizational strength.
If your organization would benefit from this kind of support, we’d love to connect. Reach out on LinkedIn ↗ or through our website ↗.