CHAPTER NEWS - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Inc.

CHAPTER NEWS One Mission, One Sisterhood:
In October, Area II Arkansas
Cluster Chapters (Central Arkansas Alumnae, Little Rock Alumnae,
Lambda Upsilon, Mu Kappa, and Tau
Pi) joined forces with more than
40,000 community members in the
fight against breast cancer. The
Arkansas Race for the Cure sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation is a major community event in the greater Little
Rock metropolitan area. The event
raises money to fund research and
other programs to eradicate breast
cancer. Deltas have participated in
the race since its inception in the fall
of 1993. In most years since 1999, the
cluster has united under the name—
“Team Delta: Sisters in Step.” Soror
Cheryl Y. Powell was team captain
and Soror Claudette Barbee is cluster chair. ▲
The Baton Rouge Sigma Alumnae Chapter has been busy promoting sisterhood and service with
several activities in recent months.
In celebration of May Week, several
chapter members joined together to
invite a group of Delta Dears to a special high tea honoring their more
than four hundred years of service
to Delta. Honorees were also presented with flowers and gift bags.
The annual May Week celebration
was held during the course of a weekend that included a Friday night
“Hawaiian luau,” where sorors gathered in traditional Hawaiian attire to
fellowship at the Chapter’s Life
Development Center. The four recipients of the chapter’s annual college
scholarships and their parents were
recognized during the night’s festivities. The “Take a Soror to Lunch” affair
was held throughout the day on
Saturday. The weekend concluded
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Baton Rouge Sigma Alumnae Chapter honors its Delta Dears during a high tea May
Week celebration.
with a spirit-filled worship service at
Wesley United Methodist Church along
with members of the Baton Rouge
Delta Alumnae Chapter. Following
worship, sorors gathered at a local
restaurant for a fellowship buffet. Soror
Blanche Page Smith is Chapter
President. ▲
The Birmingham
Alumnae
Chapter, Education Development
Committee received a “Partners In
Education
Award”
from
the
Birmingham Public School System.
This award was presented for the
Chapter’s outstanding efforts and
contributions in developing a
Reading Resource Room at A.G.
Gaston K-8 School in the Birmingham
Public School System.
The implementation of the
Committee’s “Delta Read” Program
supported the school’s current
School Improvement Plan and was
implemented daily by classroom
teachers.
The “Delta Read” Program was
facilitated by Sorority members who
volunteered as reading tutors and
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
storytellers. The Committee also
hosted a Literacy Night to help
strengthen reading skills. During this
program books were given to students, parents, and teachers.
As a result of the Chapter’s
involvement, students showed an
increase in reading strategies, such as
reading fluency, vocabulary, phonics,
and reading comprehension skills.
The Chapter furnished the Delta
Reading Resource Room with more
than 800 age appropriate books,
Scholastics Reading Kits, beanbags,
and reading rug to provide an
enriched reading environment.
Birmingham Alumnae Chapter members
developed a reading resource room at a
local public school.
Empowering Communities through Committed Service
LEFT TO RIGHT: Historic Brattonsville living history interpreters, SEATED, Past
National President Bertha Roddey,
Academy Students Gia Jones, Shaundra Moreland, Pam Davis, Shanice
Sumter, and Columbia (SC) Alumnae
Chapter member Ronesha Prioleau
Soror
Brenda
Rudolph
chaired the Educational Development Committee. Soror Vernetta Y. Dickerson is chapter
president ▲
The Charlotte (N.C.) Alumnae Chapter received the
Director’s Community Leadership Award from the local FBI.
Stacie Keen, community outreach specialist for the Charlotte
office of the FBI, said “The Sorority
exemplifies leadership in many
areas.”
Out of 56 FBI divisions, each
office nominates an organization or
individual who contributes to their
community. Charlotte Alumnae
members contribute numerous volunteer hours to various organizations such as Habitat for Humanity,
Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kids Voting,
and the annual Health Expo to name
a few.
Specifically,
the
Charlotte
Alumnae Chapter was cited for its
Delta Academy mentoring program
for girls ages 11-14 that introduces
them to science, mathematics and
technology. Soror Soror Antoinette
D. Cody is chapter president. ▲
The Columbia (S.C.) Alumnae
Chapter, Delta Academy students
participated in the “By the Sweat of
Our Brows” African American odyssey at historic Brattonsville, S.C. in
September.
Past National President, Bertha
Roddey, Ph. D. and historic Brattonsville present the event annually.
Known internationally, historic Brattonsville is a historic village nestled
in the Carolina Piedmont. The site
has 30 historic structures, including
a house museum that chronicles the
life of the Bratton family and en-
slaved African-Americans from two
centuries ago.
Delta Academy students were
captivated by the living history performances that focused on the middle passage, family, kinship, music,
religion, work, and education that
affected lives of the enslaved
African-Americans. The students
especially enjoyed a soul stirring
presentation of the importance of
education by the award–winning
interpreter, Kitty Wilson-Evans.
Some of the students did not know
that it was once against the law for
enslaved African Americans to learn
how to read or write. Kori Hall,
Academy student, said; “Now I know
why education is the ticket to my
freedom.” The students also learned
that prior to the enslavement, African
ancestors were rulers of nations and
creators of architect and mathematics. Soror Rosalyn W. Frierson is chapter president. ▲
Living history interpretation of work life
at the Bratton’s plantation in the 1800’s.
The Delta Life Development
Foundation and Columbus
(Ga.) Alumnae Chapter awarded scholarships to 14 Chattahoochee Valley high school students. Awards ranged from $250
book awards to $2,000 academic
scholarships, totaling $11,250. Two
of the scholarships—the Marie
Griffin DeRamus Memorial Scholarship for $2,000 and the Shannon
Christina Greyer Memorial Scholarship for $500 are named in memory
of deceased loved ones. Soror Karon
Greyer is Scholarship Committee
chairperson and Soror Lula Huff is
chapter president. ▲
Columbus Alumnae Chapter president
Lula Huff (FAR RIGHT) presents Portia Norris
with funds from the Shannon C. Greyer
Memorial Scholarship. Portia Norris’
grandmother Jean Porch (FAR LEFT) and
Lisa Norris (SECOND FROM LEFT) also attended the event.
The High Desert (Calif.) Alumnae
Chapter presented a free workshop
entitled “College Can Happen for
Everyone.” The purpose of the fourweek workshop was to increase college enrollment in minority communities in the High Desert. A college
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35
and career guidance counselor from
a local high school conducted the
workshop for parents, students and
representatives from community
organizations.
Chartered in September of 2006,
High Desert Alumnae Chapter has
started a Delta Academy/Delta GEMS
program, presented a scholarship to
their first recipient, and also supports Alpha Connection, a youth and
family group home. Shirley Gaines is
chapter president. ▲
Memphis Alumnae Chapter sorors participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
which raises funds for the cure of breast cancer.
Soror Llwanna Carroll, secretary; Soror
Sharon Burroughs-Cobb, educational
chair; Annie Parola, college career and
guidance counselor; and Soror Rosemary
Day, corresponding Secretary.
Memphis Alumnae Chapter participated in the Susan G. Komen Race
for the Cure event in October 2007.
The Membership Services Committee registered over 100 chapter
members for the race. The group
effort donated $3,385 to the
Memphis Mid-South Race for the
Cure of breast cancer.
The chapter donned red hoodies
designed by Soror Nettie Tipton.
Soror Jennifer Hassler served as team
captain and Soror Cheryl Richmond
served as the coordinator for this
event. Memphis Alumnae was awarded the 2007 Team Fund raising award
for the Greek division for their
fundraising effort.
Soror Suzanne Foster serves as
chair of Membership Services and
Soror Jones is co-chair. Soror
Patricia Jones Murphy is president
of Memphis Alumnae. ▲
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The New
Haven
(Conn.)
Alumnae Chapter hosted its first
“Stomp the Violence” step show in
October 2007. The competition
included step teams representing
sororities and fraternities of the
National Pan-Hellenic Council. Cash
prizes, including a $1,500 grand
prize, were awarded to the winning
teams at the competition. The event
was held at a local high school.
In conjunction with the event, the
chapter held a K-6 and 7-12
grades poster contest. Cash
prizes were granted for the top
three posters in each category
representing how the artist
would influence their peers to
stay away from violent activity.
Poster winners expressed various solutions from following
the right path and attending
church to society members
standing tall to conquer violence. The poster winners were
acknowledged at the event.
In addition, the chapter closed out
its month long “18 and Registered”
voter registration campaign at the
event. The voter registration campaign
targeted youth ages 17 and 18, who are
newly eligible voters. Throughout the
month of October, the Social Action
Committee, co-chaired by Sorors Kami
McKnight and Michele Turner, set up
voter registration tables at local high
schools. Soror Lisa Crutchfield Diggs is
chapter president. ▲
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
Oak Ridge (Tenn.) Alumnae Chapter held its Silver Jubilee Celebration
in May. The event commemorated 25
years of the chapter’s service and commitment to the community.
Chapter President Dean Sheard
gave greetings and a brief history of
the chapter. Mayor David Bradshaw
welcomed National President Rice
by presenting her with a key to the
city and making her an honorary Oak
Ridge citizen.
National President Louise A. Rice, Ph.D
poses with members of the Oak Ridge
(Tenn.) Alumnae Chapter during a 25th
anniversary celebration.
Soror Rice spoke about the mission and goals of the Sorority. She
praised the chapter’s Science in
Everyday Experiences Program. Dr.
Rice challenged the audience to
address the many needs of today’s
youth by encouraging the audience
to ask themselves what each individual will do today.
Chapter
charter
members
received commemorative pins. Delta
Dears received special pins. Sorors
Karen Lott and Paula Haynes Hicks
received membership awards for 25
years of membership. Sorors Elizabeth Phipps and Lori Whipple
received awards for 35 years of membership. Soror Gail Russell was recognized for 40 years of membership and
Soror Annie Steward Flemings
received an award for 50 years of
membership. Scholarships were
established in honor of active chapter charter members Sorors Elizabeth
Lewis Phipps and Victoria Steward. ▲
The Pasadena Alumnae Chapter
honored academic excellence and
community service last spring. The
2007 Academic and Community
Awards reception speaker was
Jacqueline Robinson, youngest and
newly elected Councilwoman for the
City of Pasadena.
After a luncheon and networking
with students, family and friends,
Chapter President Gwendolyn McMullins opened the program. Soror Denise
Jones, scholarship and awards chair
along with Juanita West–Tillman, education chair, presented the Academic
Awards and the Educational Award to
Reading Is Fundamental.
Ten students from local high
schools were awarded $1,000 each by
the chapter. Two seniors from local
high schools were awarded $500.
Pasadena Deltas also presented
four community monetary awards:
Alkebu-lan Cultural Center ($2,000),
the City of Pasadena–Robinson Park
($900), Community Health Alliance of
Pasadena ($500), and Altadena Senior
Center ($500). These awards stipulated that the money is to be used
towards outreach and services to the
African-American community. ▲
Prince George’s County (Md.)
Alumnae Chapter in April 2007
launched a pilot project, a customized college day tour that
focused solely on students in the
seventh, eighth, and ninth grades.
Students visited the campuses of
Morgan State University in Baltimore
and Delaware State University.
Members of the chapter’s
Scholarship and Standards Committee believed that this project was
crucial after working with younger
students in both tutoring and mentoring programs over the years.
The committee also believed
that if students were exposed to the
possibilities of advanced education
early on in their middle and high
school journeys, they would be more
inclined to strive to attend college.
They would understand the relationship between seeking scholarships
and earning good grades prior to
entering their senior years of high
school. They could begin to plan for
productive and perhaps novel
careers, if they understood the possibilities by visiting college campuses and talking with the admission
counselors.
Sorors Diane Venable, Nina Turner,
Audrey Chase, and Tawanda Rooney
led the committee. Soror Sinthea M.
Kelly is chapter president. ▲
The Rocky
Mount
(N.C.)
Alumnae Chapter held a “Back to
School” session for 16 girls participating in the Delta Academy at a
local church in September 2007.
Soror Anita Harris, area manager of Fresenius Medical Care North
America in Rocky Mount, was the
guest speaker. In her highly motivated message, she reinforced the basic
theme: “Believe in your dreams and
work hard at living positive lives.”
Soror Samantha Brown, chancellor, expressed appreciation to the
girls and their parents for
the commitment and dedication given in working
with various community
projects. The girls volunteered to serve at the TriCounty Regional Conference in September. They
also sponsored a successful canned food drive for
the United Ministries.
Working in the soup kitchen and serving as ushers
for Jabberwock and the
Martin Luther King banquet were other areas where they
received exposure. The girls also vol-
unteered their time during the Delta
storytelling program for kindergarten through the sixth grades.
The chapter has been constantly
involving these select girls in experiences that will help them grow into
productive citizens with high selfesteem and have an understanding
of the demands for an increasingly
technological society. The girls participated in workshops on etiquette
and manners, personal correspondence, scholarship and computer
skills.
Soror Ann Edge is chapter president. ▲
In observance of Breast Cancer
Awareness month, the Schaumburg-Hoffman
Estates
(Ill.)
Alumnae Chapter hosted an interactive event entitled: “Check Yourself, Girlfriend” on October 9, 2007.
This event focused on teaching
women an innovative technique for
breast self-exams called the MammaCare technique.
The participants practiced on
life-like breast models to help detect
cancerous lumps as small as 3mm—
much smaller than what is typically
detected through conventional mammograms. Sorors and guests also
learned how to do visual inspections
and debunked many myths about
the appropriate time of the month,
positions and length of time to do
accurate self-exams. Most participants had been doing a breast selfexam monthly, but unfortunately,
Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates Alumnae
Chapter hosts a health event focusing on
breast health.
JOURNAL Winter 2008
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37
they had been doing the exams
incorrectly.
In addition to the breast
health workshop, all participants were treated to spa treatments such as hand and back
massages, healthy treats and
spa goodies. The successful
event served as a reminder that
early detection is the best
defense against this terrible disease. For more information on
the MammaCare technique and
where to find a certified instructor,
please
visit:
http://www.mammacare.com. Soror Anita Bishop is
chapter president. ▲
More than 1,500 people feted the
Tampa Alumnae Chapter as it
marked its 60th Anniversary last
spring. The three-day celebration,
which centered on the theme “Diamonds and Pearls: A Renaissance of
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,”
took place in April at the Florida
Center and Botanical Gardens.
National President Louise A. Rice
and then Southern Regional Director
Cynthia R. Boyd attended the festivities, which included a jazz concert
featuring national recording artists
Pieces of a Dream, a gala luncheon
and a Jabberwock presentation. Local
government officials, businesses and
community organizations also saluted Tampa Alumnae, which was chartered as Gamma Mu Sigma in 1947.
Honorary member Soror Sheryl
Lee Ralph served as the keynote
speaker for the anniversary luncheon
held on April 14. Soror Ralph’s
remarks focused on empowering
women to speak out in the wake of
Don Imus’ remarks about the predominately African-American Rutgers
University women’s basketball team.
Chapter members also received
a special video greeting from 10th
National President Dorothy I. Height,
who was the national president
when Tampa Alumnae was chartered. The luncheon also paid tribute to the chapter’s six charter members two of which, Soror Eula
Bennett Fuller and Soror Mary Holt
Bunch, were present.
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Tampa, Fla. (L-R): Joanell Lawson, CoChair, Tampa Alumnae 60th Anniversary;
Cynthia R. Boyd, then Southern Regional
Director; Dr. Marian Lauria-Davis,
Chapter President; Dr. Louise A. Rice,
National President; and Lori BassettSharrieff, Co-Chair, Tampa Alumnae 60th
Anniversary.
The sorors of Tampa Alumnae,
which boasts more than 150 members, capped the weekend with
Jabberwock 2007, a Sunday afternoon tea and theatrical production
held on April 15. Entitled “Renaissance…A Harlem Tea,” the fund raiser featured eight young women in a
talent and fund raising competition
and a formal cotillion. Soror Marian
Lauria-Davis is chapter president. ▲
Virginia Northern Neck Alumnae
Chapter was chartered on Saturday,
April 29, 2007 at Rappahannock
Westminster-Canterbury in Irvington,
Va. then South Atlantic Regional
Director Yvette G. Robinson conducted the ceremony with the assistance
of Soror Natalie Pennywell, then South
Atlantic Regional Representative.
Fifteen sorors were present from
various chapters including Federal
City Alumnae, Baltimore County
Alumnae, North Arundel County
Alumnae, Richmond Alumnae, Suffolk
Alumnae, and Williamsburg Alumnae.
Soror Ernestine Jones Jolivet, member of the National Social Action
Commission, rendered a brief overview of the importance of being visible and taking an active interest in
social action in the community.
Comprised of Essex, Lancaster,
Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland
counties, the Virginia Northern Neck
Alumnae Chapter is the first Black
Greek-letter organization to establish a chapter in the Northern Neck
and surrounding areas.
The fifteen charter members of
the Virginia Northern Neck Alumnae
Chapter are Patricia E. Blagmon, Edna
G. Davenport, Vivian D. Diggs, B. Gail
Haynie, Carolyn C. W. Hines, Margaret
D. Holden, Carolyn C. Johnson, Debra
K. Parker, Wanda R. Reynolds, Gladys
E. Richardson, Karen T. Riddick,
Sandra G. Smyre, Barbara Spencer,
Lillian H. Waddy, and Blanche R.
Washington. Soror Carolyn C.
Johnson is chapter president. ▲
Charter members of Virginia Northern Neck Alumnae Chapter, the first Black Greek-letter organization to establish a chapter in the Northern Neck and surrounding areas.
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
A Joyous Homegoing Celebration Held for
Soror Frances L. Murphy, II
BALTIMORE, MD—The instructions for
her homegoing celebration were followed to the letter. Soror Frances L.
Murphy, II, the last living daughter of
Founder Vashti Turley Murphy, asked
that her homegoing service be an occasion filled with joy and happy remembrances, complete with a champagne
repast. And, indeed, it was.
Soror Murphy passed away on
November 21, 2007 after a brief illness. She was 85 years old.
Hundreds of Delta sorors from
throughout the nation traveled to
Baltimore, Md. to attend her Omega
Omega Service and funeral held at St.
James’ Episcopal Church on November
29, 2007.
Past National Presidents Yvonne
Kennedy of Alabama, and Dr. Thelma
T. Daley, and Gwendolyn E. Boyd, both
of Maryland, attended the service.
All sorors conducting the Omega
Omega ceremony were relatives of
Soror Murphy, whose family consists
of nearly two dozen Deltas (her
daughters, nieces, granddaughters,
great nieces, cousins). The ceremony
was led by Soror Laura Phillips Byrd,
chapter president of Baltimore
Alumnae and the eulogy was given
by her niece, Bishop Vashti Murphy
McKenzie, national chaplain of DST.
Highly regarded as a Delta icon,
civic leader, and legendary leader of
the Black press, Soror Murphy’s contribution to the nation was extensive. At
the time of her passing, she was a member of Baltimore Alumnae and had held
previous membership in Washington,
DC Alumnae, and Buffalo (NY) Alumnae. She served on the Sorority’s
National Heritage & Archives Committee. In 1996, she was awarded the
Sorority’s Ethel L. Payne Award for
Excellence in Journalism and was an
honorary co-chair of the Delta national
convention.
Soror Byrd described Soror
Murphy as a very hard working and
giving person who was a team player.
“I will always remember her laughter
and her smile, she could laugh up a
storm,” said the Baltimore Alumnae
chapter president. Many who remembered “Frankie Lou”, as she was affectionately called, said that she lived
life to the fullest, and was a member
of the “party hard committee.”
Soror Murphy grew up in a newspaper family. Her grandfather, John
Henry Murphy, a self-taught slave and
Civil War Veteran, co-founded the Afro-
Frances L. Murphy, II
American Newspaper in 1892; her
father, Carl Murphy served as the
paper’s editor/publisher for 45 years,
taking it to national prominence.
She began her career as a
reporter at the Afro in 1944 and
worked her way through the ranks,
serving as editor of the Richmond
Afro-American and later served as editor-publisher of the Washington AfroAmerican (1986-99). After retiring
from the Washington Afro-American,
she became editor of the editorial
pages of both the Baltimore and
Washington editions of the AfroAmerican Newspapers.
Soror Murphy has also been a professor of journalism at Morgan State
University, the State University College
at Buffalo (NY), and Howard University.
Founder Vashti Turley Murphy
instilled in Frances and her Delta siblings (Vashti Murphy, Carlita Murphy
Jones, Ida Murphy Peters, and
Elizabeth Murphy Moss), a strong
commitment to perform community
service. Frances served as president
of The Links, a member of the
Philomathians Club (lovers of learning), and volunteered with the
African-American Civil War Memorial
Foundation.
After being denied entrance to
the University of Maryland in 1940
because of her race, Soror Murphy
received a four-year scholarship
(from the state of Maryland) to attend
the University of Wisconsin, where
she earned a B.A. degree in journalism. Soror Murphy commuted from
Wisconsin to Chicago to pledge Delta
at Lambda Chapter in 1942. She later
earned a B.S. degree in education
from Coppin State College (now university) and the M.Ed. degree from
Johns Hopkins University. She also
studied at the University of Southampton in England.
Soror Murphy expressed that her
greatest joy was her children, whom
she leaves to honor her legacy: the
Rev. Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy
(Delta soror), former president of
Afro-American Newspaper and pastor
of John Wesley AME Zion Church; Dr.
James E. Wood, Jr., chief of orthopedic surgery at Harbor Hospital, both
of Baltimore; Soror Susan Murphy
Wood Barnes of Mississippi, also a
graduate of University of Wisconsin;
and her stepsons Bruce Henderson
of Baltimore, David Lloyd Campbell
of Clarksville, MD and Charles “Bud”
Campbell of Buffalo, NY.
This article was compiled by Deborah
Peaks Coleman, Co-Chair, National Information & Communications Comittee;
Robin Jacobs, Maryland State Coordinator;
and Denitia J. Fleming, Chapter Journalist,
Baltimore Alumnae. ▲
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39
Delta Wom
DELT▲ WOMEN honors Δ awards Δ reco
DELTAS in the NEWS
Soror Stephanie G.
Adams,
Ph.D.,
Lincoln Alumnae, has
been named associate dean for undergraduate education in
the
College
of
Engineering at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In
this capacity, she will provide leadership for all college programs for the
education and welfare of current and
prospective undergraduate students, including: admissions, advising, career services, curriculum
development, diversity initiatives,
recruiting, scholarships, and retention. Dr. Adams is also an associate
professor of industrial and management systems engineering and is finishing a two-year rotation at the
National Science Foundation in
Arlington, Va.
Dr. Adams is an honor graduate
of North Carolina Agricultural and
Technical State University, where
she earned her B.S. in mechanical
engineering. She earned a master of
engineering degree in systems engineering from the University of
Virginia. She received her Ph.D. in
interdisciplinary engineering from
Texas A&M University. Soror Adams
was initiated into Lubbock Alumnae
Chapter in 1992 and is a Diamond
Life Member of the Sorority. ▲
Soror Jessie Burks
Arnold has been
named
Dean
of
University Libraries
for the J.D. Boyd
Library
and
its
branch library on the
▲
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Natchez campus of Alcorn State
University.
Soror Arnold has served the university library in many positions
before being named director of the
library in 1993. Providing quality
service to the students, faculty, staff,
researchers, and administrators has
always been and will continue to be
a priority.
Soror Arnold was initiated
through the Alcorn Alumnae Chapter
in 1971. She is currently a member of
that chapter. ▲
Soror Callisto F. Bell received a
plaque from the Nashville Alumnae
Chapter for 75 years of dedicated
service to Delta on August 17, 2007
at Howard Congregational Church in
Nashville. Soror Bell was unable to
Soror Callisto Bell accepts an award.
attend the chapter’s Founders Day
Celebration, thus, the chapter wanted to publicly recognize her commitment to the Sorority.
The Southern Region’s Awards
and Recognition Committee at the
Tennessee State Cluster also recognized Soror Bell in October in Oak
Ridge, Tenn., with a framed certificate. Soror Bell was initiated into
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
Alpha Beta Chapter at Fisk
University in 1932. She is a retired
educator of the Metropolitan
Nashville School System where she
taught Spanish for many years. ▲
Soror Gail Mobley Bozeman has
been named vice president for meetings, events and exhibits for the
American Association of Colleges for
Teacher Education (AACTE).
Soror Bozeman comes to AACTE
with more than 20 years of experience in program management and
she is the former vice president for
event management at the American
Advertising Federation.
Soror Bozeman received her
bachelor’s of science degree in public
administration and political science
from Florida A&M University and her
certificate in event management from
George Washington University. She
was initiated through Beta Alpha
Chapter in 1976 and is currently a
member of Prince George’s County
(Md.) Alumnae Chapter.
AACTE is a national voluntary
association of higher education
institutions and other organizations
and is dedicated to ensuring the
highest quality preparation and
continuing professional development for teachers and school leaders in order to enhance PK-12 student learning. ▲
Soror Tina A. Brown received a
2007 Casey Medal for Meritorious
Journalism from the Journalism
Center on Children and Families for
a jointly written article in the
Hartford Courant entitled “From Pain,
Family.” The controversial article
explores the definition of family
through same-sex relationships
forged out of painful experiences
instead of biological orientation.
men
gnitions Δ honors Δ awards Δ recognitions
The Journalism Center recognizes exemplary reporting on children and families. Soror Brown is a
staff writer at the Hartford Courant
specializing in crime and justice
issues. Her journalism career started
in 1984 at The Macon (Ga.)
Telegraph. She was also a staff writer
at The Cape Cod (Mass.) Times and
The Asbury Park (N.J.) Press. Over
her career, she’s covered local politics and education before becoming
best known for her crime stories and
tales about poor people battling
social issues. Most specifically, she’s
covered street violence, gangs, criminal courts and various trends associated with urban poverty.
On World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, 2007,
TAB Brown Publishing released
Soror Brown’s book: “Crooked Road
Straight: The Awakening of AIDS
Activist Linda Jordan,” a phenomenal
and personal journey of how Linda
Carole Jordan, a woman whose life
was a struggle just to survive,
became a messenger of hope for families coping with AIDS. Award-winning reporter Soror Brown based the
book on 12 years of interviews. She
was initiated through the Alpha Tau
Chapter at Southern University in
1982 and is currently a member of
Hartford Alumnae Chapter. ▲
Soror
Dona
S.
Bulluck, Esq., current president of
Albany (N.Y.) Alumnae Chapter, received
a Power to End Stroke
Award
from
the
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
in May 2007. This award was presented to 19 individuals who serve as
ambassadors for the “Power to End
Stroke” campaign; a stroke awareness
and prevention campaign targeting
the African-American community.
Awardees were nominated by
their local American Heart Association affiliates. In addition to the 19
affiliate honorees, there were six
national honorees. The awards were
given during a black tie gala held at
the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Atlanta.
Soror Bulluck was initiated into the
Albany (N.Y.) Alumnae Chapter in
June 1982. ▲
Soror Constance
M. Carroll received
the “Marie Y. Martin
CEO Award” from the
National Association
of Community College Trustees designating her as the
most effective community college
president or chancellor in the nation
for the year 2007-2008. This is the
top honor awarded by trustees for
leaders of America’s 1,250 community colleges.
Dr. Carroll has just completed
her third year as chancellor of the
San Diego Community College
District and her 30th year as a community college CEO. The San Diego
Community College District enrolls
more than 150,000 students at its
three colleges (City, Mesa, and
Miramar Colleges), its six adult education campuses, and over 20 military bases across the country.
Among Dr. Carroll’s most recent
accomplishments that were noted in
this award were the passage of an $870
million bond measure in the City of
San Diego; a successful statewide campaign that she led to improve community college funding in California; and
the establishment of more than 100
new full-time faculty positions for the
colleges in her district.
Soror Carroll is a member of the
San Diego Alumnae Chapter. She was
initiated through the Long Beach
Alumnae Chapter in 1988. ▲
Soror
B.
Afeni
Cobham, Ph.D., of
Providence Alumnae
Chapter has been
appointed assistant
provost for student
life at the University
of Denver.
Soror Cobham served at Brown
University as the assistant dean of
student life.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in mass communication from
Marist College, and a master of education in student personnel and
higher education from the University
of Georgia.
In 2000, she made history at
Indiana University by becoming the
first recipient of the Master of Arts
degree in African American and
African diaspora studies. She also
earned a Doctor of Philosophy
degree in Higher Education and
Student Affairs.
She was initiated into the Rho Zeta
Chapter at Marist College in 1992. She
is a member of Denver Alumnae
Chapter. ▲
Soror Harriet Frink
Davis
has been
named the assistant
vice president for
development at Hampton University. She
brings more than 25
years of higher education experience to the position.
Soror Davis has held several
leadership positions at North
Carolina A&T State University. As the
director of development and direc-
JOURNAL Winter 2008
▲
41
tor of alumni affairs, she helped to
raise more than $3 million in scholarship contributions. At Hampton
University, Soror Davis’ position will
consist of aiding the vice president
of development in identifying financial needs and opportunities for the
University and cultivating relationships with the university alumni.
Soror Davis received a bachelor’s
degree in speech communications and
a master’s degree in adult education
from North Carolina A&T. She is a graduate of the management development
program at Harvard University. Soror
Davis is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in leadership studies at North
Carolina A&T. She was initiated
through the Greensboro Alumnae
Chapter in 1989. ▲
Ebony magazine has
selected Soror Jillian Heather Davis,
Ph.D., as one of the
country’s top AfricanAmerican
leaders
under 30. An annual
feature, the “Young
Leaders Under 30” list appeared in
the February 2007 issue and displayed influential young men and
women who in addition to making
strides in their various professions,
demonstrate their leadership qualities by giving back to their communities and devoting time and effort to
charitable endeavors.
Dr. Davis is an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences in
the School of Pharmacy at Hampton
University. At Hampton, she conducts breast cancer research that
focuses on increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy and reducing
the negative side-effects associated
with therapy. She has published her
research in several journals and presented across the country. In addition to her work at Hampton
University, Dr. Davis is a contributing
writer for an “Ask the Doctor” column for the Tigerlily Foundation and
a medical writer for Global Woman
magazine.
Dr. Davis received her bachelor
of science degree in chemistry from
▲
42
FRONT ROW: LEFT TO RIGHT Eastern Regional Director Wendy Johnson, Honorary Soror
Suzzanne Douglas, Eastern Region Arts and Letters co-chairs Yolanda Rodgers-Howsie
and Felicia Bird Smalls with Eastern Region sorors who attended the play The Women
of Brewster Place in which Soror Douglas co-starred.
North Carolina A&T State University
and her doctor of philosophy in
pharmacology with a concentration
in oncology from Howard University.
Soror Davis was initiated into
the Alpha Mu chapter, spring 1996,
and served as Regional Representative for the South Atlantic
Region from 1997-1999. She is a
Member-at-Large. ▲
Soror
Kalinthia
Dillard was installed
as the 2007-08 president of the Virgil
Hawkins
Florida
Chapter
of
the
National Bar Association. The VHFCNBA,
an affiliate of the National Bar
Association, was originally established in the 1950s with a mission of
“ensuring access to the justice system; increasing economic parity for
the less fortunate, underprivileged
and disadvantaged of our society;
and educating the community (particularly, the Black Community) on
the need for empowerment and selfdetermination.”
Soror Dillard received B.A.
degrees in history and political science from Clemson University and a
Juris doctorate from Florida State
University College of Law. She is currently associate counsel for the
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
School Board of Palm Beach County,
Florida. She is a member of the West
Palm Beach Alumnae Chapter. Soror
Dillard was initiated through the
Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter in
1997. ▲
More than 150 Eastern Region Deltas
turned out to support actor
Honorary
Soror
Suzzanne
Douglas who co-starred in the
musical adaption of Gloria Naylor’s
best selling novel The Women of
Brewster Place. The story chronicles
the dreams and realities of 10
diverse African-American women
who live in a decaying housing project on a dead-end street. Soror
Douglas portrayed the character
Theresa who lived in the housing
project with her lesbian girlfriend.
The play ran from October through
December at Washington, DC’s Arena
Stage. Sorors attended a performance on November 17, 2007. ▲
Soror Emily Duncan
was appointed to the
Union City, California
Human Rights Commission for a fouryear term by the
Mayor
and
City
Council in October
2007. The purpose of the Human
Rights commission is to create an
environment where all citizens live,
learn, work and play in harmony and
the human rights of all men, women
and children in the city are protected.
Recently retired from her position as vice president of culture and
diversity, Soror Duncan has worked
for Hewlett Packard for more than 20
years. She held a variety of human
resources and diversity-related leadership roles and was responsible for
stewardship of Hewlett Packard’s
long-held commitment to diversity
and a culture of inclusion.
Soror Duncan was initiated
through the Hayward Tri-City
Alumnae Chapter in 2003 and chairs
the Social Action Committee. She
recently launched her own business,
Emily Duncan Consulting. ▲
Soror
Aunjanue
Ellis stars in her first
leading role in the
movie Cover, which
opened in select theatres in February.
More than 150 Deltas
attended a screening
of the film in Washington, D.C. Soror
Ellis portrays Valerie Mass, a churchgoing home-maker, whose life unravels when she discovers that her husband of many years has been leading
a double life.
The film Cover, directed by Bill
Duke, also stars actors Leon, Lou
Gossett Jr. and Vivica A. Fox. Soror
Ellis appeared in the Oscar-winning
film Ray and the comedy Undercover
Brother, among other films.
Soror Ellis was initiated in 1988
through the Gamma Psi Chapter at
Tougaloo College in Mississippi. She
is a Member-At-Large. ▲
Soror E. V. Camille
Fears Floyd, school
improvement specialist and former gifted
education teacher for
the Macon County
Public Schools in
Tuskegee, Ala. was
selected as one of 20 teachers
nationwide to receive a scholarship
for special training on how to identi-
fy high potential learners in lowincome settings. She traveled to
Charlotte, N.C. to receive four days
of training at the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
National Convention.
The program is called the Mary
Frasier Teachers Scholarship Fund
for Diverse Talent Development.
Frasier was an innovative educator
and past president of NAGC who pioneered a talent assessment technique that exponentially increased
the number of African-American and
Hispanic children in gifted programs
in the state of Georgia.
“Through this program, Camille
Floyd will be trained to truly make a
difference at Macon County Public
Schools,” said NAGC executive director Nancy Green. “She will find the
hidden gems among her students
and help them receive the support
and education that high-ability learners need to reach their potential.”
Soror Floyd is a member of the
Tuskegee Alumnae Chapter and was
initiated through Gamma Iota
Chapter at Hampton University in
1990. ▲
Soror Jacqueline
Hairston, known to
many as the “keeper
of Negro spirituals,”
received a Jefferson
Award for outstanding community service. The American
Institute, a national foundation that
honors community service, administers the award for public service.
Soror Hairston’s pieces have
been performed around the world.
She has been commissioned to write
music for Grammy-winning opera
singer Kathleen Battle, the Oakland
East Bay Symphony Orchestra, the
London Philharmonic Orchestra and
the
San
Francisco
Women’s
Philharmonic Orchestra. She has
worked with EnVogue, “American
Idol” semifinalist LaToya London and
coached neo-soul singer Goapele.
For the past three years, Soror
Hairston has worked with teens as a
vocal instructor with the University
of California’s Young Musicians
Program. The program develops students’ musical abilities and provides
them with music education while
reinforcing their academic work and
giving personal guidance.
Soror Hairston has received
numerous awards for composing,
arranging and community service.
She studied at the Julliard School of
Music and Howard University and
earned an M.A. in music and music
education from Columbia University.
Soror Hairston is a Member-at-Large.
She was initiated through the Alpha
Chapter in 1951. ▲
Soror
Helivi
L.
Holland was appointed as the City of Suffolk’s (Va.) deputy city
attorney. Soror Holland has practiced law
for more than 16 years
and is a graduate of
The College of William and Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law and
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University.
For more than 10 years, Soror
Holland was a senior prosecutor in
the cities of Portsmouth and Suffolk,
Va., prosecuting major felonies and
managing domestic violence programs.
In 2002, Soror Holland was hired
as an assistant city attorney for the
City of Suffolk. Her appointment
includes duties such as supervising
all of the assistant city attorneys and
the support staff of the office and
practicing contract, employment
and child welfare practice law. Soror
Holland also serves as treasurer of
the Old Dominion Bar Association
and was the first Black woman president of the Suffolk Bar Association.
She has received numerous criminal
justice awards.
Soror Holland is the recording
secretary of Suffolk Alumnae
Chapter and previously served as
parliamentarian. She was initiated
into Suffolk Alumnae Chapter in
spring 1993. ▲
JOURNAL Winter 2008
▲
43
Soror April Holmes was inducted
into the National Black College Hall
of Fame for her athletic achievements in September 2007 in Atlanta.
In January
2001,
Soror
Holmes lost her
left leg in a
train accident.
Since that lifechanging event
she has resurrected her athletic career in
track and field
and succeeded Soror April Holmes
in her goal to holds an award.
be the world’s
fastest amputee. To date, she holds the world
records in the 100, 200, and 400meter races. Her tragedy to triumph
story has allowed her to travel the
world and meet many people
through athletic events, speaking
engagements and public appearances. Her sponsors include the
Jordan Brand, US Paralympics, AT&T
and Ossur. She is training for the
Paralympic Games in Beijing, China
in 2008.
She was initiated through the
South Jersey Alumnae Chapter in
2007 and is currently a member of
that chapter. ▲
Soror
Mary
F.
Howard-Hamilton,
of the Bloomington
(Indiana)
Alumnae
Chapter, is the 2007
recipient of the Robert
H. Shaffer Award for
Academic Excellence
as a Graduate Faculty Member from
the National Association of Student
Personnel Administrators. The award
recognizes individuals who demonstrate professional commitment to student affairs administration, serve as
inspirations to graduate students,
serve on doctoral committees, have
distinguished records of scholarly
achievements and who have made significant contributions to professional
associations. She has received other
▲
44
awards and honors for teaching and
for mentoring youth, such as the 2006
Community Big Sister of the Year
Award from the Big Brothers/Big
Sisters of South Central Indiana.
Soror Howard-Hamilton was initiated in 1974 at the Delta Chapter
on the campus of the University of
Iowa, where she earned B.A. and
M.A. degrees in speech and dramatic arts and college student personnel administration, respectively.
She also earned a doctorate of education in counseling and student
affairs at North Carolina State
University and is currently a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, Administration,
and Foundations at Indiana State
University. ▲
Soror Joyce Cole
Johnson was named
one of three outstanding professionals to receive the
2007 Stettinius Award
for Nonprofit Leadership from the Community Foundation of Richmond.
Soror Johnson serves as program
director for Virginia Heroes, Inc., a
role model/mentoring program for atrisk middle school students.
In 2006, Soror Johnson helped to
transform the mentoring program at
Chandler Middle School by overseeing
the addition of seventh graders and
creating a new curriculum that
stressed violence prevention and gang
resistance. Because of her leadership,
the Virginia Mentoring Partnership
named the Virginia Heroes program
2006 Program of the Year.
Soror Johnson became program
director for Virginia Heroes Inc.,
upon retiring from the Richmond
Public School System after 33 years
as an educator. As a recipient of the
Stettinius Award, Soror Johnson
received a grant of $10,000 to pursue
professional development activities
of her own design. Soror Johnson
was initiated through the Richmond
Alumnae Chapter in 1988 and is a
Golden Life Member. ▲
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
Soror Carolyn Lee
has been named agency vice president at
State Farm Insurance
Companies and Financial Service, making
her the highest ranking soror in that company. State Farm is the largest property-casualty insurer in North
America, insuring more homes,
autos and pleasure boats than any
other. The company boasts more
than 68,000 employees, as well as
nearly 17,000 agents who exclusively
market and sell State Farm insurance
and financial services products.
In her new role, Soror Lee has
leadership responsibilities for all
agent activities throughout the
entire Pacific northwest zone, which
includes the states of Washington,
Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and
Hawaii. Within her scope are nearly
800 independent contractor agents
and nearly 30 agency field leadership
teams charged with ensuring the
success of their agents.
Soror Lee hails from California
and received a bachelor’s degree
from University of California-Davis
and her master’s degree from
Stanford University. Professionally,
she received the Chartered Life
Underwriter (CLU) designation in
1999. She has been a Delta for more
than 30 years and is also an active
member of the Links, Inc. and Shiloh
Baptist Church. Soror Lee was initiated through the Sacramento Alumnae
Chapter in 1971. She is a member of
Tacoma (Wash.) Alumnae Chapter. ▲
Soror Margaret E.
Pye Lewis and her
husband Dr. Rodgers
M. Lewis received the
Distinguished Education Awards at the
26th Annual Freedom
Fund Luncheon sponsored by the Hempstead branch of
the N.A.A.C.P. in June 2007. The special celebration entitled “History,
Heritage, and Hope” highlighted
their numerous contributions to
thousands of students touched by
their lives.
As partners in education for
more than 35 years, Soror Lewis as a
media specialist and Dr. Lewis as a
central office administrator, dedicated their talents and energies to
ensuring quality education for all
students.
Soror Lewis earned her B.A.
degree from Lane College, in
Jackson, Tenn.; a library science certification from Ohio Dominican
College in Columbus, Ohio; and a
master’s degree in library science
from Long Island University, Greenvale, N.Y. She was initiated through
Nassau Alumnae Chapter in 1991 and
is a Diamond Life member of the
Sorority. ▲
Sandra D. Long,
Valley Forge Alumnae
Chapter, was recently
appointed to one of
the two managing editor positions at The
Philadelphia Inquirer.
She will jointly rank
as the second in command editor in
the newsroom and be responsible
for production-related activities and
become the newsroom liaison with
business operations. Soror Long is
the first African-American woman in
the position and has been the highest-ranking African-American woman
in the newsroom for many years.
Soror Long has been on the staff
of The Inquirer since January 1984,
working as a reporter, Neighbors editor, deputy Pennsylvania editor, assistant managing editor for finance
administration, and associate managing editor for operations and deputy
managing editor/newsroom operations. She also worked for The
Philadelphia Bulletin and the Wilmington, DE News Journal.
Soror Long is a founding member
of the National Association of Black
Journalists, a member of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists,
and a member of the National Association of Minority Media Executives.
Soror Long is a graduate of the
University of Maryland’s College of
Journalism. She was initiated
through the Valley Forge Alumnae
Chapter in 2003. ▲
Soror Andrea Love
was recognized by
the Greater Baton
Rouge Pan Hellenic
Council during the
annual Polaris Awards
Dinner-Dance in June
2007. Soror Love
received the “Soror of the Year
Award” for her outstanding service
to Delta and the Greater Baton
Rouge community. She is also the
recipient of Baton Rouge Sigma
Alumnae Chapter’s 2007 Delta of the
Year award.
In addition, the
Council recognized
sorority and fraternity members with 50
plus years of membership. A special
recognition was given
to Baton Rouge Sigma
Alumnae member Soror Inez
Boston for her 70 years of active
membership.
The Polaris Award Dinner-Dance
is the signature event of the Greater
Baton Rouge Pan-Hellenic Council.
The award honors unsung heroes in
the community who have made significant strides in promoting the
growth and development of a
diverse and unified community. This
event has become one of the community’s most well-attended activities and is held in concert with
Juneteenth celebrations. ▲
Soror Octavia G.
Matthews, Midwest
Regional
Director,
was named to Black
MBA magazine’s Top
50 Under 50. Soror
Matthews is the vice
president for regional
branch Services at W.W. Grainger,
Inc., North America’s largest industrial distribution company. In her
position, Soror Matthews is responsible for the operational assets needed to support and grow $900 million
of revenue. Her responsibility is to
ensure the highest level of operational excellence and customer satisfaction, in addition to managing the
direction of 80 branches and over
800
employees.
Soror
Matthews’ leadership position has a significant impact on customer development and retention.
According to Black
MBA
Magazine, the Top 50 Under 50 executives were selected based on their
positions within a publicly or privately traded company, the size of
the budget they manage, their community service work and the MBA
degree they hold.
Soror Matthews was initiated
into Delta through the Mu Omicron
Chapter in 1981 at North Carolina
State University, where she earned a
bachelor of science degree in materials engineering. She earned her MBA
at the University of Virginia. Soror
Matthews served as National Second
Vice President from 1983-1985. She is
currently a member of Joliet Area/
South Suburban Alumnae Chapter. ▲
Soror Charlotte O.
McKines was promoted to the position of
vice president, global
marketing communications, Merck & Co.,
Inc. In her new position, Soror McKines
oversees all creative development,
advertising, media planning and buying, production and operations, and erelated initiatives for the Global Human
Health organization.
She has been the catalyst behind
Merck’s commitment to health care
disparities. This year, a health literacy initiative conceptualized by Soror
McKines garnered international
acclaim for increasing Merck’s outreach in the African-American community.
Soror McKines has been honored by several organizations for her
professional and personal achievements. For the past two years, she
was listed in the Power Player list by
Advertising Age magazine. Ebony
magazine saluted her with their
JOURNAL Winter 2008
▲
45
Outstanding Women in Marketing
and Communications Award. She
was also featured in Ebony magazine
as one of the “Sisters in the
Spotlight–9 Special Women Who Are
Making News, Making History and
Making Their Own Statements.”
She has received the prestigious
CareerFocus Eagle Award from the
National Eagle Leadership Institute,
the nation’s premier leadership
organization for African-American
and Hispanic/Latino executives. This
year she was named one of Merck’s
“Most Amazing Women” and was the
recipient of Merck’s first ever
“Global Diversity Award.”
Soror McKines earned a B.S.
degree in medical technology from
Kent State and an MBA from Boston
University. She is a member of Valley
Forge Alumnae Chapter where she
served as Chair of Corporate Solicitation for the 2006 National Convention held in Philadelphia, PA. ▲
Soror Mary Ann Moore, professor of visual arts at Oklahoma City
Community College (OCCC), spearheaded a mural that the mayor of
Oklahoma City dedicated for
A mural in Oklahoma City was spearheaded by Soror Mary Ann Moore.
Oklahoma’s centennial. The mural
showcases Oklahoma’s natural wildlife, landscapes and all official state
symbols. It is surrounded by the
names of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. To
complete this work of art, Soror
Moore received an $180,000 grant
from the Oklahoma City Arts Com-
▲
46
mission and the community college.
The mural was installed at the
west end of the Bricktown Canal in
downtown Oklahoma City. Community volunteers, including members of Oklahoma City Alumnae
Chapter and community college students, painted more than 600,000
handmade ceramic pieces. The Arts
and Letters Committee of the Oklahoma City Alumnae Chapter has
partnered with Soror Moore in
recent years to present mini-mosaic
demonstrations for local high school
students.
A native Oklahoman, Soror
Moore has taught visual arts at
OCCC for more than 25 years. She
creates pottery, prints and mosaics
using clays, fabrics and oils. Her subjects are images from Africa and the
Native American Midwest. Not only a
teacher, she gives back to the community by sponsoring art festivals,
exhibits and demonstrations.
Soror Moore has won many
awards including Who’s Who Among
College Teachers, 1991 Governor’s
Congress in the Arts and Humanities
Award, 1995 Oklahoma City Alumnae
Arts and Letters Award, 1996 Academic Association Outstanding
Leaders Award, and the 2003
Governor’s Arts Award. ▲
Soror Tangy Morgan has
been named senior vice president of American International
Group, Inc. (AIG). The company
is the leading international
insurance organization with
operations in more than 130
countries and jurisdictions.
Soror Morgan joined AIG in
October 1999 as vice president.
She worked in the New York office until
her transfer to the London office. She
was appointed casualty manager in
February 2004. Her responsibilities
included managing both the London
and Dublin casualty books of business.
Soror Morgan began her insurance career with Chubb Insurance
Company in 1987 as a casualty
underwriter trainee in the excess
umbrella department in Atlanta, Ga.
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
She was promoted to several underwriting positions in various Chubb
offices before leaving in 1991 to open
an office of Transamerica Insurance
Company in Charlotte, NC. In 1993,
Soror Morgan took a position as senior underwriter with AIG’s American
Home Assurance Company subsidiary in Philadelphia, Pa. Soror
Morgan holds a B.S. in business management from Tennessee State
University in Nashville where she
was initiated through the Alpha Chi
Chapter in 1978. She is currently a
member of the Charlotte (N.C.)
Alumnae Chapter. ▲
Dr.
Jean
Scott
Murphy, Clarksville
(Tenn.)
Alumnae
Chapter, was recently
named “Fellow of
International Training
in Communication,” at
the Powertalk International Convention in Brisbane,
Australia. Dr. Murphy successfully
completed qualifications to be
ranked as one of 26 elite communication skills trainers from around the
world. Soror Murphy joins the ranks
of first-class trainers from Australia,
New Zealand, the United States of
America, Iceland, Great Britain and
Japan.
Powertalk International is a self
development organization that provides coaching in effective speaking,
listening and leadership skills. The
organization has programs in 18
countries.
Soror Murphy is the owner of
Ontime Enterprises, a personal and
professional self-development coaching company, specializing in communication, organization and leadership skills. She earned a bachelor of
arts from the University of West
Florida, a masters of arts from
Pepperdine University and a doctorate in education and administration
from Tennessee State University. She
was initiated through the Clarksville
(Tenn.) Alumnae Chapter in 1987. ▲
Soror Deidra K.
Perry, Past Southern
Regional Representative (1997-‘99), was
selected by Ebony
magazine as a Top 30
under 30 Young Leader
of the Future for 2007.
She has spoken to audiences in the
U.S., Europe and Asia on topics that
address
mentoring,
leadership,
women’s issues, young professional
initiatives, and diversity. She holds a
bachelor’s degree from The University
of Alabama in speech communication
and a master’s degree in communication management from UAB.
Soror Perry is the youngest
woman in its 120-year history to
serve on the Executive Committee
for the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. She is also founding president of the Leadership
Council–Birmingham Civil Rights
Institute; and serves on the Board of
Directors for the Literacy Council.
Soror Perry is a member of the
Alabama Leadership Initiative,
Project Corporate Leadership, and a
2006 participant of the Congressional Black Caucus’ Emerging
Leaders Program. She is the daughter of Soror Matilda Merriweather
and younger sister of Dr. Teneramie
C. Smith. Soror Perry is a member of
the Birmingham Alumnae Chapter
and a Diamond Life Member of the
Sorority. She was initiated through
the Lambda Zeta Chapter at
University of Alabama in 1996. ▲
Soror
Trumiller
Wimerly Ramseur
of
Nassau
(N.Y.)
Alumnae
Chapter
received the Life
Achievement Award
at the 26th Annual
Freedom Fund Luncheon in June 2007 sponsored by the
Hempstead branch of the N.A.A.C.P.
Soror Ramseur began her career
as a teacher. She has served as a
statistician for the National Industrial Conference Board, case worker
for New York City Department of
Social Services, claims examiner
and employment interviewer for
New York State Department of
Labor, and guidance counselor and
chairman
of
the
Guidance
Department in Amityville Memorial
High School. In addition to her
everyday responsibilities, she
established numerous programs for
parents and students ranging from
partnerships with universities and
colleges to volunteer programs in
hospitals and senior citizen homes.
Soror Ramseur organized a community board comprised of students,
teachers, community leaders and
business owners to address the illicit drug problems in the community.
From this initiative, signs were erected declaring the district as drug free.
After many years of dedicated service, Soror Ramseur retired from the
Amityville School District as director
of guidance K-12.
She is proud to have served in
every office except treasurer in
Nassau Alumnae Chapter of Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Soror
Ramseur received her bachelor’s
degree from Livingstone College in
Salisbury, N.C. She later earned a
master of arts degree at Hofstra
University in Hempstead, N.Y., and
completed doctoral studies at State
University of New York at Buffalo.
She was initiated through Beta
Kappa Chapter at Livingstone
College where she served as its first
undergraduate president. ▲
Soror Carol Ransom received the distinguished Thanks
Badge, the highest
honor an adult volunteer can receive in
the Girl Scouts of
America. Soror Ransom was recognized for 30 years of
exceptional volunteer service with
the Nassau County Girl Scouts.
The Thanks Badge is given to
adults who have active service impacting the council or the entire Girl Scouts
movement. Soror Ransom was recognized as one of Girl Scouts of Nassau
County’s 90 Women for 90 Years.
Soror Ransom has held numerous
leadership positions with the Girl
Scouts, including her service on the
board as vice president and as a
Member-at-Large from 1994 to present.
Soror Ransom earned a B.S. in
Business Administration from North
Carolina A&T State University and
recently retired after more than 30
years of service from the Town of
Hempstead Housing Authority as an
assistant to the executive director.
She is a Diamond Life Member of the
Sorority. She is also a member of the
Nassau County Chapter of 100 Black
Women and the National Association
of Negro Business and Professional
Women’s Club, Inc. She is a member of
the Nassau (N.Y.) Alumnae Chapter. ▲
Soror Lorine S.
Samuels, a member
of the Joliet Area
South Suburban (Ill.)
Alumnae
Chapter,
was elected chair of
Governors State University’s Board of
Trustees. She is the first AfricanAmerican elected to this position.
Soror Samuels was appointed to
serve on the Board of Trustees by
Illinois’ governor in 2001. As one of
her first official duties in her new
position, Soror Samuels served on
the Presidential Search Committee
to select the University’s fifth president, Dr. Elaine P. Maimon, whom she
installed in early November.
Founded in 1969, Governors
State University is a 750 acre campus
located in University Park, Ill. Soror
Samuels is president and founder of
Strategic Business Services, Inc., a
financial and management consulting firm.
Soror Samuels was initiated
through Lambda Chapter while
attending Roosevelt University. She
is a past national treasurer (1979-83)
and chair of the Economic Development Council. She has been a
member of the national Finance and
Constitution and Bylaws Committees
and served on the DST Telecommunications board of directors. She
is a past president of the Chicago
JOURNAL Winter 2008
▲
47
Alumnae Chapter where she was
honored in January 2007 as one of
the chapter’s Living Legends. She
helped charter the Joliet Area South
Suburban Alumnae Chapter. ▲
Soror Peola SmithSmith, a member of
the Monmouth County
Alumnae
Chapter,
completed a successful four years as the
20th national president of the National
Association of Negro Business and
Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., at
the 72nd National Convention held in
Richmond, Va. summer 2007. During
her tenure, she traveled to Ghana,
West Africa to observe the opening
of a water well at a second village
adopted by the association. The program thrusts of Health, Education
and Economic Development (HEED)
are brought to the villages to
improve the overall conditions.
Soror Smith-Smith, a Diamond
Life member, is a native of New
Orleans, La., and received her B.A.
degree from Dillard University. She
earned a master’s degree in pupil
personnel services and principle/supervisory certification from
Monmouth University, West Long
Branch, New Jersey.
An educator for 35 years, Soror
Smith-Smith began her career as a
teacher in the Asbury Park New
Jersey School System before moving
to Neptune Township Schools,
where she served as a guidance
counselor, director of guidance services and high school vice principal.
She retired in 2006 as principal of
Neptune Middle School.
Soror Smith-Smith has been recognized for her dedication to children and to her community with several congressional citations and
awards from several organizations,
including being named one of the 100
Most Influential People in New
Jersey by the City News of Newark for
her work in education and listed as
one of the most influential Black
Americans by Ebony magazine for
the past four years. She was initiated
▲
48
through Monmouth County Alumnae
Chapter in 1996. ▲
Soror Rochelle Stevens,
a
two-time
Olympic gold and silver medalist in track
and field, was honored
in April 2007 by the
Memphis City Council,
which announced the
name change of a local street and park
to honor her athletic talents and community involvement.
Deadrick Avenue, east of Buntyn
Street and west of Haynes Street, has
been designated by the City Ccouncil
as “Olympian Rochelle Stevens
Avenue.” A ceremony for Rochelle
Stevens’ Avenue was held in
September 2007 in front of her alma
mater, Melrose High School.
Soror Stevens is the CEO of
Rochelle’s Health and Wellness Spa
in Memphis and the Rochelle
Steven’s Foundation that sponsors
the Rochelle Stevens Invitational
Track Meet and Sports Camp and the
Scholarship Fund. Her non-profit
foundation has sponsored the event
since 1990 for all ages interested in
track and field. Each year, she provides track shoes, equipment, and
scholarships to student athletes
around the mid-south. Soror Stevens
is currently in training for the 2008
Beijing Games.
She has also been the spokesperson for Fortune 500 Companies, including Johnson Products, Maybelline,
Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Sara Lee,
Nike, and Bank of America.
Soror Stevens is a graduate of
Morgan State University in Baltimore.
She was initiated through the
Memphis Alumnae Chapter in 2006. ▲
Philadelphia City Councilwoman
Marian Tasco received a Lifetime
Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Women’s Campaign Fund
during its 25th Anniversary Celebration in September.
Several members of the state’s
General Assembly, including State
Representatives Dwight Evans and
Speaker of the House Dennis M.
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
O’Brien were present during the
event. Soror Tasco was named by
Gov. Tom Ridge as a Distinguished
Daughter of Pennsylvania. Tasco,
now in her fifth term as a City
Council Representative, was the first
African-American
elected
City
Commissioner. She is often recognized for her efforts to empower
young women and for providing
aspiring politicians with the fuel
needed to run successful campaigns.
Soror Tasco was initiated through
Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter in
1983.
State Representatives Dwight Evans and
Cherelle Parker showed their support of
Councilwoman Marian Tasco (CENTER) during the 25th Anniversary Celebration.
The Pennsylvania Women’s Campaign Fund is the only organization
in the state devoted solely to supporting progressive women candidates to the General Assembly,
regardless of party affiliation.
Founded in 1982, PWCF has raised
over one half million dollars during
the past 25 years to help women
throughout Pennsylvania run various political campaigns. ▲
The Albany (N.Y.) Alumnae Chapter
recently held a celebration to honor
Soror D. Deane Turner. Soror Turner
is the recipient of the 2007 Eastern
Region Delta Dear of the Year Award.
The award was presented during the
Sisterhood Luncheon at the Eastern
Regional Conference in Hartford,
Conn.
Soror Turner was initiated into the
Alpha Delta Chapter at West Virginia
CONTINUED ON PAGE 62
Deltas Make Lasting
Friendships
BY GWENDOLYN CRUMP
F
or the Project Cherish community service effort, Deltas in the
Southern Region showed they
know the true meaning of friendship,
when they helped revive the
Friendship Haven Home, a retirement facility in Chattanooga.
The Friendship Haven Home was
founded in the 1930s and in recent
years has struggled financially.
Limited funds contributed to the
building’s lack luster appearance.
“I wouldn’t have wanted to go to
bed there,” said Cynthia Boyd, then
Southern Regional Director.
“It was deplorable,” said Soror
Anne McGintis, co-chair of the
Membership Services Committee. “It
took one group to turn it around.”
The Deltas cleaned, painted, laid
flooring, hung curtains, bought furniture and designed a garden for the
residents.
Sorors
spent
evenings and nights at the facility and made it a loving and
beautiful place to live for the
senior citizens.
“It’s pretty,” said Marcia
Chain, a residential aide. “The
paint brightens up the building,
the place looks so much better.
It’s always been a homey environment. It’s like a home now.”
With Chattanooga Alumnae
Chapter leading the charge,
Delta chapters sent Friendship
Haven hundreds of items, such
as new living room furniture,
bed spreads, twin sheet sets,
towels, tablecloths, rugs, sleepwear, personal care items, and
shower curtains.
Each state in the Southern
Region was given selected items to
send or bring to the regional conference for Friendship Haven. Sorors
involved hailed from Alabama,
Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, the
Bahamas and Tennessee. Collegiate
sorors from Theta Rho Chapter at
The University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga were also heavily
involved. Soror McGintis serves as
primary advisor for the Theta Rho
Chapter. The committee also invited
the general public to assist.
The
chairperson
of
the
Friendship Haven Task Force, attorney Walter Williams, found funding
for new floors and a water fountain.
He has also assisted by seeking
donors. The committee provided
safety and health training for staff.
The Chattanooga Health Department
trained the staff and the American
Red Cross gave scholarships to the
entire staff for CPR training. The residents at Friendship Haven love art,
so an art wall was established by
James Tatum, Jr. of the African
Connection. Paintings from his
world-renowned collection are now
hanging in Friendship Haven for the
residents to enjoy.
“It was a sisterly act of kindness,” Soror McGintis said. “It
showed the power of embracing one
concept.” ▲
(STANDING) Sorors of Theta Rho Chapter at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga,
with Soror Anne McGintis (CENTER), Chattanooga Alumnae Sorors on the Project Cherish
committee (SEATED).
JOURNAL Winter 2008
▲
49
ON THE YARD:
COLLEGIATE NEWS
Alpha Omega Chapter, in conjunction with the African and African
American Studies Department at the
Washington University in Saint
Louis, the Social Justice Center, and
the George Warren School of Social
Work, hosted Strange Fruit: The Jena
6 Story on the campus of Washington
University. The event held in October featured Tony Brown, a Louisiana based radio personality who
coined the term “the Jena 6,” and
Marcus Jones, the father of Mychel
Bell, one of the members of the Jena 6.
Soror Sophia Washington is
chapter president. ▲
Tony Brown and Marcus Jones, the father
of Mychal Bell, introduce themselves to
Adrienne Glore, the Dean of Student Activities at Washington University in St. Louis.
ors in the category of Miss Senior
Class. ▲
Beta Iota Chapter sorors host a Physical
and Mental Health Week.
especially women of color.
Beta Iota set up an informational
table and reached nearly 500 students
and faculty members at the University
of the District of Columbia. The chapter also held a forum, “Total Woman:
Mind, Body, and Spirit-the truth about
heart disease.” Forum participants
included UDC professor Loretha Young
and representatives
from Gold’s Gym who
addressed exercise,
and healthy lifestyle
changes. Soror Alexis
Rice is chapter president
and
Soror
Lauren Massey is
chair of the Program
Planning and Dev- Paula Gibbs
elopment Committee.
In October durThe Beta Iota Chapter at the
ing the Homecoming
University of the District of
week at the UDC,
Columbia hosted a Physical and
Beta Iota Soror
Mental Health Week in October. The
Paula Gibbs was
week included a choreographed
crowned
Miss
dance routine, yoga, information on
Junior Class Queen.
disease prevention and Wear Red
Soror Gibbs will
Day, a partnership with the Amerireign as queen durcan Heart Association of the Felicia Shearin
ing the entire 2007Baltimore/Washington Region to
2008 school year.
bring awareness to heart disease as
Her fellow chapter soror, Felicia
the number one killer of women,
Shearin, received 1st runner-up hon-
▲
50
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
Soror Tarryn Lael Simmons, the
newly elected Regional Representative of the “Sensational” South Atlantic region, recently
completed the Ronald
E. McNair/ Summer
Research Opportunity
Program at Michigan
State University in
East Lansing, Mich.
Representing
North
Carolina Central University as a visiting
scholar, she conduct- Tarryn Lael
ed research under the Simmons
supervision of Dr. Isis
Settles, a professor of
personality psychology at Michigan
State. The research focus was
African-American discrimination and
negative stereotypes, how these
facets of the Black experience relate
to different aspects of well-being,
and if this is influenced by gender.
The program developed in honor
of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, one of the
astronauts who lost their lives on
the USS Challenger, is designed to
match promising minority students
with mentors to conduct research
within their chosen discipline, and
to prepare them for graduate education. Soror Simmons was initiated at
NCCU’s Alpha Lambda Chapter in
2006. ▲
Members of the Iota Rho Chapter
stood in solidarity in September with
thousands of people across the