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Below is a list of notable members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority (commonly referred to as Zetas). Zeta Phi Beta was founded on January 16, 1920, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. The sorority was incorporated in Washington, D.C., on March 30, 1923. In 1939, the sorority was incorporated in Illinois.

Founders and Incorporators

National Presidents

• Arizona Cleaver Stemons (1920)
• Myrtle Tyler Faithful (1921–1922)
• Joanna Houston Ransom (1922–1923)
• Nellie A. Buchanan (1923–1925)
• Dr. S. Evelyn Lewis (1925–1926)
• Ruth Tappe Scruggs (1926–1930)
• Fannie R. Givens (1930–1933)
• Violette Neatley Anderson (1933–1937)
• Nellie B. Rogers (1937–1939)
• Edith Lyons (1939–1940)
• Blanche Thompson (1940–1943)
• Lullelia W. Harrison (1943–1948)
• Nancy B. Woolridge McGhee (1948–1953)
• Deborah Cannon P. Wolfe (1953–1965)
• Mildred Carter Bradham (1965–1970)
• Isabel M. Herson (1970–1974)
• Janice G. Kissner (1974–1980)
• Edith V. Francis (1980–1986)
• Eunice S. Thomas (1986–1992)
• Jylla Moore Foster Tearte (1992–1996)
• Barbara West Carpenter (1996–2002)
• Barbara C. Moore (2002–2008)
• Sheryl P. Underwood (2008–2012)
• Mary Breaux Wright (2012–2018)
• Valerie Hollingsworth Baker (2018–2022)

Civil rights

Name Original chapter Notability References Autherine Lucy Foster Plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court case styled Lucy v. Adams which prevented the University of Alabama from denying admission solely based on race or color. Anita Hill Honorary Attorney, law professor, and civil rights activist; plaintiff in sexual harassment case vs. Clarence Thomas Violette Neatley Anderson First woman of color to practice law before the US Supreme court Pat Spencer Civil rights activist; helped to organize the Montgomery Bus Boycotts

Education

Name Original chapter Notability References Dr. Stella Brewer Brookes Epsilon Zeta Former chair, Department of English at Clark Atlanta University Dr. Ashlee L. Canty Mu Xi First Directory of Diversity and Inclusion for Sigma Alpha Epsilon Alice Dugged Cary Beta First president of The Auburn Avenue Research Library in Atlanta, Second president of Morris Brown College, former State Chairman of the Colored Woman's Committee, and former president of the Georgia State Federation of Coloured Women, established the first free black kindergarten in Macon, GA and Charleston, SC Sarah Green Nu Xi Zeta Former Chief Executive Officer of The National Head Start Association Portia Guenette Harrod Yerby Eta The First African American Teacher in Pennilyn, Pennsylvania Lucy Harth Smith One of the first women appointed to the executive council of The National Association for The Study of Negro Life and History; Educator, writer and activist who worked to challenge inequality in the Kentucky public school system Ruby Jones Epsilon Omega Zeta The first African American faculty member, who became Assistant Professor of Education and supervisor of student teachers, at West Chester University; Namesake of Ruby Jones Hall on the campus of West Chester University Elizabeth Koontz First African-American President of the National Education Association, former Director of the Women’s Bureau Dr. Elmira Mangum Kappa Epsilon Zeta Former President of Florida A&M University;The first woman to permanently hold the position in the 128-year history of the university Dr. Constance Smith Hendricks Dean of Nursing and Allied Health at Tuskegee University Linda Royster Beito Iota Eta Chair, Department of Social Sciences at Stillman College Dr. Myrtice Taylor Epsilon Zeta First African-American superintendent for curriculum and instruction – Atlanta Public Schools Anita Turpeau First woman on the debate team at Howard University, first woman Editor-In-Chief of The Hilltop, first woman at Howard University to receive a master of arts degree in religious education Lulu Vere Childers Founder and director of the School of Music at Howard University Leila Walker Jones Eta Dramatist;Founder and principal of Bryan Academy.Leader of the Philadelphia Federation of Women's Club

Science and health

Name Original chapter Notability References Dr.Hyacinth Davis Epsilon The first black woman to intern at Harlem Hospital, former president of The Manhattan Central Medical Society, former Head Physician for The Harlem Hospital Medical Screening Unit Dr.Stephanie E. Davis Epsilon The first black student to be inducted into The William Jarvie Society for Dental Research; The first black woman to intern at the Guggenheim Dental Clinic for Children Evelyn J. Fields retired Rear Admiral; former NOAA Director with Marine and Aviation Operations Lillian E. Fishburne The first African-American female to hold the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy Monica “Dr. Moe” Frazier Anderson Nu Iota author, journalist, motivational speaker, and Doctor of Dental Surgery Dr. Rachel Hill Townsend The first native African woman to enter the field of dentistry Marjorie Joyner The first African-American woman to receive a patent; The first African American to receive their A.B. from Molar Beauty School in Chicago; Inventor, Philanthropist Versia Lindsay The first woman to graduate from the School of Sciences at Atlanta University Elaine McDowell, Ph.D. Nu Xi Zeta Former Senior Executive Officer for the U.S. Federal Government. Award recipient for the National Medical Association's Award for Outstanding Leadership in Improving Health Care in the Black Community Effie Alexandria Nevers Eta One of the first black female graduates of The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (now known as The University of the Sciences) Lillian Whitfield Eta Opened the Whitfield Pharmacy, the only black business in Frankford, Philadelphia during the time period.

Authors and artists

Name Original chapter Notability References Kathleen Mary Easmon Simango Honorary First African-American woman to earn a diploma from the Royal College of Arts; Singer, Dancer, Opera Singer, Fannie Rosalind Hicks Givens Started the first Art program for African American students at the State University- Louisville; served as president of the World Union of Colored Women for Peace and International Concord, and chair of the Fine Arts department of the National Association of Colored Women Linda Goss First African-American storyteller to receive a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts; Storyteller, Author; co-founder of the National Association of Black Storytellers Cynthia James Honorary Award winning author of What Will Set You Free and Revealing Your Extraordinary Essence, and international life coach Tilu Khalayi Mu Beta Author of Finer Women: The Birth of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. 1920-1935; Founder of The Nabutilu Foundation Zora Neale Hurston Alpha American folklorist and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance, best known for her 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God

Entertainers

Name Original chapter Notability References Tatyana Ali Honorary Actress (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) and singer Ivy Awino DJ;Official DJ of the Dallas Wings Rhona Bennett Honorary Actress (The Jamie Foxx Show) and singer (En Vogue) Towanda Braxton Omicron Gamma Singer and television personality (Braxton Family Values) Traci Braxton Omicron Gamma Singer, television personality (Braxton Family Values), and radio personality Grace Bumbry Opera singer Ellabelle Davis Musician and opera singer Ja'net DuBois Honorary Actress and singer Lillian Evanti Honorary Opera singer;The first African American to sing with an organized European opera company; The first African American to sing grand opera professionally Vivica A. Fox Honorary Actress Leela James Honorary Singer and television personality (R&B Divas: Los Angeles) Syleena Johnson Lambda Epsilon Singer Chaka Khan Honorary Grammy-winning singer/musician Dawnn Lewis Honorary Actress Dawnette Lounds-Culp Author, talk radio show host Minnie Riperton Honorary Singer, songwriter Esther Rolle Honorary American actress best known for her portrayal of Florida Evans on the CBS television sitcom Maude and its spin-off series Good Times Tonea Stewart Epsilon Beta American actress and university professor best known for her role as Aunt Etta on the television series In the Heat of the Night. Angie Stone Honorary Singer and television personality (R&B Divas: Atlanta) Lou Swarz Xi Zeta Actress, journalist, beauty consultant, radio show host, and teacher Sheryl Underwood Zeta Tau Zeta Comedian and 23rd International President of Zeta Phi Beta Sarah Vaughan Honorary Jazz singer Dionne Warwick Singer

Athletes

Name Original chapter Notability References Amber Campbell 3 time Olympian hammer thrower Camille Cooper Epsilon Kappa professional basketball player (WNBA) Rhyne Howard Iota Mu professional basketball player (WNBA) Flora Hyacinth Iota Eta Olympian Track & Field Athlete for the USVI Lillie Leatherwood Iota Eta 2-time Olympic Medalist: Gold (1984), Silver (1988) in 4X400-meter relay Wendy Palmer Tau Theta former professional basketball player (WNBA) Chantel Tremitiere Gamma Xi former professional basketball player (WNBA) DeMya Walker Tau Theta professional basketball player (WNBA) Mistie Williams Nu Omicron professional basketball player (WNBA)

Politicians

Name Original chapter Notability References Julia Carson US Representative from Indiana Joan Carter Former Petersburg, VA city councilwoman Hon. Valerie M. Cartright Eta Omicron First Haitian-American elected to New York State Supreme Court; First African-American elected to the Town of Brookhaven Board (Long Island, NY); First Haitian-American female Elected Official in Suffolk County, NY; Civil Rights Attorney; Adjunct Instructor. Bernice B. Donald Alpha Eta Zeta First African-American woman elected to the Tennessee Judiciary Charlotte Spann Director, Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of the Interior. Donna Edwards Honorary Former Member of Congress Dorothy L. Goosby Florida A&M University Plaintiff in class action suit against the Town of Hempstead (Long Island, NY) in 1988 charging that the Town’s at large voting system for the Town Board discriminated against the minority community. In 1997, a federal judge agreed and ruled that the Town of Hempstead’s method of voting-at-large was discriminatory and violated the Voting Rights Act. First African American woman to serve on the Town of Hempstead Board; Longest serving Councilperson on Town Board; First African American to serve as President of the Association of Towns of the State of New York. Bernette Johnson First black female State Supreme Court justice in Louisiana Krysta Jones Mu Epsilon Outreach Director for Congressman Jim Moran, Founder and CEO, Virginia Leadership Institute, Chair, Arlington Commission on the Status of Women, and Board of Directors, A-SPAN Sydney Kamlager The second African American woman elected president of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees Andrei Ellen Lee First African American General Session Judge in Nashville Mary McAllister NC House of Representatives Yvonne Miller Former Virginia State Senator - District 5 Edith S. Sampson The first woman to receive a Master of Laws degree from Loyola University;The 2nd African-American woman admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States, following Violette N. Anderson; The first African-American delegate to the United Nations;The 1st African-American woman elected judge on the municipal court Christale Spain University of South Carolina Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party Beatrice Welters Nu Xi Zeta US Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Cynthia Willard-Lewis New Orleans City Councilwoman Sharon R. Wilson Former Chief Magistrate and President of The Senate of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Dr.Deborah Wolfe Former U.S. Education Chief, U.S. House of Representative committee on Education and Labor, and Chairperson of the New Jersey Board of Higher Education

Community leaders

Name Original chapter Notability References Adelaide Casely-Hayford Honorary Established a school for girls in 1923 to instill cultural and racial pride during the colonial years under British rule; Activist for cultural nationalism, educator, short story writer, and feminist Thelma Duggin Nu Xi Zeta President of the Anbryce Foundation, Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, former Senior Vice President of UnitedHealthGroup Elizabeth Fouse Founder of the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA; former president of the Kentucky Association for Colored Women; social activist Freddye Henderson The first black woman to own a travel business in the U.S. Nettie Napier Honorary African American women's rights activist Rev. Lucille C. Norville-Perez M.D. Nu Xi Zeta President and CEO of The Cave Institute Elisabeth Omilami Honorary Human rights activist and CEO of Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless Ophelia Settle Egypt Alpha Social Worker and pioneer in family planning among economically disadvantaged African American families Linda Thompson Nu Xi Zeta Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity at U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Annie Turnbo Malone The first black woman millionaire;Business owner, inventor, and philanthropist Maggie Lena Walker Honorary the first female bank president to charter a bank in the United States Sallie Wyatt Stewart The first African American woman to hold an office in the National Council of Women. The only black delegate sent to the International Council of Women in Vienna, Austria in 1930

Television, radio, and media

Name Original chapter Notability References Jasmine Alexander Xi Kappa Zeta Miss Black USA 2014 Shannon Nia Alomar Kappa Epsilon Zeta Miss Black New York USA 2019, CNN Tonight Associate Producer Stephanie Arnold Gamma Alpha Editor at Philadelphia Media Network, Editorial Standards Review Committee at PBS Danielle Belton Delta Kappa Editor in chief at The Root; Blogger and creator of Black Snob Ava-Joye Burnett News reporter and anchor for CBS Baltimore (WJZ-TV) Kiya Edwards Kappa Pi Chapter News reporter and anchor for KSKD NBC in St. Louis Clara McLaughlin President and CEO, East Texas Television, First African-American woman to own and operate a television station. Kimberly Morgan Zeta Miss Mississippi 2007 Lisa Spradley Dunn CEO of Odyssey Media Jenell B. Stewart Sigma Nu Zeta Brand Coach; Content Creator; Founder of the Digital Content Creation School Tatiana Levoné Lambda Gamma Zeta Miss Black Washington DC 2005

References

1. ^ "Heritage". Zeta Phi Beta. Archived from the original on 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
2. ^ "Incorporators". Zeta Phi Beta. Archived from the original on 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
3. Hicks, Tai. "Autherine Lucy Foster returns to the schoolhouse door". datelinealabama.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
4. Zeta Phi Beta Launches Global Year of Service with Induction of Women’s Empowerment Advocates
5. ^ "Notable Zetas - Zeta Phi Beta". Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
6. "Black Greekdom Mourns Passing Of Pat Spencer, A Zeta Who Helped Organize The Montgomery Bus Boycott". Watch The Yard. 22 December 2015.
7. "Sigma Alpha Epsilon Just Hired An African-American Woman To Solve Racism Problems Within The Fraternity". Watch The Yard. 7 July 2015.
8. ^ Khalayi, Tilu (2013). Finer Women: The Birth of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, 1920-1935. Harambee Institute Press. ISBN 978-0981802831.
9. ^ "Prominent Nu Xi Zeta Sorors". NuXiZetas.org. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
10. "Local History". Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Epsilon Omega Zeta.
11. "Tuskegee names Hendricks as new dean of nursing and allied health". Tuskegee University.
12. ^ Sorors, Esteemed (5 March 2016). "Zetas of Nebraska". Zphibne.org.
13. Harrison, Lullelia W. (1998). Torchbearers Of A Legacy: A History of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Washington, D.C.: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. p. 306.
14. ^ "Zeta Phi Beta Launches Global Year of Service with Induction of Women's Empowerment Advocates". Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
15. Khalayi, Tilu. "Your First Stop For Zeta History". Tilu Khalayi.
16. "Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated Announces Newest Class of Honorary Members". www.prnewswire.com. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
17. "The Dallas Mavericks Just Hired A Soror Of Zeta Phi Beta To Be Their Official DJ!". Watch The Yard. 9 October 2016.
18. Phi Beta Launches Global Year of Service with Induction of Women’s Empowerment Advocates
19. Towanda Braxton at IMDb
20. https://www.watchtheyard.com/zetas/list-of-famous-singers-who-are-members-of-zeta-phi-beta/
21. https://www.instagram.com/p/CbL8IoZNxrK/
22. "Madame Lillian Evanti sings for her sorority Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,inc". Smithsonian.
23. "Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated Announces Newest Class of Honorary Members". www.prnewswire.com. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
24. "Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated Announces Newest Class of Honorary Members". www.prnewswire.com. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
25. "Tulsa Zetas To Present Famous Lou Swarz". The Pittsburgh Courier. April 9, 1938. Retrieved December 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "The Archon- Fall 2011". 5 June 2012.
27. ^ "Congresswoman Donna Edwards and Activist Elisabeth Omilami inducted as Honorary Members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated". Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
28. "2008/2009 Bahamas Greek Hall-of-Fame Induction Ceremony" (PDF). Nassau, Bahamas Council National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. 2009-07-02. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
29. "About Us". Sharon Wilson & Co. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
30. "Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Member Jasmine Alexander Wins Miss Black USA 2014 Title". Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
31. "Meet Shannon Nia Alomar, Miss Black New York USA Title". New York Amsterdam News. 28 June 2019.
32. ^ "The Archon". 10 June 2014. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
33. Belton, Danielle. "The Snob In Real Zetas' Dovely Magazine". The Black Snob.
34. "Ava-joye Burnett". CBS Baltimore.
35. Ross, Lawrence C. (2001). The Divine Nine:The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities. Kensington. ISBN 0758202709.
36. "Alcorn State Alumna Kimberly Morgan Becomes Miss Mississippi 2007". Weekly Bulletin Online. Alcorn State University. 2007-08-02. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
37. Assiran, Emily (26 October 2020). "Natural Born Leader: Odyssey Media CEO Lisa Spradley Dunn is Making Sure Women of Color Call the Shots". Essence Magazine.
38. Stewart, Jenell B. "Zeta Phi Beta Founder's Day Celebration". Jenell B. Stewart.
39. Zak, Dan (2005-08-09). "Looking Beautiful, and to the Future". The Washington Post.

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