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Former International Presidents

Over the past 110 years, twenty-nine women have passionately and ably assumed the mantles of sisterhood, leadership and service as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated's national (and later, international) president. Under their stewardship, the sorority has evolved from a sisterhood on the campus of Howard University to a global organization that is laser-focused on issues involving economics, education, social action, the environment, human rights, political activism, and equity.

  • Nellie May Quander*


    • Term: 1913 – 1919
    • Administration/Program Focus: Incorporation and Expansion; Scholarship
    • A.B., Howard University
    • M.A. Columbia University
    • Certificate, School of Social Work, New York University; Certificate, Economics, University of Washington; Certificate, Economics, Uppsala University, Sweden
    • Public school teacher

  • Loraine Richardson Green*


    • Term: 1919 – 1923
    • Administration/Program Focus: Vocational Guidance; Chapter Expansion, Organizational Brands (Ivy Leaf, Coat of Arms, Founders’ Day) and documents (charters and membership certificates)
    • Bachelor's Degree, University of Kansas (Lawrence)
    • Master's Degree, University of Chicago
    • Teacher; social worker; “professional volunteer”

  • Lottie Pearl Mitchell*


    • Term: 1923 – 1925
    • Administration/Program Focus: Vocational Guidance; NAACP Life Memberships
    • B.A. Wilberforce University
    • Diploma, Oberlin Conservatory of Music
    • Music teacher; social worker; court probation officer; NAACP membership director

  • Pauline Sims Puryear*


    • Term: 1925 – 1927
    • Administration/Program Focus: Vocational Guidance; Personal Chapter Visitations
    • A.B. & M.A. Howard University
    • YWCA executive director; race relations consultant; teaching evangelist

  • Bobbie Beatrix Scott*


    • Term: 1927 – 1929
    • Administration/Program Focus: Vocational Guidance; Operating Procedures and Advocacy for National Headquarters; Foreign Fellowships
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • B.S. Oberlin University
    • M.S. Howard University
    • High school and college chemistry teacher

  • Maudelle Brown Bousfield*


    • Term: 1929 – 1931
    • Administration/Program Focus: Vocational Education; Member Reactivation
    • B.S. University of Illinois
    • M.A. University of Chicago
    • B.A. Mendelssohn Conservatory of Music
    • High school math teacher; public school administrator

  • Maude Brown Porter*


    • Term: 1931 – 1933
    • Administration/Program Focus: Groundwork for Summer School for Rural Teachers
    • Educational Achievement; Individual and Chapter Scholarships
    • B.A. Howard University
    • M.A. Western Reserve University
    • High school Latin and English teacher; assistant principal

  • Ida Louise Jackson, LHD*


    • Term: 1933 – 1936
    • Administration/Program Focus: Mississippi Health Project; Summer School for Rural Teachers; Chapter Evaluations
    • B.A. & M.A. University of California at Berkeley; LHD
    • High School teacher; Dean of Women

  • Margaret Davis Bowen EdD, LLD*


    • Term: 1936 – 1939
    • Administration/Program Focus: Non-Partisan Council; Mississippi Health Project; Gamma House
    • B.S. & M.E. University of Cincinnati
    • Ed.D. & LLD
    • Teacher; secondary principal; university instructor; administration and supervision

  • Dorothy Boulding Ferebee, MD*


    • Term: 1939 – 1941
    • Administration/Program Focus: Continued Mississippi Health Project and Non-Partisan Council; Sorority Structure and Alignment
    • B.S. Simmons College
    • M.D. Tufts University College of Medicine
    • Obstetrics instructor; medical director

  • Beulah Tyrrell Whitby*


    • Term: 1941 – 1946
    • Administration/Program Focus: Sorority realignment during wartime; American Council on Human Rights Advocacy
    • BA.. Oberlin College
    • MSW, University of Michigan; New York School of Social Work
    • Social worker; community relations assistant director; university instructor, sociology and social work department chair

  • Edna Over Gray Campbell*


    • Term: 1946 – 1949
    • Administration/Program Focus: Establishment of National Office/Endowment Fund
    • American Council on Human Rights (first president)
    • B.A. University of Kansas
    • M.A. New York University
    • High school social studies teacher; public school administration

  • Laura T. Fife Lovelace*


    • Term: 1949 – 1953
    • Administration/Program Focus: Establishment of National Office/Human Rights
    • Foreign Fellowship
    • Bachelor's Degree, University of Cincinnati; Columbia University
    • Master's Degree, University of Cincinnati
    • Physical education teacher; public school administration

  • Arnetta G. McKamey Wallace*


    Term: 1953 – 1958
    Administration/Program Focus: Sickle Cell Research; AKA National History; International Expansion
    B.S. Knoxville College (Foreign Languages); B.A. Knoxville College (Music); Tennessee State University
    Music teacher; church musician

  • Marjorie Holloman Parker, PhD*


    Term: 1958 – 1962
    Administration/Program Focus: International Regional Conferences; Strategic Planning; Communications and Investments
    B.S. Miner Teachers College
    M.A. & Ph.D. University of Chicago
    Student teacher director; history and philosophy of education professor; city council

  • Julia Brogdon Purnell, LHD*


    Term: 1962 – 1966
    Administration/Program Focus: Job Corps; Political Advocacy; Undergraduate Leadership
    B.A. Allen University
    M.A. Atlanta University; University of Michigan; LHD
    Education professor; reading specialist

  • Larzette Golden Hale (Wilson), PhD*


    Term: 1966 – 1970
    Administration/Program Focus: Negro Heritage; Travel Tours; Organizational Efficiency
    B.S. Langston University
    M.A. & Ph.D, University of Wisconsin; CPA
    Accounting and business administration professor; college development officer

  • Mattelia Bennett Grays, EdD


    Term: 1970 – 1974
    Administration/Program Focus: “Personal Involvement Now (PIN)”; Economic Development; Program Kits; Black Heritage
    BS, Dillard University
    MA, University of Michigan
    EdD
    Elementary school teacher; consultant; principal; district superintendent

  • Bernice Irene Sumlin, LHD*


    Term: 1974 – 1978
    Administration/Program Focus: National Reading Experience; United Negro College Fund; AKA Heritage; Black Heritage
    B.S. Central State University
    M.S. Miami University
    LHD, Central State University
    High school business teacher; guidance counselor; administrator; independent financial consultant

  • Barbara Kinard Phillips, EdD*


    Term: 1978 – 1982
    Administration/Program Focus: “Influencing Decisions: A Design for Action”; Political Influence; Educational Advancement Foundation (EAF); Leadership Fellows; Corporate Office Relocation and Design; Reactivation
    B.S. Winston-Salem State University
    M.S. Indiana University
    EdD, University of North Carolina – Greensboro
    Teacher; counselor; principal; assistant superintendent

  • Faye Beverly Bryant*


    Term: 1982 – 1986
    Administration/Program Focus: “POWER" (programs of service; organizational impact; women involved in global concerns; economic development and renewal)
    Program Delivery; Operational Manuals; African Villages; Women and Poverty; Voter Registration and Participation; Corporate Office Construction
    B.A. Howard University
    M.A. University of Houston
    Teacher; counselor; magnet schools director; Enrichment Programs assistant superintendent

  • Janet Jones Ballard*


    Term: 1986 – 1990
    Administration/Program Focus: “Global Perspective”; Global Poverty; Regional Expansion; Historically Black Colleges and Universities; “International” Lexicon; Membership Intake
    B.A. Virginia Union University
    M.A. Virginia State University
    Teacher; public assistance caseworker; Urban League executive director; Alumni Affairs director

  • Mary Shy Scott, LHD*


    Term: 1990 – 1994
    Administration/Program Focus: “Creative Strategies”; Ivy AKAdemy; The Black Family; Health; Graduate Advisor Certification; Political Advocacy; Membership Process
    BA. Spelman College
    M.A. New York University
    LHD, Miles College
    Teacher; elementary school music specialist; educational consultant; motivational speaker

  • Eva Lois Allmon Evans, PhD*


    Term: 1994 – 1998
    Administration/Program Focus: “Making the Net Work”; Math and Science; AIDS and African-Americans; Governmental Affairs; Bone Marrow Registry
    B.S. Eastern Michigan University
    Master’s Degree, Wayne State University
    PhD, Michigan State University
    Teacher; assistant principal; elementary education director; assistant superintendent-personnel; Instruction deputy superintendent

  • Norma Solomon White, LHD


    Term: 1998 – 2002
    Administration/Program Focus: “Blazing New Trails”; Middle School Educational Intervention; African Presence; Officer Training and Certification; Eradication of Poverty; Anti-Hazing Task Force; AKA Heritage
    BS. Florida A&M University
    M.A. Columbia University
    LHD, Florida A&M University
    Junior high school band director; music coordinator; assistant principal; magnet program coordinator; entrepreneur

  • Linda Marie White*


    Term: 2002 – 2006
    Administration/Program Focus: “Spirit of AKA”; Ivy Reading AKAdemy, Young Authors; AKA Heritage; Risk Management Task Force
    B.A. Clark College
    M.A. University of Chicago
    Social Security Administration area director

  • Barbara Anne McKinzie, LHD**


    Term: 2006 – 2010
    Administration/Program Focus: “The Extraordinary Service Program: ESP (Economics, Sisterhood, Partnerships)”; Sorority Centennial; Economic Security; Chapter Evaluations; EAF; HBCUs; Membership Intake
    B.S. East Central University
    MBA Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
    LHD, Stillman College
    C.P.A., Chief Financial Officer; auditor; comptroller; investment consultant

  • Carolyn House Stewart, Esq.


    Term: 2010 – 2014
    Administration/Program Focus: “Global Leadership through Timeless Service”: Emerging Young Leaders; Health Initiatives including 1) Asthma Prevention and Management and 2) Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability; Global Poverty; Economic Security Initiative; Social Justice and Human Rights; Internal Leadership Training for External Service
    B.A. University of South Florida
    JD, University of South Carolina Law Center
    Attorney

  • Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson


    Term: 2014 – 2018
    Administration/Program Focus: “Launching New Dimensions of Service”: 1) Educational Enrichment, 2) Health Promotion, 3) Family Strengthening, 4) Environmental Ownership and 5) Global Impact Signature program: ASCEND Youth Enrichment Program served more than 40,000 students. Donated 1 million backpacks, increased focus on Sisterly Relations, Renovation of the Corporate Office.
    B.A. Benedict College
    MBA, Clark Atlanta University
    LHD, Benedict College

  • * Indicates Deceased

    **No longer a member pursuant to action at the 67th Boule - July 2016