Below is a list of Delta Sigma Theta (ΔΣΘ) members, commonly referred to as Deltas. The sorority was founded on January 13, 1913, at Howard University[1] and was first incorporated in Washington, D.C., on February 9, 1913.[2] Its graduate chapters are named according to geographic location and "Alumnae" annexed to the service area's name.[3]
Founder; born in Albany, Georgia. Within the ranks of Delta, Adams called upon her prior leadership experience to aid in the founding of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In Chicago, Illinois, she was installed as the first president of Lambda, and she served as the grand treasurer of the national organization. She directed the debut of actors Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier.
Founder; born in Charlottesville, Virginia; an excellent musician. She was the Alpha Chapter's first Treasurer. In 1914, she graduated as valedictorian of the Teacher's College. She was also the President of the Teacher's Club. Minor taught school in Alabama, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania. She wrote the book Soul Echos, which featured 40 of her compositions. She also became a renowned mezzo-soprano recitalist.
Founder; born in El Paso, Texas. During her years at Howard University, she played an active role in the collegiate chapter of the NAACP. In Delta, she became the Alpha Chapter's first reporter. She was a singer and actress, and for several years she sang for television shows.
Founder; North Carolina native. She was the Alpha Chapter's first Recording Secretary. Upon graduation from Howard University, she moved to Youngstown, Ohio. Later, she taught at Claflin College in Orangeburg, South Carolina. She received her M.A. degree in Biblical Literature from Oberlin College in Ohio. She was also an accomplished pianist.
Founder; Washington, D.C. native. Her father had a prestigious career at Howard University for 31 years as a professor of religion. Many of the first meetings of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. were held in her living room. She was dedicated and studious, and graduated from Howard in 1913 as valedictorian and class president. Upon graduating from Howard, Brown wed Frank Coleman, the co-founder of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. She played a crucial role in the development of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Founder; born in Winfield, Kansas, but grew up in Colorado. She entered the Teaching College at Howard. On March 13, 1913, she participated in the March on Washington, Delta's first public act as a sorority. 68 years later, she repeated this walk on August 2, 1981. Even though a limo was provided for her, at the grand age of 92, she refused to ride and chose to walk. Campbell became an educator and she spent the vast majority of her adulthood working in Seattle, Washington toward better race relations.
Founder; born in Dallas, Texas. Her family had a substantial amount of financial and social authority. She was enrolled in the Teacher's College. After graduating from Howard University, she took on a brief career as a teacher. She became the first Sergeant at Arms of the Alpha Chapter. In 1926, she helped to create the graduate chapter of Delta in Dallas, which became the first Greek letter organization in the city
Founder; Gonzales, Texas native. Of all the founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. she had the most assertive leadership skills. She went from being President of Alpha Kappa Alpha to being president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In her daily life, she continued to be a role model through her involvement in the Alpha Phi Literary Society. She acted in Go Down Death: The Story of Jesus and the Devil.
Founder; born in Wilmington, Delaware, and derived from a prosperous family lineage. She enjoyed fine arts and expressed this through her involvement in the Howard University Choir. She was continuously involved with community organizations, such as the YWCA, where she became chairperson of the collegiate committee from 1911 to 1912. After graduating, she became a teacher in the New York City public school system. In 1953, she assisted in the creation of the Queens Alumnae Chapter.
Founder; born in Columbus, Georgia. Her unique personality allowed her to flourish in any environment and appeal to many people. Alexander valued education, and upon graduating, became a teacher. Always giving back to the community and her sorority, she became the first social worker for the New York City and County Charities, and she was the Alpha chapter's first Custodian.
Founder; charter member of Lambda chapter; born in Chicago, Illinois. While at Howard University, she concentrated her studies on two foreign languages. After graduation, she returned to Chicago where she became a French and Spanish Correspondence Secretary. In 1950, as a member of the housing group, Alexander helped the Alpha Nu chapter purchase a sorority house on the campus of the University of Illinois
Founder; Parkersburg, West Virginia native. During the March for Women's Suffrage, Watson's family told her not to march, but she was forced to defy the order as she was selected to hold the banner since she was the tallest. She pursued her teaching career for over 30 years. She then retired and began a second career as a dramatic performer.
Founder; Washington, D.C. native. At graduation from Howard, her diploma and scholarship were given to her by William Howard Taft. She was chosen to present to Lady Eleanor Roosevelt before an audience. Toms collected elephants, which has become a hobby of Deltas all over the world.
Founder; active supporter of Delta from Lynchburg, Virginia. She helped lobby Delta Sigma Theta to participate in the March for Women's Suffrage. In 1936, she received her master's degree at Howard University. By 1938, after years of effort, she witnessed her Raleigh Alumnae chapter, Alpha Zeta Sigma, established in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1944, she was appointed to the Scholarship Board of New York's 22nd Congressional District.
Founder; Galveston, Texas native. She was the first corresponding secretary of the Alpha Chapter. She enrolled in the Teacher's College at Howard University. She became a teacher in the Galveston School District. Dent took on the Galveston School District in court and won equal wages for Black teachers.
Founder; the driving force and inspiration behind Delta Sigma Theta. She is originally from Atchison, Kansas but moved to Omaha, Nebraska. White drafted the constitution and set of by-laws. She selected the Greek letter symbols and created the initiation ritual. She was the first woman on the Howard University Journal's staff as an editor. She was the founder and President of the Triangle Press Company in St. Louis, Missouri.
Founder; Kansas City, Missouri native. After graduation, she was appointed to teach in East St. Louis. She published the novel The Valley of the Poor, which focused on racism and poverty in the South.
Founder; Washingtonville, New York native. She was involved in extreme activism and civic service. She was appointed to the East St. Louis public school system after graduation by Dean Lewis B. Moore. She also taught in Illinois, Princeton, New Jersey, and New York City. Richardson was the last surviving founder when she died in 1993.
Founder; a Washington, D.C. native. She graduated from M Street High School, later known as Dunbar High School. This was the first public high school for Blacks in the United States. She then attended the Miner Normal School, which had a historic association with Howard University and became part of the DC Public School System in 1879. In 1908, she was appointed to teach in Washington public schools. Murphy was an ardent supporter of the major political issues of the day, including voting rights for women.
Founder; Washington, D.C. native. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from the Howard College of Arts and Sciences. She received her M.A. from the Teachers College of Columbia University and her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Shippen was the only founder to receive a Ph.D. and one of the only two founders who never married. She strongly believed in the public service of Delta.
1919–1923. Mossell Alexander was the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in the United States, the first woman to receive a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, one of the first Black women to receive a Phi Beta Kappa Key in the state of Pennsylvania, and the first national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Under her leadership, the May Week program was implemented. She served on many boards, civic committees, and commissions. She held office in many local and national organizations, including President Harry Truman's Committee on Human Rights in 1947, whose report served as the basis for Truman's civil rights actions. Her ability to lead continued to be recognized, and in 1978 she was appointed chair of the White House Conference on Aging by President Jimmy Carter, to address the social and economic needs of the elderly. In 1948, the National Urban League featured Alexander as "Woman of the Year" in its comic book of Negro Heroes; and in 1974 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Pennsylvania, her first of seven such honors. An elementary school in West Philadelphia, the Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander University of Pennsylvania Partnership School ("Penn Alexander"), is named after her. The school was developed in partnership with the university, which supports it financially and academically.
1929–1931. Julian was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and went on to receive a master's and doctorate in Sociology. She was the first African-American to be awarded the Phi Beta Kappa key. As National President, she incorporated the Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta.
1931–1933. She wrote several books including a biographical sketch entitled "Mary Church Terrell: Respectable Person." She created the National Boards during her tenure.
1935–1939. She was extremely active in the civil rights movement and lobbied with the NAACP on the anti-lynching bill being considered in Congress. She received honors and awards from the California State Senate and the City of Berkeley, California. Under her tenure, the National Library Project was implemented.
1939–1944. She was the first African-American woman to become assistant attorney general of the state of Ohio. Dr. Austin won a string of awards, including two honorary doctorates. While National President, she created the job analysis program.
1944–1947. Williams was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Tufts University and received a master's degree from New York University. She served as the President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. She implemented the Book Baskets program while serving as National President.
1947–1956. Height was the longest-serving National President of both Delta Sigma Theta and the National Council of Negro Women, where she served from 1957 to 1997. She is one of the most preeminent civil rights leaders in the country. President Ronald Reagan presented her with the Citizens Medal Award for distinguished service to the country in 1989, and President George W. Bush awarded her the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2004. As President, Height was responsible for numerous activities, including the purchase of a National Headquarters building. She was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP (1993), the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom From Want Award (1993), the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1994), the 7th Annual Heinz Award Chairman's Medal (2001), the Congressional Gold Medal by President George W. Bush on behalf of the United States Congress (2004), and the Foremothers Lifetime Achievement Award from the NRC for Women & Families (2009). She was listed on Molefi Kete Asante's list of 100 Greatest African Americans (2002) and inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame (1993). President Barack Obama delivered the eulogy and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast on April 29, 2010, in her honor. On May 21, 2010, a call box was dedicated to Height, located on 7th Street, in front of the last building where she lived.
1956–1958. Harrison received an honorary doctorate from Langston University and implemented the Delta Christmas Party. She started the "Burn the Mortgage" campaign while in office.
1958–1963. She was a professor of education and one of the first African-American women to receive tenure at New York University. Presidents Nixon and Ford appointed her to serve on national educational commissions. While President, she implemented the Social Action Commission.
1963–1967. Woods, who received advanced degrees from Radcliffe and Harvard Universities, was instrumental in the development of the Minority Access to Research Careers of the National Institute of Health. She was the first African American woman appointed to the National Advisory General Medical Services Council. While in office she implemented the Delta Teen-Lift program.
1967–1971. Freeman is the author of A Song of Faith and Hope: The Life of Frankie Muse Freeman. Appointed by President Lyndon B Johnson, she was the first woman to serve on the United States Civil Rights Commission. She was responsible for increasing sorority activism during the Civil Rights Movement.
1971–1975. She served as the Assistant Director of Housing programs for the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. She implemented the Delta Arts and Letters program.
1975–1979. Daley has served as president of four national organizations, including the American Counseling Association. As National President, she established the Distinguished Professor Endowed Chair.
1979–1983. Bailey was selected and honored as one of the 100 most influential FAMUANS of the century. She has served as Deputy Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.
1983–1988. Canady was the first African American elected to the Lansing Board of Education. She is a founding member of the Les Meres et Debutantes of Greater Lansing Michigan. She implemented the Delta Leadership Academy during her tenure.
1988–1992. Kennedy was the first African American appointed to the presidency of Bishop State Community College, and the first and only African American woman elected to the House of Representatives from Mobile County. She implemented the School America program.
1992–1996. She was the first Black principal at an all-white Mecklenburg County school and the first Black teacher at UNCC. She is the co-founder of the Afro-American Cultural Center in North Carolina. Roddey established the partnership between Delta Sigma Theta and Habitat for Humanity during her tenure.
1996–2000. She is the first African American woman elected to the office of Mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, and went on to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she represents Ohio's 11th Congressional District. Fudge established the Betty Shabazz Delta Academy during her tenure.
2000–2004. Boyd was the first African American woman to earn a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University. She is an engineer and the Assistant for Development Programs at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. She established the International Day of Service AIDS awareness program during her tenure. She became the first female president of Alabama State University.
2008–2013, McIntyre earned a Master of Education degree from the University of New Orleans at age 20. She also holds an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from the Christian Bible College of Louisiana.
Artist, poet, prose writer, teacher; played an active role in the AA arts community in Harlem; former director of the Harlem Community Art Center of the N.Y.C. WPA Art Project; one of the most revered poets of the New Negro Era (Harlem Renaissance); poetry reflected themes of the New Negro Era – racial pride, rediscovery of Africa, a celebration of blackness
Painter known for her unique portrayals of Black culture in paintings exhibited in home settings of several popular television shows, including The Cosby Show
Executive vice president and chief operating officer of Baranco Automotive Group (one of the first AA-owned car dealerships in the Atlanta area); former Assistant Attorney General of Georgia; first African American woman to chair Georgia Board of Regents
Founder of the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center; founder and CEO of the Recreation Wish List Committee (RWLC) of Washington, D.C.; former First Lady of Washington, D.C.
Executive director of the National Coalition of Black Civic Participation; civic leader; civil rights activist who implemented VOTE Election Reform Task Force, Unity Civic Engagement & Voter Empowerment Campaign, and ReBuild Hope NOW; charter member of the Future PAC
Broker at Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. (C&W), a global commercial real estate firm; first AA broker in the New England area of Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.; first AA woman to hold this position for a major real estate firm in Massachusetts
Founder, President, and CEO of the ComfortCake Company LLC; former senior marketing executive with Gillette, Pillsbury, and L'Oreal; first African-American elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of the Specialty Food Trade
Business executive with Williams Group Holdings; former Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of NBC Universal; former Chairman and CEO of the Los Angeles Sparks; member of the WNBA Board of Governors; named among Black Enterprise magazine's "75 Most Powerful African Americans in Corporate America"
Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships, American Express Company
Kelly Owens
Unknown
Director of the CBCF Leadership Institute
Lavonia Perryman
Unknown
V.P. of PR Networks, Inc.; former Cable Commissioner for D.C.; founding member and former president of National Black Women's Political Congress; former president and founding member of National Coalition of 100 Black Women, District of Columbia Chapter; charter member of The Future PAC
President and CEO at Global Policy Solutions; former Chief of Staff/Administrative Assistant at Office of Congressman Charles Rangel; former professional staff at House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee
Referred to as the "Grand Madame of Negro Society;" founded Jack and Jill of America, chartered the Philadelphia chapter of the Northeasterners, Inc., and served as the group's national president (1956–1958)
One of the founders of National Association of Colored Women; founder of the National Training School for Girls in Washington, DC; associate editor of the Christian Banner, a Philadelphia newspaper; civil rights activist
Native American activist; founder of Americans for Indian Opportunity; first Native American woman to run for vice president of the United States; founding board member of the National Urban League and National Women's Political Caucus; currently serves on the boards of Think New Mexico and Advancement of Maori Opportunity, and advisory boards for the National Museum of the American Indian, American Civil Liberties Union, and the Delphi International Group
Civil rights activist; first African-American to enroll and graduate from the University of Alabama despite Governor George Wallace's infamous "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door"
Eighth president of the National Association of Colored Women; founder of the National Council of Negro Women; founder of the Literary and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls; civil rights activist; founder of Bethune-Cookman University
Civil rights activist; Wife of slain civil rights leader Malcolm X; former director of the Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn's Department of Communications and Public Relations
Civil rights activist; went to Selma in 1929 with George Washington Carver; inspired and convinced Dr. Martin Luther King to march on Selma in 1965; guest of honor when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law; first African American to run for Congress in Alabama (in 1964)
Writer, civil rights and women's rightsactivist; first president of the National Association of Colored Women; first Black woman to represent the U.S. Congress of Women; first Black woman to serve on the Washington DC Board of Education
Member of the Historic Wiley Debate team as portrayed in The Great Debaters; basis for Jurnee Smollett's character; first Black teacher at Bonner Elementary School
Wilberforce University Board of Trustees member; former Dean of Allen University in Columbia, SC; President of the Ohio State Federation of Women's Clubs; Vice-President of the Ohio Council of Republican Women
First Black female superintendent of the Philadelphia Public School system (1982-1993); national social action chairman of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority; Visual Artist
First Black female president of Spelman College (1987–199); president of Bennett College (2002–2007); current director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art
President of Chicago State University (CSU); W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Consultant on Regulatory health care reform to Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Swaziland
First woman to complete the degree requirements for her Ph.D.; one of the first African American woman to earn a PhD. in the U.S. from Radcliffe College (a total of three were earned the same year, including Sadie T.M. Alexander, another Delta Sigma Theta member)
Founder and former chair of the Department of African American Studies, Northeastern University; former president and CEO of the National Urban Coalition; created the M. Carl Holman Leadership Development Institute and Executive Leadership Program to bring minorities into leadership development opportunities; former member of Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (appointed by Bill Clinton); former executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
First female president of Buffalo State College and 7th president of the school; first AA female chair of the United Way Campaign for Buffalo and Erie County
First African American woman in the nation to receive a Ph.D. degree in sociology; first African American to receive Phi Beta Kappa honors at the University of Pennsylvania; 4th National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Vice provost for University Life at the University of Pennsylvania; first female president of Cheyney University, the oldest HBCU in the United States (1991–92); former chair of the Landmark School Equity Educational Panel, resulting in the settlement of a major suit against the Philadelphia School District
First President of Norfolk State University; first female CEO of a four-year, state-supported university in Virginia; first African-American woman to head any of the National Association of Colleges and University Business Officers regions
Former president of Bethune-Cookman University; 11th president of Philander Smith College (Little Rock, Arkansas); first female president of Philander Smith in 125 years; youngest elected General Secretary CEO
Writer, educator, advocate for women's rights and racial justice; Wilberforce University Dean of Women; a copyist for Frederick Douglass during his tenure as Recorder of Deeds for DC
Actress, singer, composer and arts education activist; recipient of an NAACP Image Award for her role in Tap; co-starred in How Stella Got Her Groove Back and The Parent Hood
Broadway actress known for her Tony Award-winning portrayal of Angelica Schuyler in the original Broadway production of Hamilton; originated the role of Nettie in the Broadway production of The Color Purple
Singer and actress; plays Roland's mother on Army Wives; created the role of "Aunt Missy" in the original Broadway production of Purlie; films include Antwone Fisher and Birth
Broadway actress; played Anna Gordy in Motown: The Musical, Nala in The Lion King, and dance captain and fight captain in the Tony Award winner The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, for which she won the 2012 Fred and Adele Astaire Award for "Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show"
Dancer and choreographer; Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; one of 2009 Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World; Kennedy Center Honors (1999) and the National Medal of Arts (2001); Emmy Award winner and American Choreography Award winner for Outstanding Choreography for the PBSGreat Performances: Dance In America special, "A Hymn for Alvin Ailey"
Jazz vocalist, composer, and writer; Grammy-nominee and two-time winner of NAACP Image Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album; first African woman nominated in any of the Grammy jazz categories
Emmy Award-winning casting director (The Tuskegee Airmen & Malcolm X); contributor to the success of over 30 films, including eight with director Spike Lee (Malcolm X); TV credits include Bill Cosby's A Different World and LL Cool J's In the House
Former Secretary of Administration to Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine; second African American and the only African American female cabinet head in his administration; former vice mayor of the Richmond City Council; former member of the Virginia House of Delegates; first African American woman to run for Lieutenant Governor in VA
Policy advisor to President Bill Clinton; Ambassador-at-Large under President Barack Obama; dean and professor of communications at Harvard University; first female senior pastor in the 200-year history of the American Baptist Churches USA
First African American woman to serve as a Chief of State Department Bureau; former Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs for the U.S. State Department; first African American woman to serve as a U.S. Ambassador; former Ambassador to Malaysia (August 20, 1980 – February 1981)
Circuit Court Judge (Baltimore County, Maryland); first AA female judge appointed in Baltimore County; first AA in Baltimore County history to win a countywide election
Judge – Eighth District Court of Appeals; first AA woman elected to any Court of Appeals for the State of Ohio; first Night Prosecutor, City of Cleveland
Former Municipal Court Judge (Cleveland); first AA woman in the U.S. to be elected as a city council member; first to serve as an Assistant County Prosecutor in Cuyahoga County
Judge, 24th Judicial District (Jefferson Parish, Louisiana)
Lynda van Davis
Unknown
Youngest person currently serving as a judge in Louisiana court (serving Orleans Parish Criminal District Court since 2003); former state and federal prosecutor
County Court Judge, Duval County; first AA female judge appointed to the bench in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Duval, Clay, and Nassau County, Tennessee
Chief Judge, Juvenile Court (New Orleans, Louisiana); President of Board of Trustees for the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association
Patrice A. Hinnant
Unknown
First woman elected by the Democratic Party to serve as a district court judge, 18th Judicial District (Guilford County, NC); first AA female assistant public defender; first AA female president of Greensboro Bar Association
First AA woman on Georgia Court of Appeals; first woman, first African-American, and youngest person to serve as director and judge of Appellate Division of the State Board of Workers' Compensation
Judge, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (Chesapeake, VA); 46th President of the American Judges Association (AJA) (2007–08); first female and first AA judge, 1st Judicial District of Virginia (1995); first judge from Virginia to lead AJA since its founding in 1959
Justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1988–1989; first AA woman appointed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court; first Black woman ever elected to the bench
Appointed by President Ronald Reagan as the first African American woman on the Federal District Court in Illinois and 9th AA female ever appointed to the Federal District Court; first African American ever appointed and third AA woman to serve on any federal appeals court as Justice of the 7th Circuit Court
Supervisory Special Agent assigned to the Drug Section-Colombian/Caribbean Unit at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.; part of the Drug Learning Team at the FBI Academy
First American woman to be admitted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers; first female Deputy Solicitor General of the U.S., Nixon Administration; Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois under President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Assistant Secretary, Manufacturing and Services, United States Department of Commerce; former Deputy General Counsel, United States Department of Commerce (under President Barack Obama); first AA female managing partner in Detroit, MI
an attorney from the Eastern District of New York. On April 24, 2015, she was confirmed as Attorney General of the United States of America, making her the first African American woman to hold the position
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison, United States Department of Justice (under President Barack Obama); former Associate General Counsel, Detroit Medical Center
civil rights activist and attorney, who was the head of the Washington, D.C. branch of the NAACP from 1979 to 1990. The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Social Action Award is named for her.
United States Surgeon General; third African-American woman to be appointed Surgeon General; first physician under the age of 40 and first AA woman named to the American Medical Association's Board of Trustees; former president of the Alabama State Medical Association; recipient of MacArthur Genius Award
First African-American female surgeon in the South; first single woman in Tennessee to adopt a child; first AA woman elected to the Tennessee State Legislature
First AA woman to graduate from Bellevue Hospital Medical College; one of the first female AA physicians in New York City; first AA woman to intern at Harlem Hospital; first female physician to ride with ambulance crews of Harlem Hospital for emergency calls; first AA woman, and for several years the only woman, to practice medicine in Harlem; first AA woman with admitting privileges at Harlem Hospital
United States Surgeon General (1993–1994); first African American, and the second woman, to be appointed Surgeon General; first African American Resident Pediatrician at the University of Arkansas Medical Center
First African-American female optometrist to practice in North Carolina; second African-American female optometrist licensed by North Carolina; US's first African American female fellow in the American Academy of Optometry
Founder of Black Girls Dive Foundation, Inc; pediatric neuropsychologist; first African American woman to hold a postdoctoral research fellowship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology
First woman to receive a dental degree from Meharry Dental College in 1919; one of the founders of the Urban League of Flint, MI; first black employee of the Flint Public Library system
18th Chief of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps; first Army Nurse Officer to be appointed as Director of Personnel for the Surgeon General of the Army 1987–1991; held the rank of brigadier general, 1991–1993
First AA female general of the United States Air Force; first United States Air Force female aircraft maintenance officer; first female Deputy Commander for Maintenance; one of the first two female air officer commanders; Personnel Staff Officer and White House Social Aide
Highest ranking AA female in the U.S. Air Force Reserve; second AA female pilot in the U.S. Air Force; first AA woman to command an operational flying wing; first AA woman to fly the Boeing 747 aircraft, the world's largest commercial aircraft
Founder and CEO of National Stop the Violence Alliance, Inc., a national organization geared to the promotion of nonviolence and to end violence without our communities
President and founder of the Children's Defense Fund; established and directed the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund Office in Jackson, Mississippi; first Black Woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar
State senator for the 5th District in Louisiana; first AA woman elected to the Louisiana State Senate; president pro tempore of the Louisiana Senate; founder of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus
First African-American female speaker pro tempore for the Tennessee House of Representatives; former president emeritus of National Black Caucus of State Legislators; first AA woman from Memphis, Tennessee elected to the House
First black woman elected to the Madison County Commission in Madison County, Alabama. The first woman to represent the sixth district of Madison County on the commission.
U.S. congresswoman from Ohio's 11th congressional district; former mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio (2000–2008); past national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (1996–2000)
State representative for 19th District of the Alabama House of Representatives since 1993; first African-American woman to represent the 19th District; former chairwoman of the Governor's Commission on AIDS
Former U.S. Congresswoman from Florida's 17th congressional district (1993–2003), first African-American elected to Congress from Florida since Reconstruction
U.S. Congresswoman from Ohio's 11th congressional district; first Black woman to represent Ohio in the House; former chairwoman of the House Ethics Committee (since 2007); first Black woman to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee
First Lady of Denver, Colorado; former member of the Colorado Legislature; the first woman of color to serve on the Colorado Joint Budget Committee; first woman to serve in the U.S. Department of Labor as the primary official for Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming
Colorado state senator; former Colorado state representative; first African American woman to serve as Majority Caucus Chair, chairwoman of Colorado Black Democratic Legislative Caucus
First black person elected to the City Council of St. Petersburg, Florida; first black female attorney in Pinellas County; third black female attorney in the State of Florida
First woman to become a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church; National Chaplain of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; granddaughter of Delta Sigma Theta founder Vashti Turley Murphy
Assistant Coach of Women's Basketball at Auburn University; former ABL and WNBA player; member of the 1996 Women's Basketball Olympics team that won gold in Atlanta
Two-time individual NCAA Champion; former captain of Alabama's NCAA Gymnastics Championship squad; former member of U.S. national gymnastics team; extra in the movie Stick It
^"Founders". Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Archived from the original on 2010-01-20. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
^ abHarris, Jessica (2008). "Women of Vision, Catalysts for Change: The Founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority". In Parks, Gregory S. (ed.). Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the Twenty-First Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. p. 77. ISBN978-0-8131-2491-9.
^Crump, Gwendolyn (Winter 2008). "Eyes on Our Youth"(PDF). Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. p. 9. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
^"Mary Futrell Biography". Education Makers. thehistorymakers.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-18. Retrieved 2008-06-29. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
^Brooks-Bertram, Peggy; Nevergold, Barbara Seals. "BIOGRAPHY: Muriel A. Howard, Ph.D."Uncrowned Queens: African American Women Community Builders of Western New York (Volume I). Uncrowned Queen's Institute for Research and Education on Women, Inc. Archived from the original on 2010-07-15. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
^"Joyce Ladner Biography". Education Makers. thehistorymakers.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2008-08-04. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
^"Special Talents". Alpha Tau Chapter – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-07-04. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
^"Judge Patricia Ann Blackmon". Court of Appeals of Ohio, 8th Appellate District. Archived from the original on 2008-04-23. Retrieved 2008-07-13. Retrieved April 7, 2008.
^"Meet the Executive Board". Old Dominion University Black Alumni Council. 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2010-01-24. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
^ ab"Famous Deltas". Alpha Tau Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 2007-08-20. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-03-01. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
^"Noteworthy NYAC Members". New York Alumnae Chapter – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
^"You Go Girl!!!"(PDF). Southern Gazette, The Voice of the Southern Region – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2008-08-20. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
References
Fine, Elizabeth C. (2007). Soulstepping: African-American Step Shows. Illinois: University of Illinois Press.
Giddings, Paula (1988). In Search of Sisterhood: Delta Sigma Theta and the Challenges of the Black Sorority Movement. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Hairston, Jr., Otis L. (2007). Picturing Greensboro. North Carolina: The History Press.
Ross, Jr., Lawrence (2000). The Divine Nine: The History of African-American Fraternities and Sororities in America. New York: Kensington.
Vroman, Mary Elizabeth (1965). Shaped to Its Purpose, Delta Sigma Theta, the First Fifty Years. New York: Delta Sigma Theta & Random House.