Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Past International Executive Director Visits Toledo

Special to The Truth

The eighth International Executive Director of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Betty James, EdD, visited Toledo as a guest of sorority member Brunetta O’Neal this summer. James, a resident of Chicago, Illinois, where AKA corporate headquarters are located, served as the executive director for 11 years before retiring in 2009.

This was James’ first visit to Toledo and in an effort to help her learn more about the Glass City, a luncheon was arranged at Real Seafood Restaurant.
 

Betty James, EdD

Accompanying James and her hostess, O’Neal, were Wilma Brown, former president of Toledo City Council and Schylbea Jean Hopkins, immediate past Great Lakes Regional Director and current International Chairman of the South Africa School Task Force of AKA. Hopkins, a resident of Detroit, grew up in Toledo.

Hopkins played an important part in hosting the Chicago visitor, including driving her down to Dayton to visit the 19^th International President of AKA, Bernice I. Sumlin, PhD. That segment of James’ visit was sponsored by the current Great Lakes Regional Director Charlene Truitt-Nelson along with local members of the Dayton chapter.
 

James, along with various sorority members, attended Sunday morning services at Warren AME Church on Collingwood and Indiana Avenues. James also visited the Toledo Zoo and the Toledo Museum of Art during her visit. O’Neal was assisted in her hosting duties by fellow sorors, Joyce G. Brown, Daphne Darden-Willis, Joan A. Martin-Harris, Leola Haynes and Judy Pace.

James was initiated into the sorority at Texas Southern University and is a lifelong member of AKA. She is a charter member and past president of two chapters of The Links, Inc in Texas. She earned her bachelors of arts degree from Fisk University, her masters degree in education from the University of Houston and her doctorate in education in administration and supervision from the University of Houston.
 

Schylbea Jean Hopkins

She came to the position of executive director after serving as assistant commissioner for access and equity, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board , Austin, TX.

Hopkins, a graduate of Ohio University, served in the Detroit Public Schools as teacher, counselor, staff coordinator, assistant principal and principal. She was initiated into AKA at OU in the Delta Phi chapter.  A graduate of Libbey High School, Hopkins is a member of the NAACP, the Order of the Eastern Stars, Golden Circle, National Alliance of Black School Educators, Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc, National Council of Negro Women, National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Copyright © 2014 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/16/18 14:12:27 -0700.

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