Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®
Central Region
Sonya L. Bowen currently serves as the Regional Director of the Confident Central Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.®
Central Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, was established in 1919 at the close of the second Boule held at the War Camp Community Center in Chicago. The Region is comprised of 92 graduate and undergraduate chapters located in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the southeastern portion of Missouri. Central Region is the home of over 5,000 dynamic active sorority members, who give their time, talent and resources to meet the needs of our communities.
Central Region is the home of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Corporate Office, located at 5656 South Stony Island Avenue in Chicago. It is also the home of Founder Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, who hails from St. Louis. Two of the sorority’s oldest chapters: Beta (Chicago Citywide) and Gamma (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) – are in the Central Region, having been established in 1913, and 1914, respectively, by Founder Beulah Burke.
Central Region is also home to several other of the sorority’s oldest undergraduate chapters: the original Eta (University of Minnesota), Kappa (Indianapolis Citywide), Tau (Indiana University); and graduate chapters: Gamma Omega in St. Louis, Eta Omega in Louisville and Theta Omega in Chicago. Central Region is also known for being the site of the publication and distribution of the Ivy Leaf® Magazine (1921 Boule in Indianapolis) and the home of the sorority’s first honorary member, Jane Addams, founder of Hull House. The capable and classy sisters of the Central Region have served at every level in Alpha Kappa Alpha since its inception.
The Confident, Charismatic and Charmed Central Region is proud to be a part of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® -- an organization that has devoted 112 years of service. Central Region is proud to be a part of the first Greek-lettered organization organized by and for college-educated African American women. Central Region is proud to be a part of a dynamic group of women who are talented, creative and blazing trails for present and future generations. Central Region is Confident its members will make an impact in the lives of our communities. Central Region is Charismatic while members work collaboratively to maximize their outreach globally. Central Region is Charmed in its implementation of service.
Central Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, was established in 1919 at the close of the second Boule held at the War Camp Community Center in Chicago. The Region is comprised of 92 graduate and undergraduate chapters located in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the southeastern portion of Missouri. Central Region is the home of over 5,000 dynamic active sorority members, who give their time, talent and resources to meet the needs of our communities.
Central Region is the home of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Corporate Office, located at 5656 South Stony Island Avenue in Chicago. It is also the home of Founder Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, who hails from St. Louis. Two of the sorority’s oldest chapters: Beta (Chicago Citywide) and Gamma (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) – are in the Central Region, having been established in 1913, and 1914, respectively, by Founder Beulah Burke.
Central Region is also home to several other of the sorority’s oldest undergraduate chapters: the original Eta (University of Minnesota), Kappa (Indianapolis Citywide), Tau (Indiana University); and graduate chapters: Gamma Omega in St. Louis, Eta Omega in Louisville and Theta Omega in Chicago. Central Region is also known for being the site of the publication and distribution of the Ivy Leaf® Magazine (1921 Boule in Indianapolis) and the home of the sorority’s first honorary member, Jane Addams, founder of Hull House. The capable and classy sisters of the Central Region have served at every level in Alpha Kappa Alpha since its inception.
The Confident, Charismatic and Charmed Central Region is proud to be a part of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® -- an organization that has devoted 112 years of service. Central Region is proud to be a part of the first Greek-lettered organization organized by and for college-educated African American women. Central Region is proud to be a part of a dynamic group of women who are talented, creative and blazing trails for present and future generations. Central Region is Confident its members will make an impact in the lives of our communities. Central Region is Charismatic while members work collaboratively to maximize their outreach globally. Central Region is Charmed in its implementation of service.
Former Regional Directors: Learn More
1. Pauline Kigh Reed (1919 - 1922)
2. Fredericka Brown (1922-1923)
3. Carolynne Payne (1923-1925)
4. Murray B. Atkins (1925-1927)
5. Althea M. Simmons (1927-1930)
6. Blanche Hayes Clark (1930-1934)
7. Alice E. McGhee Smart (1934-1937)
8. Arlene J. Washington (1937-1940)
9. Blanche L. Patterson Williams (1940-1943)
10. Maenell Hamlin Newsome (1943-1946)
11. Lucille Wilkins (1946-1950)
12. Evelyn Roberts (1950-1954)
13. Maude L. Mann (1954-1958)
14. Annetta M. Lawson (1958-1962)
15. Lee Anna W. Shelburne (1962-1966)
16. Ordie Amelia Roberts (1966-1970)
17. Johnetta Randolph Haley (1970-1974)
18. Gloria E. Smith Bond (1974-1978)
19. Peggy Jean Lewis LeCompte (1978-1982)
20. Mable Evans Cason (1982-1986)
21. Loann Julia Honesty King (1986-1990)
22. Yvonne Perkins (1990-1994)
23. Martha Perine Beard (1994-1997)
24. Peggy Jean Lewis LeCompte (1997-1998)
25. Nadine Celeste Bonds (1998-2002)
26. Dorothy W. Buckhanan (2002-2006)
27. Pamela Bates Porch (2006-2010)
28. Giselé M. Casanova (2010-2014)
29. Kathy A. Walker Steele (2014-2018)
Former Regional Directors: Learn More
1. Pauline Kigh Reed (1919 - 1922)
2. Fredericka Brown (1922-1923)
3. Carolynne Payne (1923-1925)
4. Murray B. Atkins (1925-1927)
5. Althea M. Simmons (1927-1930)
6. Blanche Hayes Clark (1930-1934)
7. Alice E. McGhee Smart (1934-1937)
8. Arlene J. Washington (1937-1940)
9. Blanche L. Patterson Williams (1940-1943)
10. Maenell Hamlin Newsome (1943-1946)
11. Lucille Wilkins (1946-1950)
12. Evelyn Roberts (1950-1954)
13. Maude L. Mann (1954-1958)
14. Annetta M. Lawson (1958-1962)
15. Lee Anna W. Shelburne (1962-1966)
16. Ordie Amelia Roberts (1966-1970)
17. Johnetta Randolph Haley (1970-1974)
18. Gloria E. Smith Bond (1974-1978)
19. Peggy Jean Lewis LeCompte (1978-1982)
20. Mable Evans Cason (1982-1986)
21. Loann Julia Honesty King (1986-1990)
22. Yvonne Perkins (1990-1994)
23. Martha Perine Beard (1994-1997)
24. Peggy Jean Lewis LeCompte (1997-1998)
25. Nadine Celeste Bonds (1998-2002)
26. Dorothy W. Buckhanan (2002-2006)
27. Pamela Bates Porch (2006-2010)
28. Giselé M. Casanova (2010-2014)
29. Kathy A. Walker Steele (2014-2018)
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