Alpha Kappa Alpha Women are distinctive women. These leaders and innovators are active in their
communities and countries. From poets to politicians, these phenomenal women are role models for
young people all over the world.
Ethel Hedgeman Lyle
Founder and "guiding light" of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Jane Addams
Founder of Hull House, Chicago, Illinois.
Marian Anderson
First African-American woman to sing at the Metropolitan Opera
Dr. Maya Angelou
Renowned novelist, poet, educator, dancer. National Ambassador for the
U.S. Committee for UNICEF, Grammy winner for Best Spoken Word. Her works
include "And Still I Rise" and "Phenomenal Woman".
Dr. Gwendolyn Calbert Baker, PhD.
President of the United States Committee for UNICEF.
Angie Brookes
The first woman President of the United Nations.
Gayleatha B. Brown
Consul General - Deputy General of the United States of America - Strasbourg,
France.
Yvonne Braithwaite-Burke
Former Congresswoman from California and first woman to chair the Democratic
National Convention.
Bebe Moore Campbell
Accomplished Author of Brothers and Sisters and
Your Blues Aint Like Mine.
Suzette Charles
Miss America 1984, contemporary singer and actress
Marva Collins
Founder of her own private school in Chicago's west side.
Sharon Pratt Kelly
The first woman to serve as mayor of Washington, D.C.
Ella Fitzgerald
Internationally famous jazz singer, known as the "First Lady of Song".
Valada S. Flewellyn
A renowned storyteller and poet.
Vonetta Flowers
First African-American to win a gold medal
in the Winter Olympics for bobsledding.
Bettiann Guena Gardner
Co-Chairwoman of Soft Sheen Products.
Zina Garrison Tennis Star.
Chamique Holdsclaw
Basketball Player for the Washington Mystics and Author of a book that
Chronicles her success.
Dr. Marilyn Hughes-Gaston
Assistant Surgeon General.
Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant
Advice Columnist for Essence.
Shirlee Tailor Haizlip
Author of The Sweeter The Juice.
Janice Huff
NBC Meteorologist and St Louis Emmy Award Winner.
Dr. Mae Jemison
Became the first African-American woman astronaut in 1992. She is also a noted
physician. She has done medical studies in Cuba, Kenya, and Thailand.
Virginia Johnson
Prima ballerina, one of the original members of the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Star Jones
Starlet Jones is a lawyer, former assistant district attorney and
former NBC news correspondent. She is also a past 2nd Supreme Basilues of AKA. She
is currently a co-host of TV Show "The View".
Coretta Scott King
Civil Rights Activist, Director of Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change and
Civil Rights Activism.
Gladys Knight Accomplished singer and actress.
Yvette Lee
Producer of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and A Different World, and creator
and executive producer of Living Single.
Jewell Jackson McCabe President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
Lt. Col. Anita McMiller Deputy Legislative Assistant to Chairman of Joint Chief of Staff.
Toni Morrison
Nobel prize winning novelist and poet whos works include Song of Solomon and Beloved.
Nichelle Nichols
Actress and Activist; Star Role as Lt. Uhura of Star Trek.
Jomarie Payton Noble
Humanitarian and actress; star of Family Matters.
Hazel O'Leary
United States Secretary for the Department of Energy.
Rosa Parks
Known as the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement", for refusing to
give up her seat to a white man in 1955. This launched the Montgomery
Bus Boycott which lasted for one year.
Suzanne de Passe
Chairman and CEO of de Passe Entertainment.
Lois Marion Roselyn Perinchief
First African-American woman to become Mayor of Bermuda (1997-2000).
Phylicia Rashad
Actress on the award-winning Cosby show and the TV series Cosby.
Sonia Sanchez
Noted author and poet.
Ntozake Shaunge
Author of for colored girls who has considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf
Jada Pinkett-Smith
Actress whose works include: The Nutty Professor, Set It Off, Menace to Society, and A Different World.
Marietta Tree
First U.S. Woman Ambassador to the United Nations.
C. Delores Tucker
National Chairman of the National political Congress of Black Women.
Dr. Debbye Turner
Humanitarian and Miss America, 1990.
Leah Tutu
Wife of South African activist Bishop Desmond Tutu.
Iyanla Vanzant Author of 10 books and Public Inspirational Speaker.
Marjorie Judith Vincent
Miss America, 1991.
Diane Watson
The first Black woman to preside over the California State Senate.
Faye Wattleton
The first woman to head the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Lynn Whitfield
Humanitarian and actress. She is the star of The Josephine Baker Story.
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