On Friday, June 20, 2008, six women continued the legacy of our five founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated into the community of East Lansing, Mich. Many of these women, having been initiated Phi Gamma Chapter at Michigan State University, saw a need to extend the zeal of the blue and white sisterhood into the city.
The charter members are: Sorors Asha D. Sutton (Barber), Terri L. Flowers, Monique R. McGregor, Tiffany M. Newsome, Katrina M. Ngalle and April L. Larkins (Sutton).
This chartering endeavor could not be completed without the faith, support and dedication to the founding principles of Finer Womanhood, Scholarship, Service and Sisterly Love shown by the following sorors, who are recognized by the chapter as honorary charter members: Sorors Assitou Bankston, Erica Griggs (Evans), Hawanya Elliot (Jackson), Amalia Mitchell, Markyshia Smith, Melinda Dobyne, Tara Gause-Paier, Naeemah Martin and LaKesha Rawls-Hunter.
During our Centennial year, Chi Iota Zeta Chapter welcomed the following sorors back home into Zeta: Sorors Angela Jones, Terri Flowers, Shanika Carter, Stephanie Scott-Sims and Cathy Billingslea.
Community Involvement
Chi Iota Zeta Chapter was recognized for its commitment to Z-HOPE (Zetas Helping Other People Excel) with a first place award in our chapter-size category for three consecutive years at the Great Lakes Regional Leadership Conference in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Our Z-HOPE projects have included Wigs for Awareness, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Meeting the Basic Needs, Veterans Women ROCK, March for Babies, Z-Pack It Up and Adopt-A-School, to name a few.
We have demonstrated our willingness to be a help to the community by completing several projects that meet the criteria for this national initiative, and every year we challenge ourselves with obtaining more Z-HOPE points than the year before.
Locally, the chapter has sponsored Sapphire Splash, an after-work networking event that brings professionals together in a casual setting to unwind and connect on a personal and professional level. We have also walked in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, March of Dimes - March for Babies Walk, and American Cancer Society Relay for Life, a 24-hour walk.
State Conference
In 2013, with the guidance from outgoing Basileus Terri Flowers and the enthusiasm of the incoming Basileus Cherelle McGhee, Chi Iota Zeta Chapter hosted the 46th MSO State Leadership Conference at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. It was under the leadership of Michigan State Director Elner Taylor (now regional director) and then Great Lakes Region Director Michelle Porter Norman.
Current Officers
Our 2020-2022 chapter leadership positions are held by: Soror Cathy Billingslea, Basileus; Soror Dominique Davis, First Anti-Basileus; Soror Terri Flowers, Grammateus; Soror Angela Jones, Tamias/Tamias-Grammateus; Soror Shanika Carter, Z-HOPE Coordinator; and Soror Kelley Kellis, Domestic Violence Chapter Coordinator.
Zeta Leaders
Soror Tiffany Newsome holds the appointed position of the Great Lakes Regional Scrapbook Chair.
Note: This is part of the Michigan State Organization’s online series "The MSO Great History Countdown! Our Centennial Journey to State Meeting" to leave a lasting gift to the state in honor of Zeta’s 100th anniversary. Histories from every graduate and undergraduate chapter in Michigan is being published in the month of September 2020 in the days leading up to the centennial state meeting. The project was approved under State Director Lynese Thomas’ administration, and overseen by MSO Epistoleus Earlene McMichael in partnership with MSO Historian Trudy Hale and Great Lakes Region Historian Norma Dartis.
