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About Iota Epsilon Omega

On January 31, 1971, 17 women from Bergen County, New Jersey gathered at the Marriott Hotel in Saddle Brook, New Jersey for their chartering ceremony, thus becoming the first graduate chapter of any black Greek-lettered organization in the county. For more than 18 months prior to this date, these women met under the leadership of Gene-Ann Polk Horne, laying the foundation for this newly formed chapter, Iota Epsilon Omega. Mrs. Horne later became the first elected President.
 
The ceremony was conducted by Anne Mitchum who was the North Atlantic Regional Director during that time. Mrs. Davis was assisted by Esther Pollard, a past North Atlantic Regional Director. Over 60 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
® women from around the region came to share good wishes for this long awaited event.
 
The 17 charter members continued to meet on a monthly basis in each other’s homes to set standards of procedures and by-laws that would govern the newly formed chapter. From the beginning, scholarships have been a major focus of the chapter. Over the years Iota Epsilon Omega has given over $400,000 in scholarships to deserving young men and women.
 
In addition to scholarships, the chapter has been a leader in community efforts to register
 voters, beautify neighborhoods, educate our youth, sponsor the arts, stroll to the polls, and sponsor programs and services related to health, economics, and education. We have advocated for literacy across all ages, helped build youth leaders, and planted trees.
 
The chapter is the sponsor of the undergraduate chapter Nu Kappa located at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck.

Charter Members

Mabel Beale*

Alice L Benekin*

Beverly Cannon*

Ethel McGhee Davis*
Jacqueline Gibbs*

Elizabeth (Graham) Early

Elaine Gunthorpe*

Olive Hazel*

Gene-Ann Polk Horne*

Gloria Howard*

Wilma Jones*

Barbara Kay*

Mildred Laster*

Virginia Lathen*

Louise Porter*
Barbara Wood*
Joanne Wynne​

​

(*) denotes deceased

Executive Leadership

Gail Smith, President

President@akaieo.org

Gwendolyn Larry, Vice President

Programs@akaieo.org

Yolonda Pickett, Recording Secretary

Recording_Secretary@akaieo.org


Tanisha Russell Day, 2nd Recording Secretary

Recording_Secretary2@akaieo.org

 

Alicia Henderson, Treasurer

Finance@akaieo.org

 

Regina Ladson, Financial Secretary

Financial_Secretary@akaieo.org

 

Intisar Foster, 2nd Financial Secretary

Financial_Secretary2@akaieo.org


Tiffany Lawson, Corresponding Secretary

Corresponding_Secretary@akaieo.org

Janiqua Green, Chaplain

Chaplain@akaieo.org

 

Samantha Wilson, Ivy Leaf Reporter

Ivyleafreporter@akaieo.org

​

Minnie Adams, Hospitality

Courtesy@akaieo.org


Jeanelle Beach, Historian

Historian@akaieo.org

Natalie Cureton, Graduate Advisor

Gradadvisor@akaieo.org

​

Nellie Jenkins, Sergeant at Arms

Philacter@akaieo.org


Ingrid Green Jones, Parliamentarian

Parliamentarian@akaieo.org


Intisar Foster, Web Mistress

Administrator@akaieo.org

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