Current Great Lakes Regional Director

Current Regional Director is Mrs. Gwendolyn Kirtley who was installed as the Great Lakes Regional Director in July 2022.  

Great Lakes Region

Great Lakes Region History

The proud history of the Great Lakes is built on the celebrated work ethic of sorors in the region and their intense love for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

There are ninety-seven Alpha Kappa Alpha Chapters located in Michigan, Western New York, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia comprising the AKA Great Lakes Region. The Region’s first Undergraduate Chapter was Zeta, chartered in 1916 at Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio. Alpha Omega, the Sorority’s first graduate Chapter was chartered as Eta Chapter in 1917 on the campus of Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

The region has 28 Regional Directors, six of whom served Alpha Kappa Alpha as National Presidents. Great Lakes sorority members, through the years, have rendered unwavering support of Alpha Kappa Alpha programs. Through their tenacity and perseverance, chapters have demonstrated loyalty to the programmatic thrusts of the International Presidents.

Former Great Lakes Regional Directors

L. Pearl Mitchell*
1st Great Lakes Regional Director, 1929 – 1930

Margaret Davis Bowen*
2nd Great Lakes Regional Director, 1931

Mattie Dalton Jackson*
3rd Great Lakes Regional Director, 1932 – 1934

Beulah T. Whitby*
4th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1934 – 1936

Wilbretta Pope Johnson*
5th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1937 – 1938

Irene A. Graves*
6th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1938 – 1940

Juanita Davis Webster*
Member of Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter, Columbus, Ohio
7th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1941 – 1942

Laura Thelma Fife Lovelace*
8th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1943 – 1946

Ruth M. Thomas-Hargrave*
9th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1948 – 1950

Fannette B. Norris*
10th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1950 – 1954

Gwendolyn C. Goldston*
11th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1954 – 1958

La Rue Frederick*
12th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1958 – 1962

Bernice I. Sumlin*
13th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1962 – 1966

Thelma C. Hollis*
14th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1966 – 1968

Altha C. Brown*
15th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1968 – 1972


Eva L. Evans, Ph.D.*
16th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1972 – 1974

Madelyn H. Giddens*
17th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1974 – 1978

Gloria S. Smith, Ph.D.
18th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1978 – 1982

Bella G. Parker, Ph.D.
19th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1982 – 1986

Ann C. Battles
20th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1986 – 1988

Emma Lilly Henderson
Member of Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter, Columbus, Ohio
21st Great Lakes Regional Director, 1988 – 1990

Phyllis E. Robinson, Ph.D.
22nd Great Lakes Regional Director, 1990 – 1994

Patricia Petty-Wilson
23rd Great Lakes Regional Director, 1994 – 1998

Rachel E. Ashburn Mallory
Member of Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter, Columbus, Ohio
24th Great Lakes Regional Director, 1998 – 2002

Pamela L. Redden, M.D.
25th Great Lakes Regional Director, 2002 – 2006

Schylbea Jean Hopkins
26th Great Lakes Regional Director, 2006 – 2010

Charlene Truitt Nelson
27th Great Lakes Regional Director, 2010 – 2014

Toni S. Kendrick
28th Great Lakes Regional Director, 2014 – 2018

Carrie J. Clark
29th Great Lakes Regional Director, 2018 – 2022



*Deceased


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