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Program Participant Biographies
Soror Gail Forest
International Risk Management Taskforce Representative
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Soror Gail Forest, a Life Member and Silver Star, is active with Beta Eta Omega Chapter in Dayton, Ohio. She was a charter member of her undergraduate chapter and has held many leadership positions within her chapters including Basileus and Anti-Basileus of her undergraduate and graduate chapter; and graduate chapter Tamiouchos and Historian. On the Regional level, she served as Great Lakes Regional Conference General Chairman and is currently the Great Lakes Regional Parliamentarian. On the International level, Soror Gail served as a member of the International Human Resource Committee as well as the Regional Heritage Committee. She was the Great Lakes Regional Representative to the International Standards Committee under the past two administrations and currently serves as the Great Lakes Regional Representative to the International Risk Management Task Force. She has also chaired numerous committees in her chapter and conducted multiple workshops at the regional and international levels.
Professionally, Soror Gail is a retired member of the United States Senior Executive Service and was the Director of Engineering and Technical Management for the Air Force Materiel Command. In this role, she led the development and implementation of technical policies and practices and directed initiatives designed to improve the recruitment and career management of the command’s more than 14,000 military and civilian scientists and engineers.
She is a life member of the Air Force Association, Society of Women Engineers, NCNW, and NAACP. She is currently the Vice-Chair of the Combined Federal Campaign Dayton District Governing Board and is also a Board Member of Premier Health, the largest comprehensive health care system in Southwest Ohio.
Soror Gail has a B.S. in Engineering from Kettering University, a M.S. in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a M.S. in National Resource Strategy from National Defense University.
Soror Angela Reed
International Program Committee Representative
Soror Angela Reed is an Alumni of an HBCU and proud mother of Soror Mariah! Soror Angela was Initiated into the Gamma Mu chapter on the campus of Alabama A & M University. Soror Angela is a Life Member, Silver Star and active member of Iota Sigma Omega Chapter, Kalamazoo, Michigan. She has severed in many leadership roles. At the Chapter Level, she has served as Basileus, Anti-Basileus, Grammateus, Anti-Grammateus, Parliamentarian, Membership Co-Chairman, Pecunious Grammateus and numerous committee and chairman roles. At the Regional level she has served as Michigan Cluster Coordinator, Regional Grammateus, Great Lakes History Book Project Manager, Great Lakes Centennial Representative, and Traveling Exhibit Coordinator. Currently, Soror Angela serves as the Great Lakes Representative to the International Program Committee, Coordinator of the AKA Mobile Mammography Unit and proudly served on the Steering Committee for the Mississippi Health Project 2.
Soror Angela is truly humbled by the 14 years of regional leadership appointments and service under four Regional Directors! She is proud to have strategized and secured $150,000 in Corporate Sponsorship funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to develop educational and collateral materials to support the Centennial Traveling Exhibit under the leadership of our beloved 25th Supreme Basileus Soror Linda Marie White.
Professionally, Soror Angela is a Launch Program Manager in Research and Development at the Kellogg Company leading the Plant Based Protein Program Portfolio. She has 24 years of corporate experience leading large multi-million dollar complex Supply Chain and Innovation Projects.
Soror Angela is a proud Air Force military brat who spent her early years living in London, England. In her spare time, she loves to travel with her family. She has traveled the world to several European cities & Eastern Europe with the love of her life, Greg and her daughter!
Soror Jordyn Thompson
Soror Jordyn Thompson is a native of Cleveland, OH. She was initiated into the Lambda Mu Chapter at Miami University in Spring 2019. She graduated in May 2021 with a degree in Public Health and Fashion Corporate Business. While in her undergraduate chapter, Soror Jordyn served as Chapter Basileus, Grammateus, and Tamiouchos. She received the 2019 Rising Leader Award and the 2020 Most Outstanding Chapter President Award from Miami University and the 2020 Laura T. Lovelace Outstanding Soror Award from the Great Lakes Region.
Soror Jordyn transitioned from her undergraduate chapter to Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter in Columbus, OH. She currently serves as the Great Lakes Representative to the International Nominating Committee.
Upon graduating this past May, Jordyn began her professional career as a Project Coordinator for the fragrance brand, Michael Malul. One thing Jordyn values the most about this sisterhood is having the ability to serve and reach not only a college campus, but to have an impact on the world with like minded women.
Soror Rhonda Orr
Great Lakes Regional Awards Chairman
Soror Rhonda Barnes Orr is a Life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and has been a member since she was initiated into the Eta Rho Chapter in 1978. For Rhonda, AKA is a family affair: her daughter Meghan, sister, four nieces, cousin, and a great-niece are sorors as well. Rhonda has held several leadership positions in AKA over the years at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and currently serves as the Great Lakes Regional Awards Chairman. She was also a 1980 Leadership Fellows awardee.
Soror Rhonda received her bachelor of business administration degree from Morehead State University and a MBA from the University of Dayton (OH). She is currently retired after having a 37-year financial career with General Motors. Most of her career was at the management level at plants and corporate offices in both Ohio and Michigan.
Soror Rhonda and her husband James have been married for 37 years and are aspiring golfers as they enjoy their retirement. In addition to Soror Meghan, Rhonda and James have a son (Colin), daughter-in-law (Samantha) and grandson (Daniel Colin).
Soror Dolores Sturdivant
Soror Dolores A. Sturdivant is a Silver Life Soror and has been a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for 49 years. She was initiated October 23, 1972, on the campus of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Soror Dolores is a Charter Member and the 21st President of Lambda Pi Omega Chapter. She has been actively involved on the local, regional and international levels. She has served as Anti-Basileus, Audit, Economic Development & Program, and Basilei Council Chairman, Member-at-Large, and Treasurer of the Pearls of Promise Foundation.
Soror Dolores currently serves as the Great Lakes Representative to the International Membership Intake Process Committee. She served as EAF At-Large-Director from 2014-2018 and her chapter’s Legacy of Pearls Endowment was fully funded during that time. At the end of her term as director, she established the Dolores A. Sturdivant Educational Fund, which when fully endowed, will provide scholarships to students matriculating in business, finance, and law.
Soror Dolores earned a BA from Wayne State University and an MBA from the University of Detroit Mercy. She is the Founder and CEO of TDS Group, LLC, a business consulting company. She is a retired Financial Executive with a 44-year banking career. She has functioned in various leadership roles in the areas of International, Commercial, Nonprofit, and Community Development Banking and Lending.
Soror Dolores serves on the board of several nonprofit organizations. She has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Michigan Chronicle’s Women of Excellence Award and most recently the Michigan WBE Volunteer of the Year Award from the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council. Soror Dolores is an active member of First Baptist Institutional Church where she serves as a Trustee. She is a member of the Great Lakes Women’s Business Center and Inform.
Soror Dolores resides in Detroit, Michigan. She is married to her college sweetheart, Karl. They have two sons, Karl II (Sara) and Nicholas, and two grandsons Gabriel and Kadence.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (2 Corinthians 9:12)
Soror Sonia Jackson-Myles
Keynote Speaker
Soror Sonia Jackson Myles is the Founder of The Sister Accord® LLC & Author of “The Sister Accord: 51 Ways To LOVE Your Sister & 51 Ways To LOVE Your Children”. She is married and is the mother of two sons, Kendall, age 25 and Jordan, age 24. She is a native of Saginaw, MI. Soror Sonia graduated summa cum laude from Florida A&M University (FAMU) with a BS in Business Administration and an MBA in Marketing. Before launching her Sister Accord business full-time, Soror Sonia was an executive in Corporate America with over 20 years of experience.
Soror Sonia has received numerous awards for her outstanding achievements, including, Essence Magazine’s “Women of Power”, Exemplary Achievement Award from The State of Ohio Senate, YMCA Champion of Character Award, YWCA of Greater Cincinnati’s Career Women of Achievement Award, and The Legacy Award from The National Association For Female Executives, to name a few. Soror Sonia was inducted into FAMU’s School of Business and Industry’s Hall of Fame. In January 2021, Sonia was named as a Leader “Making Black History” by The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.
Soror Sonia is the Founder, President & CEO of The Sister Accord® Foundation, which has 3 areas of focus: Educating girls and women, Enlightening girls and women of the Power of Sisterhood and Eradicating bullying and violence against girls and women. She is also the Founder & CEO of The Accord Group LLC, which is a leadership development, executive coaching, employee engagement, branding & diversity consultancy. She launched her Dreamwalking® Executive Coaching & Leadership Development Program in 2015 and now has hundreds of “Dreamwalkers” (Mentees) walking in purpose and Designing Their Destinies. Soror Sonia currently serves as the Chairman for FAMU’s School of Business & Industry’s Advisory Board. She is also a Board Member for The Impact Young Lives Foundation, which supports leadership development for youth in S. Africa. The Sister Accord® Africa launched a chapter in Zimbabwe in August 2021.
Soror Sonia is a member of the Phi Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Her mantra is “There is always a seat at the table for excellence—focus on being excellent.”
Soror Jackie Davis-Betserai
Great Lakes Regional Coordinator for the AKA Educational Advancement Foundation
Soror Jackie Davis-Betserai is the owner of Jackie Davis State Farm Insurance in Canton, Michigan, co-owner of Vail Technology Consultants, and partner with High Impact Investments real estate investment group. She is also an adjunct professor with Wayne County Community College District in Detroit, Michigan. With 30 years of real-world corporate leadership and hands-on management experience, her career spans the automotive, information technology, insurance, healthcare, higher education, and non-profit service sectors.
Soror Jackie was the 1st African-American female Project Manager for Compuware's Software Products Lab in Farmington Hills, Michigan. She has been featured in "Who's Who in Black Detroit," recognized as a 2014 Michigan Chronicle Woman of Excellence and honored as a 2015 Woman of Achievement recipient.
Soror Jackie serves as a coach and mentor for several young professionals. She is 1st Vice President of Donahey Boys & Girls Club Advisory Council, a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, a member of the Project Management Institute, a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, a Life Member and an Associate Member of Jack and Jill of America Inc; and a member of the Detroit Chapter of The Moles.
Soror Jackie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Administration and her Masters of Arts in Information Resource Management from Central Michigan University. In addition, she holds the Project Management Institute's prestigious Project Management Professional (PMP) credential, a Six Sigma Green Belt, and an Online Teaching certification.
Soror Jackie is a Life Member and Silver Star of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Eta Iota Omega Chapter. She serves as Great Lakes Regional Coordinator for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation (AKA EAF), Chapter Basileus, and Chairman for the Service Builders Foundation, Inc. She is also a member of Triumph Church.
Soror Vanessa Coakley
Great Lakes Regional UAC Chairman
Soror Vanessa A. Coakley serves as the Great Lakes Region Undergraduate Activities Committee Co-Chairman. She has been a proud member for 20 years and was initiated into the Iota Sigma Omega Chapter on December 1, 2001. Soror Vanessa has served as Tamiouchos, AntiBasileus, Basileus and Graduate Advisor for the Delta Chi Chapter at Western Michigan University. She has chaired fundraising committee, audit committee and several target programs during her tenure. Regionally she has served on the tellers committee, undergraduate activities committee and a Regional Conference presenter.
Soror Vanessa is a Managing Director for Empower Retirement and responsible for plans over $500 million in the Not-For-Profit market. Vanessa is responsible for contract negotiations and leading a team of subject matter experts who assist with strategic-level aspects of the client’s retirement plan, including participant education and communications, plan design and benchmarking. Vanessa joined the company in 1994 and has over 27 years of experience in the retirement services industry.
Soror Vanessa has been married for 26 years to Vernon L. Coakley Jr. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma, Pi Lambda Sigma Chapter and the Chief of Police for the City of Kalamazoo. Their union produced three beautiful children, Vernon III, Soror Valerie, Iota Sigma Omega Chapter and Vincent, Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Kappa Chapter. Both of her sons are serving in the United State Marines Corp as Lance Corporals. She is the proud grandma to one year old Elijah!
Soror Vanessa received her bachelor’s in business administration from Western Michigan University and her MBA from the University of Phoenix, West Michigan Campus. She is a member of Way of Life Family Christian Center and a former Northside Rocket Football Cheerleading Coach. In her spare time Soror Vanessa enjoys reading and creating jewelry.
People will try to limit your success and doubt your ability. We aren’t expected to break barriers. Know that failure is not an option; challenges help you grow, and success is your promise from God. I desire to inspire young women to know their worth, remove limitations, compete against themselves and reach for the stars. Be about the business of Excellence!
Soror Toni S. Kendrick
Chairman of the Graduate Advisors’ Certification Committee 28th Great Lakes Regional Director
Soror Toni S. Kendrick was elected as the 28th Great Lakes Regional Director at the 83rd Great Lakes Regional Conference, and was honored to be re-elected at the 85th Great Lakes Regional Conference. Soror Toni has been a member of the sorority for 46 years. She is a life member and an active member of Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she served two terms as Basileus, Graduate Advisor, and many other positions.
Soror Toni was initiated into the Alpha Sigma, the Pittsburgh City Chapter, and was a charter member of Kappa Beta Chapter at the California University of Pennsylvania. She has held a variety of leadership roles in the Great Lakes Region including Cluster Coordinator for the Great Lakes and Northern Ohio/Western Pennsylvania cluster Coordinator. She also served as the Great Lakes representative to the International Connections Committee and currently (2021-2022) serves as Chairman of the Graduate Advisors’ Certification Committee.
A graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, Soror Toni earned a BS in Early Childhood Education, and holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Pittsburgh. She holds a School Administer Certificate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She spent 37 years in the Pittsburgh Public School System as a teacher, Instructional Teacher Leader, counselor, Area Lead Pupil Affairs director, conflict mediator, assistant principal, and principal. Soror Toni has received numerous awards in recognition of her community service including the Pittsburgh Courier’s 50 Women of Excellence Award, Key to the City, Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc’s Professional Woman of the Year award and Who’s Who in Black Pittsburgh.
Soror Toni is a member of New Destiny CME Church where she serves as a member of the trustee board. She is a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, soror and a person of deep commitment and faith.
Her favorite saying is “People my doubt what you say, but they believe what you do”
Soror Geraldine Horton
International Standards Committee Representative
Soror Geraldine Horton, affectionately known as Soror Gerri, is a graduate of Buffalo State College with degrees in Business Education, Masters Degree in Business Education and a CAS in School Administration and Supervision. In addition She holds a certificate of School Transformation and Turn Around from Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Soror Gerri was an employee of the Buffalo Public School System for 30 years prior to her retirement in August of 2012.
Gerri is a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, member of The LINKS, Inc, Buffalo Chapter, and a Member of Leadership Buffalo.
Gerri is honored to have served Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated as The Great Lakes Cluster Coordinator, Western New York Cluster Coordinator, Chairman of the 85th Great Lakes Regional Conference, Basileus and Anti Basileus of Gamma Phi Omega Chapter, Membership Chairman, Connections Chairman, and registration chairman of 2007 Great Lakes Regional Conference in Buffalo, NY and currently serves as a member of the International Standards Committee.
It is through service that we gain our greatest reward. It is most rewarding to have had an opportunity to serve the students and the community of Buffalo, New York as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and an Employee of the Buffalo Board of Education.
Soror Veronica Carter
Great Lakes Regional Tamiouchos
Soror Veronica Carter retired as a Senior Policy Analyst from the Internal Revenue Service in January 2017, after working for over 40 years. During her tenure at the IRS, she served in various management and leadership positions including, Paralegal, Office Audit Manager, Regional Analyst, Project Manager and Senior Policy Analyst.
Soror Veronica is currently the Great Lakes Regional Tamiouchos in the “Rise Up” Administration. She has previously served as Regional Tamiouchos and Regional Pecunious Grammateus under the leadership of the 25th, 27th and 28th Great Lakes Regional Directors. She is a Silver Star and Life Member of Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter where she has served in various leadership roles. She is a former First Anti-Basileus, Program Chairman, Tamiouchos and Member-At-Large. She currently serves as the Vice Chairman of Achieving Standards of Excellence Foundation, the philanthropic arm of her chapter.
Soror Veronica holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a minor in finance and accounting from Marylhurst University. She is the proud “Nana” to three grandsons who keep her quite busy.
Soror Wilma Dixon
Great Lakes Regional Pecunious Grammateus
Soror Wilma Dixon worked 40 years in the property and casualty insurance industry. She began as an underwriter with Allstate Insurance Company in Southfield, Michigan. She later joined The Auto Club Group (AAA Michigan) at its Dearborn headquarters as a Field Underwriter for the southwest Michigan company branch offices. She attained positions as Branch Underwriter I and II at branch offices in metropolitan Detroit. She moved to Product Development, Member Relations and later Insurance Regulatory Compliance Resolution departments. She retired in 2014 after being employed 35 years with the company.
Soror Wilma is a member of Fellowship Chapel in Detroit where she has served as a member of the Official Board. She is currently a member of the Steward Board and Dawn Ensemble. She is the recipient of the Women’s Christian Fellowship Distinguished Service Award. She is a life member of the University of Michigan Alumni Association. She has served as chairman of the Alumni Reunion Activities Council and the Reunion of Black Graduates. She is the recipient of the association's Distinguished Alumni Service Award.
Initiated in 1984 into Alpha Κappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Lambda Pi Omega Chapter, Detroit, Michigan. She is a Silver Star and Life Member. She has served as Lambda Pi Omega Chapter Basileus and continues to serve on several chapter committees. She is a past president of the Lambda Pi Omega Foundation of Detroit/Pearls of Promise Foundation. She has served on the boards of Amethyst Health, Inc. and the Reggie McKenzie Foundation.
On the regional level, she has served as advisor to the regional director, Graduate Advisor training assistant, Philacter, and is currently the Great Lakes Regional Pecunious Grammateus.
Soror Wilma received a B.A in Political Science from the University of Michigan. She also received a Certificate in General Insurance from the Insurance Institute of America. She is married, the mother of one son and the grandmother of four.
Soror Rachel Ashburn-Mallory
Soror Rachel Ashburn-Mallory was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Theta Chapter, at The Ohio State University, on June 3, 1972. She is a Silver Star and Life Member with 49 uninterrupted years of active membership. She is a current member of Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter located in Columbus, Ohio, where she served as Graduate Advisor, Anti-Basileus, Basileus and Parliamentarian.
Soror Mallory has received numerous community, professional and sorority awards, and served in several elected and voluntary positions with her professional organizations on the local, state, and national levels. She is the 24th Great Lakes Regional Director and a former Supreme Parliamentarian. She has served as Chairman of the International Constitution Committee, first Chairman of the International Risk Management Task Force, a member of the International Archives Committee and a member of the Editorial Advisory Committee for the 8th Edition of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated History Book “Priceless Pearls: Dimensions of Sisterhood and Service in Alpha Kappa Alpha” .
The Rachel Ashburn Mallory Undergraduate Leadership Development Scholarship was endowed during her tenure as Great Lakes Regional Director, and has been administered by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation since 2002. Professionally, Soror Mallory is a licensed occupational therapist and currently serves as the Director of Therapy for the Heinzerling Community, in Columbus, Ohio.
Soror Toyonna Robbins
Great Lakes Regional UAC Chairman
Soror Toyonna Robbins was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. She is a graduate of Beecher High School. Soror Toyonna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dillard University and a Master of Social Work from Wayne State University. She is a school social worker for the Genesee Intermediate School District where she serves the needs of children requiring special education and is also a licensed clinical therapist for AbleTo.
A lifelong active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Soror Toyonna was initiated in Beta Upsilon Chapter at Dillard University in 1996. With 25 years of active service, she is a proud Silver Star and is currently active with Zeta Beta Omega Chapter. She has served her chapter in many capacities, including Historian, Epistoleus, Graduate Advisor, Anti-Basileus, and Basileus. She currently serves as the Great Lakes Regional Chairman of the Undergraduate Activities Committee.
Soror Toyonna is a member of Word of Life Christian Church. She serves on the Usher Board, teaches children’s bible study, facilitates the baptisms, and organizes and teaches new member orientation.
As a lifelong member of the Flint Community her main objectives are to serve others, mentor youth, and help build a better city that we can all be proud of. Over the years, her commitment to youth has been demonstrated through her service to various youth organizations such as, Akettes Youth Group, Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Boys & Girls Club, the Flint Leadership Institute, and The Genesee Department of Health & Human Services Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative. Soror Toyonna also serves on the Genesee County Attendance Task Force and The League of Women Voters. She works diligently to serve with excellence and lives by the motto, “To whom much is given, much more is required”.
Bleed Pink: You’re Somebody’s Type
The 2021 Undergraduate Roundup and Leadership Conference is quickly approaching. All Great Lakes Region chapters, Graduate and Undergraduate, are encouraged to host a virtual or face-to face blood drive on or before October 22nd. The theme is, “Bleed Pink: You’re Somebody’s Type” .
Blood drives are to be held in collaboration with a local blood bank, including but not limited to, American Red Cross, Community Blood Center, Versiti Blood Center, NY Blood Center, Central Pennsylvania Blood Blank, and/or Beckley Red Cross Blood Donation Center.
Chapters that choose to host a face-to-face blood drive must be sure to follow all local and sorority mandates related to social distancing, including requiring chapter members to have the COVID-19 vaccine in order to serve onsite.
• Plan! Your chapter can have a single day event or hold the drive over several days. • Collaborate! Find a blood bank or organization to partner with. • Most blood banks already have a process for hosting a virtual blood drive, which includes registering your event and getting a specific link to send to participants. • Market! Get the word out by sharing on your local social media pages, send email blasts, and/or have chapter members text their family and friends. • Participate! Encourage chapter participation, which may include… Giving blood Encouraging others to give blood Helping people get checked in Providing snacks afterwards, if needed • Track! Each chapter must document and report the number of sorors and non-sorors who participated. (Click here for survey - ADD LINK TO REPORT). • Have fun! Be creative in making this event not just meaningful, but fun. • Set a goal for your chapter. • Have a competition within the chapter or with other organizations. • Offer prizes throughout the event and/or offer a prize to the chapter member who recruits the most donors.
CHAPTERS MAY HOST BLOOD DRIVES AND REPORT TO THE REGION BY NOVEMBER 30, 2021
CLICK HERE To Report
