Regional Director and Presenter Biographies

Our Internationational Regional Director

Carrie J. Clark is the current International Regional Director of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. She was installed in the role during the 70th Boule at Orlando, Florida in July 2022 following the appointment of International President and CEO Danette Anthony Reed. She previously served as the 29th Great Lakes Regional Director from 2018-2022.

Carrie was initiated into Xi Chapter at Eastern Michigan University in 1987, she is a proud life member and a Silver Star with 35 years of committed service in the sorority. Carrie transitioned from undergrad into Lambda Pi Omega Chapter, in Detroit, Michigan and has been a dedicated member ever since. She has held many leadership positions within the sorority. On the chapter level, Carrie has served as President, Vice-President, Historian, Member Liaison, Ivy Leaf Reporter and Parliamentarian. She also has served on numerous committees as either a chairman or member including the 2008 Metropolitan Chapters Centennial Founders’ Day celebration, Art in the Park and Lambda Pi Omega’s “Fabulous at Forty” Anniversary celebration in September 2017.

Regionally, she served on the Centennial Committee, Programs Committee and as the 2003 Michigan Cluster Chairman and the General Chairman of the 81st Great Lakes Regional Conference in 2012. On the International level, Carrie served on the Heritage Committee, International Membership Committee and on the Undergraduate Transition Taskforce. During her term on the Directorate as Great Lakes Regional Director, Carrie was Chairman of the Sorority’s Code of Ethics Committee, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and was the Directorate liaison to the Sanctions and Investigations Committees. Regionally, under her leadership, the Great Lakes Region nearly doubled in size to more than 7,000 members. The region also donated over $1.5 million to HBCUs, hosted the highest-attended conference during the 88th Great Lakes Regional Conference, as well as the first-ever virtual conference during the 89th Great Lakes Regional Conference.

Currently, Carrie is Director of the IT Project Management Office (PMO), IT Service Management Applications and IT Service Management Business Relationship at Henry Ford Health Systems in Detroit, Michigan. In addition, since 1995 Carrie has been an adjunct professor at Detroit area universities teaching in the areas of information technology and project management. She has received numerous awards including the DRIVEN award, the PMO of the Year finalist award and she was named a 2015 Michigan Chronicle Woman of Excellence, Eastern Michigan University Distinguished Alumni Award, Women of the Word Excellence Award, and Black Alumni Eastern Elite Award. Carrie holds BA and MSA degrees and currently is working on her second Master of Science in Health Administration.

Carrie has many affiliations and memberships including the Project Management Institute (Great Lakes Chapter), American Heart Association – Go Red Passion Committee, an Associate of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, a former board member for the Youth Development Commission (YDC) and The Great Lakes (MI) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated. Carrie is a member of Second Ebenezer Church in Detroit and is very blessed and thankful to have the support of her beautiful family — husband, Mark of over 27 years of marriage and two handsome sons (Ian Marc Clark and Noah Stone Clark). Mark and Ian are active members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Ian graduated in 2019 from Michigan State University, and Noah is a senior at the University of Toledo.

Carrie is elated to serve the members of the International Region because our sisterly bond transcends space and time.

Presenter Biographies

REGIONAL PROTOCOL JESSICA BENJAMIN

Reliable, Tactful, and Resourceful. These three adjectives describe Soror Jessica Benjamin. Jessica is a member of the Mu Gamma Omega Chapter in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. She initiated into our Illustrious Sisterhood in Spring 2017 through the Rho Xi Chapter of the University of the Virgin Islands. During her undergraduate tenor, she has held multiple leadership roles such as AntiBasileus, Grammateus and also chaired numerous programs. Soror Jessica also received the Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award in 2018 and under her leadership as Program Chair, the Outstanding Undergraduate Program Award.

Shortly after her graduation, Soror Jessica transferred immediately into the Mu Gamma Omega Chapter and also undertook roles such as Ivy Leaf Reporter, Cluster Co-Chair, Epistoleus, served on various committees, and is currently the Pecunious Grammateus. Throughout her five uninterrupted years of service, her dedication, passion, and work has been impactful. Soror Jessica takes pride in being able to provide service to all mankind and stands ready and willing to answer the call. She was recently appointed as the International Region Protocol Chair and accepts this role with enthusiasm.

CHAPTER FINANCIAL PROCEDURES TERRI BARNETT COLEMAN

Soror Terri is a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and Charter Member of Psi Delta Omega Chapter.

She’s a graduate of Indiana University, and was initiated into Tau Chapter in 1974. She has held many leadership positions within the sorority; Internationally, she served on the Standards Committee, Leadership Development Committee, and Chairman of the 2018-2022 International Investigations Committee. On the Regional Level, she served as Co-Chairman of the 2006 Detroit Boule, Chairman of the 16th and 17th International Regional Conferences, Chairman of the 50th Anniversary of the International Region, and is currently serving as International Regional Tamiouchos.

Soror Terri retired from General Motors Corporation after 34 years in Engineering Management. and Dealer Audit. She is a life member of Jack and Jill of America Incorporated, and Board Member and Treasurer of the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation. Soror Terri is the proud mother of daughter Soror Kasey Coleman, former Second Supreme Anti-Basileus.

Presenter Biographies

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS MISTI-DAWN CURRY

Soror Misti-Dawn Curry is a charter and current member of Omega Theta Omega Chapter who has resided in the United Arab Emirates for a decade in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Following Boule, she was appointed as the International Regional Representative to the International Program Committee.

In 2004, Soror Misti-Dawn was initiated in Beta Xi Omega Chapter in Tuskegee, Alabama. Since then, she has served as Basileus, Anti-Basileus, Anti-Pecunious Grammateus, Epistoleus, Standards Chairman, Technology Co-Chairman, and Hospitality Chairman in Omega Theta Omega Chapter. Regionally, she has served as the Pacific Cluster Coordinator and as a member of the Minutes, EAF, and Protocol Committees.

A native of Tuskegee, Alabama, Soror Misti-Dawn received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Tuskegee University and Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Literacy Specialization from Lesley University. After 17 years as an educator, she now works as an Educational Consultant and Trainer in Dubai, UAE.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS DA’SHAWN “DEE” DOARS

Soror Dee serves as the International Region’s Representative to the International Standards Committee. She was initiated into Sigma Xi Omega Chapter, Bermuda in November 2004. In her time as an Alpha Kappa Alpha woman she has served in a variety of roles both locally and internationally. On the chapter level she has held the positions of Ivy Leaf Reporter, Anti-Basileus, Basileus and MIP Chairman. On the regional level she has served as the 26th International Region Conference Chairman and the 30th International Regional Conference Co-Chairman. Internationally she has served as the International Region’s Representative to the Educational Advancement Foundation (EAF) and International Standards Committee.

Along with her commitment to AKA, Soror Dee is actively involved within other community organizations - her favourite being the theatrical community.

Soror Dee is honored to represent the International Region in her current role, and looks to continue offering a lifetime of active service.

Presenter Biographies

THE AKA BRAND 2.0 CARISMA RAMSEY FIELDS

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Carisma Ramsey Fields has been living in Dallas/Fort Worth for the past 14 years. A 2004 graduate of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, she earned an Associate’s Degree in General Studies, a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Graphic Communications, and an MBA. In addition, Soror Carisma is certified by Duke University’s Digital Media and Marketing program. She was also initiated in the Eta Chi Chapter at Northwestern State University.

In August 2019, she was recruited to become Vice President of Communications and Marketing at J.P. Morgan Chase. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Carisma was an 8-time Emmy Award Winning Senior Producer for KXAS / NBC-5 for 12 years.

Beyond being a part of the J.P. Morgan Team, she is the Basileus of the Alpha Beta Phi Omega Chapter, chartered on August 14, 2022, and currently serves as the International Media Relations and Production Chairman for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Carisma enjoys spending most of her time with her mini me, eight-year-old, Kennedy Naomi Fields.

MEDITATION YVONNE PEARSON

Yvonne is a member of Pi Upsilon Omega Chapter in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas since initiation in May 2017. She has held several positions including Hodegos, Chaplain, 1st Anti-Basileus, and presently Basileus. She served on several committees including Sisterly Relations, Membership, International Day of Prayer and currently on the International Spiritual Wellbeing Committee under the current administration.

Yvonne is a long-time member of The Pro-Cathedral of Christ The King Freeport, The Bahamas and a member of the Anglican Church Women (ACW), having held several positions including President, Vice President and currently Secretary. Yvonne retired in 2019 after 47 years as an educator with the Ministry of Education in The Bahamas teaching Family and Consumer Science, Home Economics and Catering and Business Education; spending the last 12 years in administration as Senior Mistress.Presently she supervises the “Lord’s Kitchen” a Ministry at church where they feed approximately 500 persons weekly.

A widow, with two children and three grandchildren, Yvonne spends her free time travelling with her sisters (2 of whom are also sorors) and grandchildren, reading, and cooking.

Presenter Biographies

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS E’THEGRA M. SYMONETTE

Soror E’Thegra M. Symonette is a Spring 1992 initiate of the Xi Pi Omega City Chapter of Delray Beach, Florida. She is a Silver Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, having been a member for over 30 years.

Her daughters, Sasha and Cheyenne Symonette are the first two legacies of the Tau Nu Chapter at the University of The Bahamas. As a a current member of the Eta Psi Omega Chapter, she also serves as the Graduate Advisor for Tau Nu.

Soror E’thegra is a member of faculty at the University of The Bahamas, teaching Law and Criminal Justice Studies and serving as Department Head for Law and Government.

Soror E’ Thegra is the Internation Region Represtentative to the International Awards Committee.

CHAPTER BYLAWS SUBMISSION REVIEW PROCESS RAMONA WELLS

Soror Ramona Wells was initiated into the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Eta Psi Omega Chapter in Nassau, Bahamas on December 7, 2014.

Since becoming a member, seven (7) years ago, she has served in her chapter as Ivy Leaf Reporter, Nominations Chairperson, Chaplin, Technology Chairperson and headed numerous targets like: ASCEND and THINK COLLEGE…THINK HBCU as well as organized one of the Chapter’s AKA Day at the Capitol events.

In addition to this, she has served the region as the Regional Communications Officer, served on the Region’s Protocol Committee and also as a VSG Escort.

At the International level, Soror Ramona was the International Region’s representative to the communications committee for six years and was the communications liaison to the EAF Committee.

Currently, Soror Ramona Wells serves as the Region’s Parliamentarian and is the International Region Representative to the Constitution committee.

Presenter Biographies

EAF PRESENTATION MARCELLE YHAP

Soror Marcelle G. Yhap was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated’s Mu Iota Chapter in San Diego, California in Spring of 2007. Serving in a small chapter gave her the opportunity to learn the many facets of the organization quickly.

Originally born in Liberia, West Africa she curated her career in education with the intention of moving back home and serving her country. After receiving her master’s in Education from the University of Southern California in 2014, Soror Marcelle returned to Liberia after being away for 25 years. In 2020, she completely relocated to Liberia and joined the infamous first international chapter, the Eta Beta Omega Chapter.

She became 1st Anti-Basileus in 2021 and continues to hold this position today. She also served the International Philactor Committee during the 2022 International Regional Conference and is currently the International Regional Coordinator for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation. She loves running programs especially geared toward education advancement.

MEMBERSHIP EXPERIENCE BANTI ZEHYOUE

Soror Banti C.V. Zehyoue was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated‘s Phi Sigma Omega Chapter in Gonzales, Louisiana in Spring 2004. A native of Monrovia, Liberia, Soror Banti survived the civil war in Liberia in 1991 and relocated to the Baton Rouge, Louisiana with her parents.

Soror Banti is a licensed clinical social worker and a doctoral candidate at Kennesaw State University. Soror Banti frequents between Liberia and the United States. She has been a member of Eta Beta Omega chapter, the 1st chapter in the International region since January 2017 where she currentLY serves as 2nd Anti-Basileus.

Soror Banti has served as an Ivy Leaf Reporter, Philacter, Epistoleus, 2nd Anti Basileus and worked with the international protocol committee during the 2022 international regional conference. She is the mother of two sons, Stephen-Eden and Benjamin-Asher.

Guest Entertainment Biographies

MUSICAL SELECTION ARICA JACKSON

Arica Jackson is a Black singer, actor, and dancer from Michigan., United States.

She has a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama. She has performed in the National tour and the Broadway Production of Waitress the Musical. She made her Broadway debut in Head Over Heels and is currently in the Broadway Production of Caroline, or Change.

SPOKEN WORD MARSHA WATSON

Soror Marsha Watson is a native of Detroit but currently resides in Houston, Texas. She has been performing for more than a decade. She believes that reciting poetry is her God-given ministry. She has independently studio produced two spoken word projects. “Broccoli don’t taste like Peach Cobbler” and most recently “Built for This!” Her style is to deliver powerful words over soulful beats. People describe her work as “down to earth,” “playful” “professional” and “very strong opinions.”

In 1991, she was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at Western Michigan University (Delta Chi Chapter). In 2020, she was honored with the Gwendolyn J. Brinkley Fine Arts award during the South-Central Regional Conference. In 2021, she competed in the Houston “Women of the World” Poetry slam. Her newest poetry album can be heard on all music platforms: Apple, Amazon and Spotify. You can follow her on Instagram at “Marsha Spoken.”

Marsha holds both a B.A. and M.A. degree and currently works in business development for a London based environmental company. She accomplished the very difficult task of earning a spot-on back-to-back Detroit slam teams (2007/2008) and advancing to the National Poetry Slam (NPS) competition. She has performed or shared the stage with Eric Robeson, Anthony David as well numerous poets.