Sister Scholars Advisory Council

Authorities on History, Culture, & Issues Relating to Women of the African Diaspora

The Sister Scholars Advisory Council (SSAC) provides information and recommendations regarding the program component and research projects of the Delta Research and Educational Foundation’s (DREF) Center for Research on African American Women.

The program components concentrate on the following areas of interest and concerns relating to the lives and well-being of African American women:

Economics
Education
Health and Wellness
International Affairs
Public and Social Policy

The research projects address critical subjects and investigate matters as well as topical issues identified by the SSAC. The Council serves as the Editorial Review Panel for PHILLIS: The Journal for Research on African American Women. The Council also serves as the Selection Committee for the Vivian A. Ware Research Fellowship and provides mentoring to the Ware Fellow.

The SSAC is comprised of African American women scholars and professionals who are authorities on the history, culture, and issues relating to women of the African diaspora.

2024 DREF Sister Scholars Advisory Council

Tchicaya Robertson, Ph.D., Chair
Takeia Anthony, Ph.D.
Sharon Barnett-Starks, M.S.W.
Kaitlin Blakeney, M.S.
Debra Bond, Ph.D.
Marlena Brown, Ph.D.
Marilyn M. Brown, Ph.D.
Zinga Fraser, Ph.D.
Kimberley Freeman, Dr.PH
Mary Howard Hamilton, Ph.D.
Carolyn E. Lewis, M.B.A.
Jennifer Payne Parrish, Ph.D.
Yarbrah T. Peeples, Ph.D.
Sonya Y. Ramsey, Ph.D.
Mary Redd, Ph.D.
Antoinette M. Rogers, Ph.D., DREF Staff Liaison

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded on January 13, 1913, by 22 collegiate women at Howard University to promote academic excellence and provide assistance to those in need. The Founders of Delta Sigma Theta envisioned an organization committed to sisterhood, scholarship, service, and addressing the social issues of the time.

Since its founding, Delta Sigma Theta has become one of the preeminent service-based sororities, with more than 300,000 initiated members and over 1,000 chartered chapters worldwide.

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