#sororspotlight

[nmacdst1980]

Who is in the January 2017 #SororSpotlight? Jaivonne Seary received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Virginia State University in 2002 and crossed the burning sands into Delta Land at Virginia State University's Alpha Eta Chapter on April 16, 2000, as the deuce of her line. College is a place where many discover who they are. For most it's the coming out process from teenager to adult life, and for Jaivonne it was no different, with an added layer of personal discovery. Her experiences fueled her passion for helping others. In 2010, after years of working in the social service sector, she was the recipient of a highly sought after full-tuition scholarship to the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. There, she was awarded her Master of Social Work degree Summa Cum Laude with a concentration in Organizational Management and Leadership. One year later she obtained her license to practice in the State of New York. In 2012, after several years inactive, Jaivonne recommitted herself to DST, joining the North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter. As with everything in her life, it is very important for Jaivonne to feel comfortable being herself in any setting. It didn't take much to convince her that, "NMAC IS WHERE IT'S AT!!!" She was embraced and accepted immediately for her differences, allowing her to feel as if she found a new home in Delta. Jaivonne has focused her life, education, and work on creating, accepting, and affirming environments and communities both personally and professionally. She has humbly accepted her role as an activist and advocate in her own right. She has facilitated various events, workshops, trainings, and provided counseling focused on professional and personal development. Jaivonne has assisted in the implementation and facilitation of LGBTQ focused committees and groups both at her places of employment and in her community... Read Jaivonne's complete spotlight at www.nmacdst.org under the #SororSpotlight tab; #NMACDST #NMACis36 #NMAC36 #NMACShines #DST #DST103 headed into #DST104 #DST1913

[greekpara]

@Regranned from @zphib_pa - #SororSpotlight Meet Soror Imani Poteat @imani_alee 💙 She joined Zeta in spring 2016 Psi Xi Chapter at East Stroudsburg University. @esu_zetas Her Major is Public Health with a minor in Criminal Justice and she hopes open hee own nonprofit for teen mothers and underprivileged children. Fun fact - only one in my family with hazel eyes #ZphibPA #PAZetas (at Lineupgreek)

[nmacdst1980]

Who is in the September 2017 #NMACSororSpotlight? Dr. Lisa Long. Dr. Long is a native of Albany, GA, the Good Life City. She is a proud graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, where she earned her B.A. in Psychology and Georgia State University where she earned her Ed.M. in Early Childhood Education. After teaching elementary school in one of the largest school districts in Georgia, Lisa relocated to New York City to pursue her doctorate in Organization and Educational Leadership at Columbia University Teachers College. Upon earning her doctorate, Lisa began her career at the New York State Education Department where she currently manages two teams in the Office of Accountability, which has statewide responsibility for the Department's initiatives in the areas of School and District Accountability and Review, Migrant and Homeless Youth, and Title I/Compensatory Education. Lisa's office works to close the achievement gap by identifying and supporting schools and districts that are low-performing, as well as those interested in replicating the best practices of the state's Reward Schools. Currently, she and her team are coordinating the development of New York's plan to address the Every Student Succeeds Act. An active member in NMAC Lisa is newly elected to the 2017-19 Nominating Committee and is looking forward to serving the chapter in this capacity. She is currently a member of the Membership Committee and has previously served on the Local Projects Committee and the Black History Month Committee. Lisa is also a sustaining volunteer with the Junior League of the City of New York. She serves on the board of directors for the YWCA New York City, where she is also the Program Committee Chair. She has previously served on the boards of the Manhattan Charter School and the Harlem Educational Activities Fund. Lisa is a co-founder of The Ebony Vanguard: an intergenerational collective dedicated to power, progress, and play for women and girls of the African Diaspora. Read Lisa's complete spotlight soon at www.nmacdst.org under the #SororSpotlight tab; #NMACDST #NMACSororSpotlight #NMACShines #DST #DST104 #DST1913

[nmacdst1980]

Who is in the February 2017 #SororSpotlight? Chandra LaNier. Some would say that Chandra LaNier left Kent State University with all of her letters, her BS, her MA, her DST and her MRS. She crossed the burning sands April 22, 2001 Epsilon Mu Chapter at Kent State University in Ohio. As a collegiate soror, Chandra served as First Vice President and International Awareness and Involvement Chair. She graduated Kent State University in December 2003 with both her Bachelor of Science Degree in TV and Radio Production/ Minor in Studio Arts and her Master of Arts Degree in Media. On February 15th, 2004, Chandra said goodbye to her beloved Ohio moved to NYC and became a CBS Page. During her time working at the CBS Page Program Chandra married her college sweetheart, Shannon LaNier, Sunday, May 29, 2004 in Central Park surrounded by immediate family and friends. Chandra also met Kim Williamson through the CBS Page Program while working on the then Early Show who introduced her to another love, North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter.  As a member of North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter Chandra has held several positions including 2009 Fundraising Chair, Nominating Chair, Historian and 35th Anniversary Co-Chair and has served on numerous committees. Her favorite events include the Sisterhood Retreat, the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and newly added this year, the Breast Cancer Survivor Party. Chandra went from the Page Program to CBSNews Productions to MTV's Tempo eventually to BETJ working her way from Assistant Producer to Producer. Some of her shows included My Two Cents!, Leading Men and Leading Women. She had the opportunity to work with great talent such as Common, Neyo, Hill Harper and Wyclef Jean. The Maya Angelou episode of Leading Women was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. In her spare time, she freelanced with Black Enterprise producing and writing segments for Black Enterprise Business Report, Our World with Black Enterprise and their annual Women of Power Conference, which became Chandra's yearly must-do... Read Chandra's complete spotlight at www.nmacdst.org under the #SororSpotlight tab; #NMACDST #NMACis36 #NMAC36 #NMACShines #DST #DST104 #DST1913

[nmacdst1980]

Who is in the December 2016 #SororSpotlight? Charisse Penalver, Esq. is back in the spotlight because it's December! On the 13th of the month #NMACDST will celebrate the chapter's 36th year of providing "Innovative Programming with a Far-Reaching Impact."  The best way to start the celebration is with a reflection from an NMAC charter member and Past Chapter President that includes her favorite Delta moment to date. "I am honored to serve as the December 2016 Soror Spotlight, which coincides with North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter's 36th anniversary! Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever conceived that the initial decision to join NMAC would prove life altering.  Helping to charter an alumnae chapter just eight months after my initiation into our illustrious sisterhood serves as one of my proudest accomplishments in life.  I have remained active because of the relationships forged over the years while working on committees to impact the various communities in our catchment area.  Though I have now resided in southern New Jersey for 20 years, I continue to make a conscious decision to remain active with NMAC because there's really 'no place like home.' My favorite Delta moment : The chapter was chartered December 13th, 1980; [ in] 1981 the national convention was in Washington, D.C. [ and] that was the first national event that I attended.  Quite a few surviving founders were there and to have the opportunity to see them in person was special, [ as was] being on the mall and looking out as far as the eye could see - [ there was] just a sea of white; a sea of Deltas." Read more "Soror Spotlight" entries at www.nmacdst.org under the #SororSpotlight tab; #NMACDST #NMAC36 #NMACShines #DST #DST103 #DST1913

[nmacdst1980]

Who is in the October 2016 #SororSpotlight? Natalie Darrett Pressey. One moment can literally change a
person's life. For Natalie Darrett Pressey, that moment occurred nearly four years ago on October 3, 2012, when she was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma Stage III breast cancer in her right breast. In that moment, when she heard the word cancer she made a decision to become her own best advocate. As the Assistant Vice President and Controller of The New School in New York City, and with three decades of accounting experience, she was used to working with all the available data to get the job done and this would be no different. Natalie was determined to do all that was necessary to have a different outcome especially after losing both parents to the disease. She resolved to embark on her journey with as much knowledge as possible which sometimes meant challenging the medical industry so she could decide both on a team and course of treatment that were tailored toward her diagnosis and her best interests. Natalie had too much to live for: at that time a loving husband of 5 years, Keith Pressey, two wonderful daughters one of whom was still in college and a loyal group of family and friends as well as a sorority to which she was dedicated. Natalie has no doubt that all things leading to and through her journey were purposeful. She viewed witnessing both the pain and toll that chemotherapy and radiation took on her parent's quality of life as lessons so instead of becoming fearful and vulnerable at the sound of those three words ("You Have Cancer"), the memories gave her the strength to stand up to cancer. Because she challenged the norm when it came to her treatment every step of the way, she also wants others to take their power back as well so she willingly shares her journey... Read more about Natalie's journey at www.nmacdst.org under the #SororSpotlight tab; #NMACDST #DST #DST103 #DST1913 #Survivor

[nmacdst1980]

Who is in the September 2016 #SororSpotlight? Erica-Ruth Brown. Soror Brown is a multi media journalist for CBS News, and is currently on the campaign trail covering Hillary Clinton's running mate, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. She is one of seven campaign journalists on the road full time and has covered every Republican and Democratic Presidential candidate during the 2016 election cycle. Erica has been on the road documenting campaign events over the last 14 months, contributing to multiple network platforms including CBSN, a 24-hour digital streaming network, Face the Nation, CBS Evening News and the CBS News website. Prior to joining CBSNews' Political Unit in 2015, Erica worked for CBS News' Network Radio, their morning show, CBS This Morning and their National Desk where she assisted producers, correspondents and nationwide affiliates over the last three years. She developed a passion for journalism and politics in 2007 and started her career as a student journalist at NBC News' Washington Bureau where she produced a package highlighting the medical breakthroughs for HIV and AIDS and worked with producers covering politics on Capitol Hill. She's also worked with HBO Studio Productions and wrote for the NY Amsterdam News before landing her first post-graduation job with NBC News as an East Coast Page and a Program Coordinator for NBC's signature news magazine, Dateline. Erica graduated from Howard University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Political Science. She's worked with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program, New York Cares, and is a proud member of the North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Read more at www.nmacdst.org under the #SororSpotlight tab; #NMACDST #DST #DST103 #DST1913

[nmacdst1980]

Who is in the April 2016 #SororSpotlight? Soror Nicole Kimberly McCauley - Nicole Kimberly McCauley is a native New Yorker, who has spent the past 15 years working on behalf of young people in New York City. She started her career as an Admissions Officer at Pace University and then served as the Assistant Director of Recruitment at Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO). In this role, she transformed the scholars’ program recruitment and admissions process into a strategic and comprehensive operation. Hoping to make a greater impact, Nicole joined the Recruitment team at Harlem Village Academies (HVA), a nationally recognized charter school network where her primary responsibilities included hiring teachers and staff members for five schools. This past fall, Nicole joined the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality with the New York City Department of Education, where she is responsible for staffing over 1,800 public schools throughout New York City. Closing the academic achievement gap continues to be a passion and inspiration for her work with young people. She chooses to direct her skills towards helping disenfranchised students gain access to higher education and become first-generation college graduates. Nicole received her B.A in Philosophy, Politics and Law from Binghamton University and an M.A in Criminal Justice Leadership from St. John's University. She was extremely involved in a number of student organizations on campus, including Delta. Soror McCauley was initiated at Binghamton University in the spring of 1999, where she became a member of the Pi Eta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Inc. She served as the President and Vice President of the chapter and was recognized as “Sorority Woman of the Year” two years in a row. This year Nicole is celebrating 17 years in Delta and has remained a committed member of the North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter... Read more about Nicole K. McCauley at www.nmacdst.org under the #SororSpotlight tab; learn what quote she lives by and MORE. #NMACDST #DST #DST103 #DST1913 #NMAC35 - One Love, One Heart, One Sisterhood.