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Barbara A. McKinzie Installed as National President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

New President to Preside over AKA's Centennial Celebration

At a ceremony marked by a compelling mix of pageantry, pomp and ritual, Barbara A. McKinzie ascended to the position of national president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. The breathtaking spectacle took place on July 15, 2006 before an overflow crowd of AKAs. The gala installation, which was held in Detroit's Cobo Hall, marked a climactic high point of AKA's national convention that was held in the Motor City from July 12-16.

McKinzie, as national president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, will serve a four-year term from 2006-2010. She will be AKA's leadership face during its 2008 Centennial Celebration. Because the historic milestone falls during her administration, she is being officially titled the "Centennial National President."

As national president, she will guide policy, develop programs and set the leadership tone for Alpha Kappa Alpha's 200,000 members in more than 900 chapters worldwide. Founded in 1908, the Sorority is the oldest and largest of its kind and is hailed as "America's premiere Greek-lettered organization for Black women." Its membership includes high-profile women from all walks of life and from all disciplines including astronaut and physician Dr. Mae Jemison, poet Maya Angelou, actress Phylicia Rashad, entertainer Gladys Knight, entrepreneur Suzanne de Passe, Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson and political leaders Congresswomen Eddie Bernice Johnson, Sheila Jackson Lee, Juanita Millender-McDonald and Diane Watson.

AKA has gained acclaim for its commitment to service and, under McKinzie's administration, AKA is expected to intensify its dedication to service. To that end, McKinzie's administration will be driven by the theme ESP: Economics, Service and Partnership. McKinzie's programmatic focus will center on Economics, Education, the Black Family, Technology, and Health. She also plans to heighten AKA's service presence on a global scale.

The historic milestone will feature a yearlong celebration culminating in a gala week of tributes, salutes and praise in Washington, D.C. where it was founded at Howard University. The climactic celebration will coincide with the Sorority's annual convention in Washington, D.C. More than 20,000 members are expected to make the pilgrimage back to Howard during its national confab to honor its founders and to celebrate the triumphs the Sorority has made in its 100-year history.

Over 8,000 pink-and-green-clad members and guests witnessed the spectacular ceremony that culminated in McKinzie being installed. Among the thousands in attendance were Congressman John Conyers, Jr., who made a presentation and declared that his wife is an AKA; and celebrated filmmaker Julie Dash, also a member of the Sorority.

Ms. McKinzie is a nationally acclaimed CPA who has gained recognition for restoring financial credibility to governmental agencies through her financial savvy. She is currently Deputy Director of Finance and Administration for Chicago's Neighborhood Housing Services. Prior to serving in that position, she was Comptroller for the Chicago Housing Authority, the third largest public housing system in the United States. Immediately before joining the Authority, she served as Chief Financial Officer of the Cook County Forest Preserve. Other past positions she's held include Business Assurance Manager for Coopers & Lybrand, and Chief of Internal Audit for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Chief Financial Officer of Hollywood Casino Corporation-Shreveport, Louisiana. Her professional triumphs have earned her prestigious designations and awards including a listing in the "International Who's Who of Professionals in the World, Midwest and Business;" the "Outstanding Service Award from the Illinois Certified Public Accountants Society," and "2001 Woman of the Year" honors from the American Biographical Institute.

She has had a lifelong commitment to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and volunteers time, talent and treasure to uphold AKA's commitment to service to the disadvantaged. She was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in 1973 at East Central University in Oklahoma, where she is a native. She ascended through the ranks from chapter president to International Treasurer to Vice President and now to President. She also served as the Sorority's Chief Operating Officer from 1985-1987. McKinzie has won numerous awards for her dedication to AKA and its ideals including the Carey Preston Leadership Award for extraordinary service to the Sorority. She also earned the Central Region Program Award when she was president of Theta Omega. She owns the distinction of being the first to serve as Alpha Kappa Alpha's Chief Operating Officer and National President. The ultimate award and tribute, she said, is being overwhelmingly elected president and being given the chance to serve the Sorority at the highest level of leadership.

In addition to her 33 years of service to Alpha Kappa Alpha, McKinzie has served on the boards of a host of organizations and is a current board member of Africare. She is also ardently committed to cultivating young people for future leadership. Driven by this goal, she devotes much of her time to mentoring youth and crafting programs aimed at developing their leadership potential.

She holds an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management and graduated cum laude from East Central University where she received the school's "Outstanding Graduate" Award.

She resides in Olympia Fields, Illinois.

For more information on Ms. McKinzie and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, log on to www.aka1908.org.