History of the South Eastern Region

Alpha Kappa Alpha established itself in the South Eastern part of the United States with the chartering of Pi Chapter at Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, on April 12, 1921. In 1932, the Southern Region’s name was changed to the South Eastern Region. From its inception, the South Eastern Region was composed of eight states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Georgia, and Florida. To facilitate the responsibilities of the Regional Director, in 1953, the region was realigned. Kentucky was assigned to the Central Region, Arkansas and parts of Louisiana to the South Central Region, and Georgia and Florida to the South Atlantic Region. Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and parts of Louisiana remained as the new South Eastern Region. In 1962, another re-alignment resulted in the remainder of Louisiana being removed from the South Eastern Region, leaving the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee to operate as the South Eastern Region. This realignment enabled the Regional Director to work more closely with the chapters.

The region has hosted three national conventions, all in Nashville, Tennessee, one at Fisk University in 1928, one at Tennessee A&I State University in 1954 and the other at the Opryland Hotel in 2004. Three former South Eastern Regional Directors have been elected as National President, Maude Brown Porter – 1931, Arnetta G. Wallace – 1953, and Julia B. Purnell – 1962.

The South Eastern Region is proud to be home to one of the sorority’s distinguished founders, Harriet J. Terry, who was a charter member of Epsilon Gamma Omega Chapter in Normal, Alabama. Terry’s legacy lives on not only in Alpha Kappa Alpha, but as part of historic Alabama A& M University, where a building is named in her honor – Terry Hall.

Currently the South Eastern Region consists of 104 chapters that include 49 undergraduate chapters and 55 graduate chapters. The current cluster alignment provides for the region to be divided geographically into eight sub-units.

Popularly designated, the “Sophisticated Sorors of the South Eastern Region,” these hard-working, selfless, servant leaders have blazed new trails in their own right. Outstanding members include judges, teachers, state senators, attorneys, physicians, homemakers, school superintendents and outstanding, dynamic women from all walks of life. Their efforts have inspired women all over the world to reach new heights in programs and service to humanity.

South Eastern Regional Directors have been exemplary leaders of the region and many have moved to the Directorate level.

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