Feb. 20, 2025

NATCHITOCHES – Alumni and current students representing Northwestern State University’s African American fraternities and sororities, The Divine Nine, were featured Watson Living Library panelists Feb. 19 where they discussed how NSU’s Black Greek Letter Organizations impacted their lives and communities.  Prevalent themes of leadership, service and lifetime commitment emerged with panelists describing bonds of sisterhood and brotherhood that extend far beyond graduation.

Watson’s Living Library: Everyone Has a Story series is a concept that encourages individuals to share their experiences so that listeners get a first-hand account of what the person saw or lived through. The panels are recorded and become part of the collection at Watson Library that researchers can use to supplement books, journals and other traditional resources for research.

Brittany Blackwell Broussard, NSU’s director of Culture and Climate and instructor in the Department of Psychology, moderated the panel.  She is a member of the Natchitoches Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and serves as advisor to NSU’s Delta Sigma Theta chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and African American Caucus.

Panelists were alumna Mae Alice Culbert Williams (1974), Delta Sigma Theta; Hannah Davis of Hammond, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.; alumna Shevonté Lewis (2017), Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., alumnus Jerry Williams (1974), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.; TJ Woodard of Carencro, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.; Braxton Johnson of Shreveport, president of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., and Seth Archangel of Franklin, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

Mae Alice Williams and Jerry Williams were charter members of Northwestern State’s Iota Mu chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Theta Delta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in the spring of 1972.  Both said they had been supported by alumni of their respective organizations and encouraged to charter new chapters at Northwestern.

Current students echoed the sentiments expressed by alumni regarding the Black Greek Letter organizations as important components of leadership development, philanthropy and lifelong friendships.

“NPHC is a lifelong commitment,” Davis said. “You can join as an undergraduate member and they have graduate chapters, which are mentors for the undergraduate chapters.  It is a lifelong membership.”

Lewis said Zeta Phi Beta emphasizes scholarship, community service and sisterhood, as well as a  community where a Zeta is a leader, a friend and resource-savvy.

“They will be able to help you with anything you may need whether its physical or emotional.” Lewis said. “When I think of being a Zeta, I think of carrying these characteristics into any space I’m in.”

Jerry Williams, TJ Woodard, Braxton Johnson and Seth Archangel talked about the impact of Black Greek Letter organizations at NSU.

Mae Williams talked about Iota Mu Chapter’s first advisor, the late Edwina Lewis, a long-time Natchitoches educator and mentor who passed away in December. Edwina Lewis remained involved with the sorority until her passing.  Her husband, the late Rev G. Stanley Lewis, was an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity until his death in 2013 and had great influence on the NSU chapter in its early days.

Current NSU students all said that brotherhood, sisterhood and community service impacts leadership development.

“Our mission is to develops leaders, promote brotherhood and academic excellence while providing service and advocacy for our communities,” said Woodard, who is a regional assistant vice president of his fraternity.

“NPHC as a whole does a lot of community service,” said Johnson whose fraternity visits schools to mentor youngsters.  “Service means to me using what I have and my skills to develop new opportunities for somebody else.”

Archangel said getting involved with an organization at a young age provides a good foundation for leadership, suppor for each other and setting a high bar for achievement.

“Whether you are in the workplace, or an organization or in the community, make sure you are achieving and above the standard, being greater than good and aspiring to serve the public interest,” he said.