Alpha Inaugurates 35th General President in the “Gate City”

ALPHA MEN CELEBRATE THE INSTALLMENT OF THEIR NEW LEADER IN GREENSBORO

JANUARY 6–9, 2017, GREENSBORO, NC

Baltimore, MD (January 6, 2017)—Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the world’s oldest intercollegiate fraternity founded by African-American men, hosted its inauguration of its 35th general president in “Gate City,” Greensboro, North Carolina. The Gate City hosted Alpha and its more than 700 guests from around the world, who took part in 3 days of leadership development and official installation programs. The theme of the inaugural weekend was The Urgency of Now.

The new duly elected 35th general president of Alpha Phi Alpha is Everett B. Ward Ph.D. He has been actively involved in the fraternity and in leadership at the chapter, district, and regional level for 30 years. He is currently the president of Saint Augustine University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Ward was named the eleventh president of Saint Augustine’s University on April 10, 2015, by the board of trustees. Ward is an active philanthropist, supporting issues that are critical to families and communities. In addition to his volunteer leadership to Alpha Phi Alpha, Ward also serves as vice chairman of the Association of Episcopal Colleges. He also is a member of the board of directors of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). In addition, he is a member of the Sigma Pi Phi Boule.

“I am excited about the opportunity to lead the men of Alpha Phi Alpha as our 35th general president,” said Ward. “Given the state of our country and all of the challenges that we face, we have a tremendous opportunity to ensure that the voices of our people are not forgotten. In partnership with our fellow Greek-letter organizations and concert with other national organizations, we will take a bold stand on issues that are in the best interest of our communities.”

Jeff Johnson, award-winning journalist, communications specialist and chief strategist for JIJ Communications, also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, facilitated a public policy forum. The forum spoke to the role of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in addressing some of today’s most pressing civil rights and social justice issues in African-American communities around the nation.

Previous men to hold the position of general president of the 110-year-old community service fraternity include Ozell Sutton, civil rights activist; Raymond W. Cannon, NAACP attorney; and Ernest Morial, mayor of New Orleans, La.