Past Presidents

The Founders

The eight founders are Gladys Merritt Ross (Mother Founder), Julia Asbury Barnes, Ella Wells Butler, Marguerite Gross, Florence Steele Hunt, Edna McConnell, Gladys Cannon Nunery and Mildred Morris Williams.

Charter Members

Charlene Weaver*
Dr. Debra Defour-Pierce
Valerie Foster

Kim Johnson-Hewlett

Charise King
Cynthia Norman

Normearleasa Thomas

Darlene Zuber Bishopp

*Past President

Holly Zuber-Banks*
Jean Fields

Lynette Holmes

Bonnie Johnson

Joyce Mena-Polanco

Frances Reid

Dr. Augustina West

Past Presidents' Circle

Charlene Weaver

Motto: Lead with Passion and Purpose

Youth: Began our first Xinos and Kudo Program

Education: Attended our first Teach-a-Rama program in NJ.

Service: Continued to seek guidance from our chartering Supreme Ann Black. Worked with various Rockland County Organizations – Delta Kappa Gamma, MLK Center, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Corporation for Community Progress and many Rockland churches.

Leadership: Began developing activities to increase chapter membership.

Impact: Spearheaded our first Service/Scholarship Luncheon Nov 11, 2006 and honored 6 Rockland citizens (Service, Home and Community).

Holly Zuber Banks

Motto: Leadership is Bold as we are Soaring to Success

Youth: Started a vibrant youth group.

Education: Hosted a Teach-a-Rama.

Service: Partnered with East Ramapo Central School District for programming. Launched King for a Day Program.

Highlights: Participated in Youth Conference. Jordan Banks won 1st Place for Oratorical Presentation. Initiated new members; The Sophisticated Six (Spring 2009).

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Drusilla Kinzonzi

Motto: Rebuild and Strengthen our Sisterhood

Youth: Launched Hub Parents Affiliate Group, Soror Millicent Lee Advisor, Expanded King For A Day Oratorical Championship Contest, Hosted Dads & Grads Reception, Drafted Epsilon Chi Xinos & Kudos Constitution and Bylaws

Education: Launched our CEJJES partnership—The Coretta Scott King Book Club, which met on first Saturdays to provide a unique multisensory and interactive reading experience for students in grades 1-8. Hosted a district wide Teach-A-Rama at Rockland Community College. Attendees received Professional Development Credit for attending.

Service: November 14, 2009, 4th Anniversary, Scholarship & Service Luncheon, Pearl River Hilton, New York

THEME: “Bridge Builders Ensuring A Promising Future for the Youth”

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Sheila Evans Tranumn Associate Commissioner of Education New York State Education Department

November 13, 2010, 5th Anniversary - Citation Brunch

Pearl River Hilton, New York

THEME: “Change Agents Leading the Way & Making A Difference in the Lives of Young People”

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Valencia Douglas, Superintendent Pocantico Hill

Leadership:

Established New York State Tax Exempt Status with Mr. Dennis McGloster acting as our consultant/advisor.
Established the Epsilon Chi Educators Foundation, Inc (ECEF) to fund scholarship, educational awareness opportunities and other community youth-oriented programs.
2010 “Sophisticated Six” Inducted.
Launched the Epsilon Chi Gazette.
2011 “Phenomenal φve” Inducted.
Announced candidacy for Eastern Regional Director.
1st Chapter Newsletter Award to Epsilon Chi Chapter.
Installed as Eastern Regional Director at the 2011 Conclave New Orleans, Louisiana.

Impact:

Increased number Sorors, Xinos, Kudos, and Hub Parents
Increased number of Book Awards to Graduating Seniors (Xinos & Kudos)
Increased number of Sorors, Xinos, Kudos, and Hub Parents at ER conferences
Increased number of Sorors attending YES Planning and ER Retreat
Increased attendance at sister chapter signature events (Theta (Anniversary Luncheon)
Increased number of community service activities

Angie Despinasse Walton

Motto: A Vision to Fulfill

Youth: Believe in them, Assist them in Achieving, and Pushing them to Succeed

Education: Celebrated and honored those in the field through our annual spring luncheon.

Service: Giving back to our own.

Leadership: Expanding within.

Impact: Through her leadership our youth groups forged lasting bonds with our sister chapters’ youth groups. Also, although we were a small chapter, we were mighty. We successfully hosted our 75th Eastern Region Conference.

Ironda Lynce

Motto: Level Up and Electrify

Youth: Redeveloped the youth department.

Education: Focused on several book drives and furthering our partnership with the MLK Multipurpose Center.

Service: During the COVID 19 pandemic, Epsilon Chi Chapter continued all efforts to serve the community and donated food to one of its community based organizations, Catholic Charities.

Leadership: During her presidency strategic leadership, Epsilon Chi Chapter experienced its greatest growth and development. The chapter increased in membership as well as reclaimed our Sorors.

Impact: Seeing the need for a Sister Chapter in Westchester County, Epsilon Chi Chapter sponsored Zeta Eta Chapter, in the spring of 2021. Initiated Martine Cadet Memorial Scholarship in June 2021.

Dr. Tonya Couch-Jenkins

Motto: Next Level Moving with Excellence

Youth: Revived Xinos & Kudos Youth Department: youth attend conferences consecutively from 2023 to present, Increased Scholarship giving for college bound graduates

Scholarships awarded in 2022 ($3000)

The Martine Cadette Memorial Scholarship ($1000) – A. Hernandez

The Faith & Favor Scholarship - Crawford ($500) J. Obas

Book Awards – E. Butts and K. Hunter ($1000)

Scholarships awarded in 2023 ($2000)

The Martine Cadet Memorial Scholarship ($1000) A. Diaz

Initiated the Mauricette E. Couch (Jenkins) Memorial Scholarship ($500) for a graduate in Healthcare – K. Thom

Xinos/Kudos Book Awards ($500) 2 Xinos were awarded a book award

Book Awards - Graduating Xinos – C. Roundtree and H. Glasgow

Scholarships awarded in 2024 ($2025)

The Martine Cadet Memorial Scholarship ($1000) to N. Francis

The Mauricette E. Couch (Jenkins) Memorial Scholarship ($500) for a graduate in Healthcare to B. Omosebi

Xinos Book Awards ($525) – 9 Xinos were awarded a book award

Book Awards - Graduating Xinos

C. Preval, N. Merrit, A. Kelly, I. Peterson, B. Omosebi, N. Rodriguez, Fuller, C. Phillips , C. Ononaji

Scholarships awarded in 2025

The Martine Cadet Memorial Scholarship ($1000) - TBD

The Mauricette E. Couch (Jenkins) Memorial Scholarship ($500) for a graduate in Healthcare -TBD

Book Awards - Graduating Xinos & Kudos - TBD

Education: Successfully Hosted Youth Conference, March 2024, participated annually in Read Across NSPDK

Service: Annual Sickle Cell Walk with Fallen Angels, Annual American Cancer Society - Breast Cancer Walk, Monthly Health & Wellness Share, partnered with the IMANI Foundation, Inc for Annual Breakfast with Santa, Virtual Scholarship Reception, Calvary Baptist Back 2 School Fair

Leadership: Lead by Example

Appointments: Holly Zuber, National Veterans Chair (2021-2023), Drusilla Kinzonzi, National Epistoleus (2023); Dr. Liza Ortiz, ER Teach-A-Rama Chair (2021-present); Ironda Lynce, ER Publicity Chair (2021-2024); Angie Despinasse-Walton, ER Publicity Chair (2024-present)

Highlights:

Hosted Fall Cluster 1 (September 2021) for over 100 participants
Annually allotted Scholarship Funds to college bound scholars
Welcomed 10 new members in Spring 2023 – EXC
Increased membership to 37
Attended the 100th Alpha Chapter Celebration, May 2023
Attended the 83rd ERC and 100th anniversary in Orlando, Florida (July 2023) with 14 members
Celebrated Dr. Arlene Clinkscale and Drusilla Kinzonzi as the ER Citation Awardees (July 2023)
Chapter donated a milestone brick for 100th anniversary
Recognized as a Red-Letter Scholarship Chapter (July 2023, August 2025)
ER Recognition for Public Relations (July 2023)
Inducted our first Honorary Member (November 2023)
Initiated Fundraisers: Salute to Excellence, Reset January and Card Decks
Launched our first website (March 2025)

Impact: Increased membership to 37, increased scholarship giving

"To Foster a Spirit of Sisterhood Among Teachers and to Promote the Highest Ideals of the Teaching Profession"

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