UA’s Delta Sigma Theta Sorority to Host Past National President at Scholarship Event

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd, an accomplished engineer and the former national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., will be the guest speaker at the annual scholarship ball hosted by the Lambda Zeta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority at The University of Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 10.

The event “Crowning Achievement through the Legacy of Scholarship” will be held in the Sellers Auditorium of the Bryant Conference Center. The program will begin at 8 p.m. and tickets are $25.

Boyd earned a master’s degree from Yale University in mechanical engineering, becoming the first African-American female to do so at Yale. She is currently pursuing a master of divinity degree at Howard University. She graduated from Alabama State University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a double minor in physics and music.

Boyd began her career in engineering at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in the strategic systems department of the lab as a nuclear submarine navigation subsystem analyst. Currently, she is the chair of John Hopkins University Diversity Leadership Council and executive assistant to the chief of staff at John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

From 2000-2004, Boyd served as the 22nd national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., an international service sorority. During her tenure, she was known as the “Technology President” establishing technology in all facets of the sorority activities and administration. Under her leadership, the sorority received a $1.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation for Project SEE (Science in Everyday Experiences).

Each year, Lambda Zeta hosts a scholarship ball to recognize the outstanding academic achievements of the students in the Tuscaloosa community as well as celebrate the success of their chapter. This year, the sorority will honor two students from UA. Each recipient will receive a $1,500 scholarship to help them further their education.

Lambda Zeta donates over $15,000 annually to local charities including the American Cancer Society, Lupus Foundation, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama and West Alabama AIDS Outreach. In addition to its charitable donations, the chapter awards five scholarships annually to deserving students.

For additional information, please e-mail the chapter at lambdazeta@yahoo.com.