Divine Nine Alumni Making an Impact at Purdue

The nine fraternities and sororities that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) enjoy a proud tradition rooted in values that provide a lifetime of benefits through membership.

Known as the “Divine Nine,” the NPHC is comprised of historically African American fraternities and sororities, all of which are represented at Purdue. Membership is based on moral character, dedication to community service and commitment to academic success. Reflecting these values, members of NPHC have gone on to make a significant impact in communities nationwide – including here at Purdue.

Purdue is proud to boast a strong community of NPHC alumni who continue to demonstrate the values of their organizations as they serve as role models and advise today’s students. Whether guiding students towards a valuable resource, providing mentorship or lending a listening ear, these individuals embody the spirit of the Divine Nine and ensure the values of their organizations are passed on.  

The stories below are but a sample of the impact NPHC alumni are making on Boilermakers today.

Natasha Harris

Natasha Harris was no stranger to the Divine Nine growing up in North Carolina, with family ties to several NPHC fraternities and sororities. It was the influence of a high school mentor who was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, however, that led her to join the sorority.

“She was not your traditional mentor,” Harris says. “She was really transparent and assisted me during a difficult part of my life. When I was going through severe bouts of depression, she was there to listen to what I said without judgment. Sometimes, when we go through things, we don’t want people to fix them. We already know what work is required, we just want somebody to vent – and she knew when to allow me to vent and when to give me advice. One of the things that made her really influential was that she knew how to adjust and listen to the silence.”

Harris originally wanted to be a probation officer but, while working at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, was influenced by Melissa Exum, who helped Harris develop many of the skills she uses in her career today. At the recommendation of Exum, Harris decided to pursue her master’s at Purdue. Today, she serves as the associate director of diversity for Multicultural Science Programs and Science Scholars in the College of Science, teaches a leadership seminar class for first-year students and serves as a faculty advisor for Alpha Kappa Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma. 

In her role at Purdue, Harris provides a listening ear and serves as a resource for students, whether they’re looking for a study abroad opportunity, wanting to participate in research, seeking advice on interviewing for jobs and internships – or just want to stop by, grab a piece of candy and hear a Dad joke. She serves Purdue’s Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life (FSCL) community by providing recommendations on topics such as campus programs and risk management and serves as a leadership expert. Her interactions with students are guided in part by the mentorship she received from mentors with NPHC ties.

“It’s never just about you as an individual,” Harris says. “It’s always about who you can bring up to either your level or to exceed your level. When I think about NPHC and what I have learned from being in an organization, we’re all about trying to advance those who are behind us and looking out for those who are going to succeed once we’re gone.” 

Zenephia Evans

Zenephia Evans embodies a spirit of selflessness and has been a champion for Boilermakers since receiving her doctorate in biological sciences from Purdue in 1997. She draws on a variety of perspectives from her academic and career journeys, as well as a commitment to service to mentor today’s students.

“They are the future,” Evans says of students. “Some of the lessons in my life, I had to learn by living. Some of the lessons in my life, other people gave to me and I put them in my pocket. That’s what I aspire to do. If you want to learn your lesson the hard way, go ahead – but I’ll be there when you pick yourself up and want to move on. If you want to take the nuggets in life that I’m giving you and put them in your pocket so you don’t have that hard experience, then I’m all about giving it to you.”

A member of Delta Sigma Theta, Evans pledged with the Alpha Zeta chapter while a student at Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama. Evans found strong mentors with NPHC ties growing up and during her days as a student, setting the stage for her service to generations of students.

“There used to be a saying, ‘each one teach one,’” Evans says. “That means you reach back and pull other people up. I had Deltas in my life when I was in high school and middle school and I still keep in touch with them because they poured into me. I don’t keep that to myself. I try to pour it into somebody else.”

Today, Evans serves as the associate dean of students for advocacy and education. She has held numerous service positions, including working with the Black Caucus of Faculty and Staff, the Black Graduate Student Association, the Caribbean Student Association, Omega Phi Chi and Delta Sigma Theta, serving as the senior faculty fellow for Earhart Residence Hall, volunteering with local organizations such as St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and preparing meals at Lafayette Transitional Housing Center. She was the first African American woman to chair the Council on the Status of Women at Purdue University and was recognized with the Special Boilermaker Award from the Purdue Alumni Association. 

Whether in her career or service endeavors, Evans has aligned her values with her work.

“It was about making sure that whatever my chosen profession was, it gave me joy,” Evans says. “I needed to align my passions with what I was doing to be able to pay my bills. That’s the way I’ve always thought about it.” 

Crenel Francis

While Crenel Francis knew of Phi Beta Sigma before attending college, he was introduced to the fraternity at Florida A&M University before he could even set foot in his freshman dormitory when a Sigma introduced himself and offered to help him move in. In Phi Beta Sigma, Francis found an organization that reflected his values. 

“I realized that Phi Beta Sigma was truly the organization that I felt most a part of given their involvement with the community and the way they upheld themselves,” Francis says. “I feel as though I did something that was not part of the status quo – I did something because I valued it, starting with our core values of brotherhood, scholarship and service. Those really stood out to me.”

As a student, Francis took full advantage of the opportunities available to him. At historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) like Florida A&M University (FAMU), outstanding students are elected to a Royal Court, positions that play a significant role in fostering school pride and unity. Francis was selected as Mister FAMU, the top honor in the FAMU Royal Court. In this role, he served as an ambassador for FAMU, participating in recruiting activities, trips and events on behalf of the university.

“That was a phenomenal experience,” Francis says. “I was able to recruit a lot of students and be a mentor to a lot of young males that I didn’t even know I was being a mentor to just because they looked up to me. Because of those experiences, I realized I like helping people and particularly college students towards fulfilling their potential. I think those experiences really influenced where I’m at now in my career.”

Francis attended Purdue to pursue his graduate studies, completing a Master of Science in 2022. He has been working full-time at the university since then, first in the College of Agriculture and now as the associate director of diversity initiatives for the Business Opportunity Program in the Mitch Daniels School of Business. In his current role, he assists students in their academic and extracurricular pursuits and guides students toward internship and job opportunities. He also serves the FSCL community as an advisor for Omega Psi Phi.

Francis says he seeks to be someone students can confide in and look to for support when needed. 

“I think having those life experiences and being able to share from a personal standpoint is something that has enabled me to be more helpful and supportive in the interactions I’ve had with students,” he says. 

Martia Brawner King

Martia Brawner King joined Zeta Phi Beta as a first-generation college student at Bowling Green State University. As an undergraduate, King was heavily involved with organizing programs and, through her mentors, learned that many elements she enjoyed from her college experience could be part of a career in higher education. She went on to earn a Master of Education in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Wright State University and a doctorate in higher education leadership from Indiana State University. 

King initially sought opportunities to work with fraternities, sororities and cooperatives and worked with Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council organizations before coming to Purdue. In her role as senior assistant dean of student organizations and involvement, she had a hand in advising and guiding NPHC chapters at Purdue.

“I love the opportunities to give back to the group, talk the same language and have real, honest conversations,” King says. “There are always things that are different depending on your school and region, but there are cultural aspects and norms within all organizations where you can accomplish a lot and make connections.”

Today, King serves as the director of student involvement for Student Activities and Organizations. She directly advises the Purdue Student Government and the Student Fee Advisory Board. She has also served as a mentor to rising college students through programs such as the Posse Foundation, and as a mentor to colleagues in her profession through the Closing the Gap career advancement program. 

It’s the individual attention King provides to students that stands out, however. Having late-night conversations with students, relating personal experiences, connecting students with campus resources, helping students navigate troubling times in their lives and putting in countless late hours to support students are areas where she has undoubtedly had an impact.

“For many of the students, this the first thing that they have chosen to do that might be outside of their parents telling them what to do,” King says. “They might be a little nervous and not know what to expect. I tell them all the time it’s like family. If you have siblings, you have fights. It’s about getting along with your sisters or brothers you didn’t know you had and having to learn how to work within that, solve problems and rely on each other’s strengths. I can speak that language and I know it because I have an interest in the success of the organization.” 

Michael Preston

Michael Preston grew up in a farming community in rural Arkansas and found an opportunity for brotherhood and community impact through Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, a member of the NPHC. 

“Being part of an organization that worked closely with the community and focused on giving back was what drew me to the fraternity in the first place” Preston says. 

Through Kappa Alpha Psi, Preston gained mentors from leaders who exemplified achievement and leadership. Many of the people he admired most held advanced degrees and were excelling both academically and in service to their communities. Since arriving at Purdue, Preston has carried those values forward. As the founder of the Research the Underserved, Rural and Low-Income (RURaL) Lab for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer Disparities, he is advancing research to improve access to evidence-based interventions such as cancer screenings. Prior to his work at Purdue, Preston served as co-director of the Office of Health & Equity Disparities Research and Community Outreach & Engagement of the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.

“‘Achievement in every field of the human endeavor’ was a cornerstone value that I learned as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity,” Preston says. “They emphasized excelling in every area – personally, professionally and academically – while supporting others in their own paths to success.”

Preston serves as a mentor for Purdue students seeking their own achievements and greatness through the College of Pharmacy. As an assistant professor of pharmacy practice, he serves as a major advisor for several students. Many of these students already have professional degrees and some even have doctorates, but are seeking to expand their knowledge and impact through research. His mentorship is grounded in building a rapport with students, whether through formal advising or casual check-ins.

“They’re wanting to expand their knowledge and gain a stronger research foundation,” Preston explains. “Helping them see the many possibilities for their careers, share skills and provide the support they need to achieve their goals is deeply rewarding.”

Marion Blalock

The late Marion Blalock was a force for positive change and impact at Purdue dating back to her time as a student. As one of only about 20 Black women attending Purdue in the late 1960s, she and other student protesters urged the university to hire more Black faculty, offer Black history courses and establish a Black Cultural Center. She and six of her peers also became charter members of Purdue’s Zeta Theta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Blalock went on to lead the Purdue Minorite Engineering Program for three decades, providing mentorship, wisdom and strength for generations of Boilermakers. More than 2,300 Boilermakers came through the program and graduated with engineering degrees during her tenure. Her impact on the lives of young people began before they started their collegiate journeys. She oversaw the success of numerous outreach programs for junior high and high school students, many of which brought youth to campus for engineering programs.   

One of the Boilermakers impacted by Blalock is Ted McElroy (BS, Accounting and Finance), who had a relationship with Blalock that dated to childhood due to her friendship with McElroy’s father. As a teenager, McElroy was one of many youths who journeyed to campus to participate in engineering camps. He experienced Blalock’s influence on the Purdue community first-hand in this setting.

“She spent extra time during those camps making sure everything was alright and that I was on good behavior, but also making sure I understood the importance of what the camps were and why we were there,” McElroy recalls. “She could have just had camp counselors run the camp, but she was there all the time and present at events. It was important to her to feel that connection and be able to watch over her flock. She served as a true servant leader.”

McElroy (pictured, left), who describes Blalock as a mother or grandmother figure, continued to benefit from Blalock’s guidance during his college years. She was always a resource, whether it was helping McElroy connect with services on campus or making sure he understood his classwork. Depending on what a student or situation demanded, Blalock could be a beacon of encouragement – or a force who could offer the stern guidance a student needed to get back on track. No matter the situation, students knew that they had someone in their corner.

Generations of Purdue alumni, such as McElroy, draw on their experiences with Blalock in their professional and personal lives. The time she dedicated to providing personal attention to students struck a chord with McElroy, who now serves as the chief financial officer and chief operating officer for Phusion Projects, a global alcoholic beverage company. In the spirit of Blalock, he has dedicated his time to Boilermakers by serving as an Old Master in 2023, supporting students in the Business Opportunity Program and serving as a member of the Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life Advisory Council.

“Everyone has time and time to me is more valuable than anything,” McElroy says. “Being able to give that time and see somebody else shine is something I’m all about. I’m happy with the number of different relationships I’ve made through these opportunities.”

Purdue boasts a large community of NPHC alumni who serve as faculty and staff. Pictured from left to right are:

• Brandon Pitts, associate professor of engineering, Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering;

• Veronica Rahim, director of employer engagement, Center for Career Opportunities;

• Haley Davis, assistant director, Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life;

• Brittne Paramore, director, Office of Student Success and Global Engagement;

• Leo Green, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering; 

• Jacquelyn Thomas-Miller, director, College of Education Office of Advising and Retention;

• Jazmine Clifton, director, Purdue Promise; 

• Crenel Francis, assistant director of diversity initiatives, Business Opportunity Program; 

• Anne Edwards, director, Black Cultural Center;

• Titi Yusuf, revenue generation and development associate, Purdue Athletics; 

• Shaunta Scroggins, lecturer and assistant director of the Lead Forward Fellowship, John Martinson Honors College;

• Kayce Solari Williams, clinical associate professor, Department of Public Health; 

• Natasha Harris, associate director of diversity for Multicultural Science Programs and Science Scholars, College of Science.