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Catherine Marshall, Past President 1976 - 1978

 

Catherine Marshall served as the thirteenth president of Beta Pi Omega. Her tenure was from January 1976- December 1978. She was initiated into Gamma Alpha Chapter at Philander Smith College in 1948. After graduating from Philander, Marshall obtained two Master's Degrees. One was in Elementary Education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the other was in Business Education from the University of Central Arkansas. She recalled that during her tenure as president, Alpha Kappa Alpha initiated the National Program of Reading, emphasizing Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) as a right and responsibility. In 1977, the focus became “Sister AKAdemics.” Beta Pi Omega became involved in negotiating a federal contract for Fair Park Elementary School where Soror Catherine Gill was principal. At that time, the chapter put many free books in the homes for black children and held story telling times at the YMCA in North Little Rock. During her tenure, our chapter began to initiate more members and received several transfers in membership.