notable pi phis

Meredith Auld Brokaw, South Dakota Alpha
Author, former Miss South Dakota and toy store owner. 

Carolyn Kates Brown, North Carolina Beta
Award-winning writer, editor and independent scholar. Author of A Daring Life: A Biography of Eudora Welty (2012), Song of My Life: A Biography of Margaret Walker (2014) and The Artist’s Sketch: A Biography of Painter Kate Freeman Clark (2017).  

Carol Wiley Cassella, North Carolina Beta
Practicing physician and the national bestselling author of three novels, Gemini (2014), Healer (2010) and Oxygen (2008).  

Marjorie Ohls Chalmers, Illinois Beta-Delta
Author of Better I Stay (1975), the story of Chalmers's career and life as a registered nurse at the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School in the Great Smoky Mountains community of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. 

Julie Jordan Chapman, Missouri Alpha
Senior West Coast Writer at People Magazine. 

Erin Summers Chase, Texas Delta
Cookbook author and the creator of 5dollardinners.com. She has appeared on “The Rachael Ray Show” and “The Jean Chatzky Show” on Oprah Sirius Radio. 

Susan Colebank, Arizona Gamma
Author of Black Tuesday (2007) and Cashing In (2009). 

Sandra Dallas, Colorado Beta
New York Times best-selling author of 16 adult fiction novels, four young reader novels and 10 nonfiction books including The Persian Pickle Club (1995) and Westering Women (2020). 

Margaret Truman Daniel, D.C. Alpha
Author, American classical soprano, actress, journalist, radio and television personality. She authored a series of murder mysteries and several works on U.S. First Ladies and First Families, including well-received biographies of her father, President Harry S. Truman and mother Bess Truman. 

Susie Gerrie Davis, Texas Zeta
Author, podcast host and public speaker. Author of The Grace Guide: Live Your One Beautiful Life and Dear Daughters: Love Letters to the Next Generation. Host of the Dear Daughters podcast. 

Ann Marie “Ree” Smith Drummond, California Gamma
Blogger, author, food writer, photographer and television personality who lives on a working ranch outside of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. In February 2010, she was listed as No. 22 on Forbes' Top 25 Web Celebrities. She currently stars in her own television program, The Pioneer Woman, on The Food Network which began in 2011. 

Emily Eddington, Illinois Alpha
Beauty blogger and YouTuber known for her emilynoel83 channel and the blog Beauty Broadcast. She has been featured in publications such as Elle magazine and the New York Times. 

Moira Forbes, New Jersey Alpha
Journalist and member of the Forbes publishing family. Moira is the publisher of ForbesWoman, a division of Forbes Media LLC dedicated to women in business and leadership. 

Sue Grafton, Kentucky Alpha
Author of detective novels. She is best known as the author of the "alphabet series" ("A" Is for Alibi, etc.) featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California.

Julie Wray Herman, Kentucky Alpha
Author of the Three Dirty Women mystery series. 

Sally Hogshead, North Carolina Beta
New York Times bestselling author of How the World Sees You: Discover Your Highest Value Through the Science of Fascination (2014), National Speakers Association Hall of Fame speaker, chief executive officer of How to Fascinate (Fascinate, Inc) and a former advertising executive.   

Elizabeth Paisley Huckaby, Arkansas Alpha
Author of Crisis at Central High: Little Rock 1957-58, documenting the events at Central High School during the desegregation of schools in Little Rock, including her work alongside the Little Rock Nine. As an English instructor and vice principal for girls, she was charged with protecting the first female Black students to attend the school, earning the ire of the community. Her book was published after her retirement in order to avoid retaliation, and it was later adapted into a film. 

Patricia Pritzkau MacLachlan, Connecticut Alpha
Children's writer, best known for the 1986 Newbery Medal-winning novel Sarah, Plain and Tall. 

Michelle Madhok, California Beta
Founder of SHEfinds Media. Her tips for online shopping have been featured in magazines, TV shows, news segments, radio and online. Her book Wear This Now was published in 2012. 

LuEsther Turner Mertz, New York Alpha
Co-founder of Publishers Clearing House and Choice Magazine Listening, an audio anthology of magazine writing for the visually impaired. She established the nonprofit Lucerna Fund to support the efforts of Choice Magazine Listening. She went on to become a major supporter of Lincoln Center, Central Park Conservancy, New York City Ballet, New York Shakespeare Festival, Joyce Theater Foundation, New York Botanical Garden, the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University, Joseph Papp's Public Theater and the American Civil Liberties Union. 

Susan McBride, Texas Alpha
USA Today Bestselling author of Blue Blood (2004) and the Debutante Dropout Mysteries. 

Ann Sommovigo Moore, Tennessee Beta
Chairman and chief executive officer of Time Inc. until the fall of 2010. She became the company's first woman CEO when she was appointed to the position in July 2002. Former president of People magazine. Moore created four highly successful magazines between 1994 and 2000: In Style, People en Español, Teen People and Real Simple. 

Betty Jane Reed Voris Packard, Indiana Alpha
Founder of Packard Consulting in 1975. Author of "When Someone is Crying." Recipient of 11 National Federation of Press Women writing awards. 

Jane Porter, California Delta
New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance and women's fiction. Her novel Flirting with Forty was made into the Lifetime movie of the same name starring Heather Locklear. In 2014, she received the Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Romance Novella. 

Charlotte Tiller Schexnayder, Louisiana Beta
Newspaper publisher and first woman president of the Arkansas Press Association, first woman elected an officer and as president of National Newspaper Association, and first woman appointed to the Arkansas Board of Pardons and Paroles. 

Elinor Tatum, New York Gamma
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the New York Amsterdam News. 

Frances Allison Weaver, Kansas Beta
Author of The Girls with the Grandmother Faces (1996), a columnist and National Public Radio commentator. 

Emma Eaton White, Iowa Zeta
Attorney who worked as a legal editor for West Publishing Company in St. Paul, Minnesota, from 1895-1900. She was the first woman to hold such a position. 

Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, Indiana Epsilon
Author who has written widely on marriage, family and child well-being for the Atlantic Monthly, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Post. She is the author of The Divorce Culture: Rethinking Our Commitment to Marriage and the Family (1997) and Why There Are No Good Men Left: The Romantic Plight of the New Single Woman (2003). 

Wynne Whitman, Pennsylvania Eta
Author of Smart Women Protect Their Assets: Essential Information for Every Woman About Wills, Trusts, and More (2008). 

Ruth Collins Altshuler, Texas Beta
First woman to serve and/or chair several boards, including the Salvation Army Dallas Advisory Board, the board of Goodwill Industries and the chair of the Board of Trustees of Southern Methodist University. She was also inducted into the Texas Woman's Hall of Fame. 

Eugenie Moore Anderson, Iowa Beta
U.S. ambassador to Denmark (1949–1953) and Bulgaria (1962–1964). She became the first American woman to represent the United States in a country allied with the Soviet Union. 

Dr. Leona Baumgartner, Kansas Alpha
Scientist who served as commissioner of the Public Health Department of New York, and as deputy in the Agency for International Development with the State Department. 

Amy Biehl, California Alpha
A graduate of Stanford University, Fulbright Scholar and an anti-Apartheid activist in South Africa. 

The Honorable Marjorie Montgomery Bowker, Alberta Alpha
Canadian family court judge and author. She served as Judge of the Family and Juvenile Courts of Alberta, the first woman to hold this position from 1966-1983. Following retirement, she wrote several national best-selling books on public issues. She received many awards, including the Order of Canada in 1990 (the highest civilian honor to be accorded a Canadian).  

Frances Rosser Brown, Oklahoma Alpha
Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductee, responsible for establishing the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee, Oklahoma. 

Barbara Bush, Texas Eta, Alumna initiate
Former first lady and founder of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.  

Rev. Peggy Bosmyer Campbell, Arkansas Alpha
Episcopal priest and professor. First female Episcopal priest ordained in the American South. 

Carrie Chapman Catt, Iowa Gamma
Suffragist and founder of the National League of Women Voters. 

Dorothy Buffum Chandler, California Alpha
Chairman of the board for the Los Angeles Times. Leader behind the establishment of the Los Angeles Civic Center. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was named in her honor. 

Trudy Clark, Maryland Beta
U.S. Air Force Major General. 

Grace Goodhue Coolidge, Vermont Beta
Former first lady.  

Dr. Gladys Henry Dick, Nebraska Beta
Co-discoverer of the Dick Test for scarlet fever and the antitoxin used in the treatment of Scarlet Fever. 

Dr. Davina P. Durgana, D.C. Alpha
Senior Multilateral Engagement Adviser for the Minderoo Foundation, one of Asia’s largest philanthropic organizations, and Senior Statistician for Minderoo’s Walk Free Foundation initiative. Her work as Report Co-Author of Walk Free’s Global Slavery Index is used by governments, corporations and nonprofits around the globe. She is a visiting professor at Oxford University’s Green Templeton College, serves on faculty at American University and the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., and holds a doctorate in International Relations from American University. 

The Honorable Orinda Evans, North Carolina Beta
U.S. district judge. 

Kathy Evens Fielder, Texas Epsilon
Fashion, lifestyle and design expert, social media influencer, TV host, entrepreneur, manufacturer and philanthropist.  

Anna Fisher, California Epsilon, Alumna initiate
American chemist, emergency physician and a former NASA astronaut. During her career at NASA, she has been involved with three major programs: The Space Shuttle, the International Space Station and the Orion spacecraft. 

Dr. Welthy Honsinger Fisher, New York Alpha
Founder of Literacy House, India. Recipient of the 1970 International Humanitarian Award from Variety Club. 

Elizebeth Smith Friedman, Michigan Alpha
Innovator of the science and art of cryptography. Inducted into the National Security Agency Hall of Honor in 1999. 

Gay Warren Gaddis, Texas Alpha
Business owner, speaker, author and artist. Founder and president of T3 (The Think Tank)leading marketing and advertising efforts for countless clients, including Dell Computer Corporation, Blockbuster Video, the Texas Railroad Commission, Taco Cabana, Hyatt Hotels and Shiner Beer. 

The Honorable Elizabeth V. Hallanan, West Virginia Alpha
U.S. district judge. 

Ima Hogg, Texas Alpha
President of the Houston Symphony and established the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at the University of Texas, Austin. 

Dr. Sue Ann Huseman, Missouri Alpha
Monmouth College's 11th president (1994-97) and the first woman to hold that position. 

Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas Alpha
Attorney, television correspondent, politician, diplomat and the 22nd United States Permanent Representative to NATO from 2017 until 2021. A member of the Republican Party, she previously was a United States Senator from Texas from 1993 to 2013. 

Betsy Wanless Johnson, Washington Gamma
Co-founder and president of SwimZip, the stylish go-to brand for sun protective clothing. 

Robie Kakonge, Arizona Beta
Uganda's Ambassador to the United States beginning in 2022. 

Elizabeth M. Kates, Pennsylvania Beta
Superintendent of the State Industrial Farm for Women in Goochland, Virginia (1932-1964). Founder of the Elizabeth Kates Foundation which provided support for women released from prison.   

Dr. May Lansfield Keller, Maryland Alpha
Founding dean of Westhampton College at the University of Richmond and former Grand President of Pi Beta Phi, 1908-1918.   

Patience Sewell Latting, Oklahoma Alpha
American politician who served as the first female Mayor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, from 1971 to 1983. 

Maria Leonard, Indiana Gamma
Founder of Alpha Lambda Delta, National Scholastic Honorary society for freshmen women. 

Karen McCarthy, Kansas Alpha
Former member of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1995-2005.

Dr. Susan Chace Lottich, North Carolina Beta
Board-certified general surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and management of benign and malignant breast disease. She has been certified by MD Anderson Cancer Network®, a program of MD Anderson Cancer Center. She was the first female surgeon to graduate from Duke University where she completed medical school, surgical residency and fellowship. 

Dr. Isabel MacArthur, Manitoba Alpha
Awarded the second highest award in Canada, the Medal of Service of the Order of Canada, for her community service. 

Icie Macy Hoobler, Ph.D., Virginia Alpha and Colorado Alpha
Physiologist and Biochemist. 

Virginia Dill McCarty, Indiana Beta
Attorney who served as the U.S. Attorney for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana from 1977 to 1981 and became the first woman to be appointed and serve a full, four-year term as U.S. Attorney. 

Margaret Milam McDermott, Texas Beta and Texas Alpha
Margaret McDermott’s first transformative gift to the University of Texas, Dallas in 2000 established the Eugene McDermott Scholars Program amongst other significant contributions. 

Lara Merriken, California Gamma
Founder and creator of Lärabar. 

Marcia Mobley Mitchell, Missouri Gamma
Founded Little Light House in 1972 to help handicapped children in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

Eleanor "Ellie" Smith Morrison, Texas Beta
First woman elected National Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America. 

Lisa Murkowski, Oregon Gamma
American politician serving as the senior United States Senator from Alaska, having held that seat since 2002. Murkowski is the second-most senior Republican woman in the Senate. 

Dr. Evelyn Murphy, North Carolina Beta
American businesswoman and politician who served as the 67th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 1987 to 1991, the first woman in the history of the state to hold a constitutional office. She is now the president of The WAGE Project, a United States nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating wage discrimination against women. 

Dr. Valerie Neal, Texas Delta
Curator in the Department of Space History at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum. She joined the Museum as a curator in 1989 and is responsible for artifact collections from the Space Shuttle era and International Space Station, most prominently the orbiter Discovery. She worked closely with NASA and Museum staff to orchestrate the transfer of Discovery to the Smithsonian and the release of Enterprise back to NASA in 2012. 

Phyllis Elliott Oakley, Illinois Epsilon
American diplomat who served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (1994–97) and Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research (1997–99). 

Dr. Louise Pearce, California Alpha
Major figure in development of the control of sleeping sickness. 

Vida Peene, Ontario Alpha
Cultural leader in Toronto who was awarded the Order of Canada's Service Medal in recognition of service to the nation. 

Dr. Bessie Evans Peery, Iowa Zeta
Graduated from the University of Iowa Medical School in 1883. 

Mardie Trask Sorensen, Vermont Beta
Executive Director of the Order of Omega. 

Agnes Wright Spring, Wyoming Alpha
Historian and the first person to serve as official historian for two states, Wyoming and Colorado. Inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. Author of "Near the Greats." 

Dr. Kathryn Lyle Stephenson, M.D., Nebraska Beta and Arizona Alpha
First board-certified woman plastic surgeon in the U.S. Named as the 1977 Woman of the Year by the American Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.  

Cheryl Thomas, Iowa Beta
Former Director of the Women’s Human Rights Program at The Advocates for Human Rights in Minnesota, a program she founded as a volunteer in 1993. In March 2011, she was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of “150 Women Who Shake the World.” 

Dr. Dorothy Truex, Oklahoma Alpha, Alumna initiate
Vice Chancellor Emerita at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. In 1974, she was the highest-ranked woman in education in Arkansas. 

Jenonne Walker, Oklahoma Alpha
U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic 1995-1998. She served in various posts in the U.S. Department of State, including that of political counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Sweden from 1981 to 1983, and was on the National Security Council during President Jimmy Carter’s administration. 

Clare Brown Williams, New York Alpha
American political leader. Recipient of the George Arents medal of Syracuse University in1959, a citation for patriotic civilian service from the United States Army and Department Defense and the first woman to preside over any part of national political convention, the 1960 Republican National Convention in Chicago. 

Alda Wilson, Iowa Gamma
She and her sister Elmina were the first American women to practice civil engineering after obtaining a four-year degree. She co-designed the Teachers Cottage at the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School with her sister.

Elmina Wilson, Iowa Gamma
First woman to earn a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (1892) and a Master of Science in 1894. Co-designed the Teachers Cottage at the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School with her sister. 

Valerie Plame Wilson, Pennsylvania Epsilon
American writer, spy novelist and former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer. As the subject of the 2003 Plame affair, also known as the CIA leak scandal, Plame's identity as a CIA officer was leaked to and subsequently published by Robert Novak of The Washington Post. A 2010 biographical feature film, Fair Game, was produced based on memoirs by Valerie and her husband. 

Kyle Zimmer, D.C. Alpha, Alumna initiate
President, CEO and co-founder of First Book, and the recipient of the Texas AFT’s Child Advocate Award (2019) and EY Entrepreneur of the Year® 2017 Award-Mid-Atlantic Region amongst other professional achievements.  From 2004 – 2008, Fast Company named Kyle one of 45 Social Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing the World. 

Jayne Appel, California Alpha
Former WNBA player at center who last played for the San Antonio Stars. 

Erin Cafaro, California Beta
American rower and two-time gold medalist in the women’s eight at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. A 2012 teammate included fellow Pi Phi Taylor Ritzel, Connecticut Beta. 

Kaleigh Gilchrist, California Gamma
Multi-time Olympian competing in women's water polo for Team USA. 

Laura Granville, California Alpha
Professional tennis player.  

Kaye Hall Greff, Washington Gamma
American swimmer, two-time Olympic champion and former world record-holder in two events. 

Nancy Hogshead, North Carolina Beta
American swimmer who represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics, where she won three gold medals and one silver medal. She is currently the CEO of Champion Women, an organization leading targeted efforts to advocate for equality and accountability in sport. 

Phyliss Hickman Howlett, Iowa Beta
Former assistant commissioner of the Big 10 Intercollegiate Conference and served as NCAA secretary/treasurer. 

Kelli Kuehne, Texas Alpha
Professional golfer starting in 1996. She joined the LPGA Tour in 1998 and her only LPGA Tour win came at the 1999 LPGA Corning Classic. She played on the U.S. team in the Solheim Cup in 2002 and 2003. 

Peggy Michel, Arizona Beta
Professional tennis player and assistant tournament director for the BNP Paribas Open. Peggy was a member of the U.S. NCAA Championship Team from Arizona State University in 1971 and 1972 and won three Grand Slam events with her professional doubles partner Evonne Goolagong. 

Taylor Ritzel, Connecticut Beta
American rower who was part of the United States women's eight team at the 2012 Summer Olympics alongside fellow Pi Phi Erin Cafaro, California Beta. The team won an Olympic gold medal. She has also been part of the women's eight world championship winning team twice, in 2010 and 2011. 

Tracie Ruiz, Arizona Alpha
Three-time Olympic medalist from the United States in synchronized swimming. 

Brita Sigourney, California Theta
Halfpipe freestyle skier. Three time Olympian, Olympic bronze medalist, three-time X Games medalist and the first woman to land a 1080 in a competition halfpipe run.