Notable Pi Phis
It's evident from your first encounter with Pi Phi that this is a special group of women — independent, adventurous, creative, dedicated and bright.
To us, each woman who graces our halls calls Pi Phi "home," and everyone who wears the arrow proudly is special in her own right. Here is a partial list of Pi Phis who have gained fame in their own unique ways.
Authors
Meredith Auld Brokaw, South Dakota Alpha
Owner of Penny Whistle Toy Stores and author of Penny Whistle series of books. Meredith's husband is broadcaster Tom Brokaw.
Marjorie Chalmers, Illinois Beta-Delta
Marjorie was the Settlement School nurse and author of "Better I Stay," a book about her experiences nursing at the Settlement School during the Depression.
Margaret Truman Daniel, D. C. Alpha
Author of mystery books and daughter of Harry Truman, 33rd president of the United States.
Sue Grafton, Kentucky Alpha
Author of the Kinsey Millhone mystery series.
Patricia Pritzkau MacLachlin, Connecticut Alpha
Author of "Sarah, Plain and Tall." Winner of 66th John Newberry Medal for "Most distinguished contribution to literature for children published in the United States."
Betty Jane Reed Voris Packard, Indiana Alpha
Founded Packard Consulting in 1975. Author of "When Someone is Crying" and recipient of 11 National Federation of Press Women writing awards.
Jane Bryant Quinn, Vermont Alpha
Journalist, author and freelance financial commentator. Author of "Everyone's Money Book," "Smart and Simple Financial Strategies for Busy People," "A Hole in the Market" and "Making the Most of Your Money."
Frances Allison Weaver, Kansas Beta
Senior editor for the "Today Show." Author of "I'm not as old as I Used to be," among others, and lecturer.
Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, Indiana Epsilon
Co-director of the National Marriage Project, a research and public education initiative based at Rutgers, that State University of New Jersey. Studies and reports on social and cultural trends affecting the state of marriage in America. Author of "The Divorce Culture" and "Why There are no Good men Left," among others.
SportsLaura Granville, California Alpha
Professional tennis player who made it to the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2007.
Kay Hall, Washington Gamma
Winner of gold and bronze medals in swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Nancy Hogshead, North Carolina Beta
Winner of three gold medals and one silver medal in swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Kelli Kuehne, Texas Alpha
Tours with the Ladies Pro Golf Association.
Tracie Ruiz, Arizona Alpha
Winner of two gold medals in synchronized swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Government and Politics
Eugenia Moore Anderson, Iowa Beta
The first woman ambassador to Denmark and the first woman minister to Bulgaria.
Virginia Murphy Blankenbaker, Indiana Delta
Indiana senator.
Marjorie Montgomery Bowker, Alberta Alpha
Served for 17 years as judge of the Family and Juvenile Court of Alberta, 1966-83.
Carrie Chapman Catt, Iowa Gamma
Suffragist. One of the driving forces behind the 19th amendment and founder of the National League of Women Voters.
Grace Goodhue Coolidge, charter member of Vermont Beta
Wife of Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States. One of first college educated first ladies.
Helen Eakin Eisenhower, Kansas Beta
Sister-in-law of Dwight Eisenhower, past president of the United States, and wife of Milton Eisenhower, president of Pennsylvania State University. Instrumental in founding Pennsylvania Epsilon.
The Honorable Orinda Evans, North Carolina Beta
U.S. district judge. First female district judge in Georgia and youngest judge in the country when appointed in 1979 by President Carter.
The Honorable Elizabeth V. Hallanan, West Virginia Alpha
U.S. district judge for Southern District of West Virginia. First woman on the federal bench in the fourth circuit. Appointed 1983.
Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas Alpha
U.S. senator from Texas.
Maggie Kernan, Indiana Delta
Indiana's former first lady.
Virginia Dill McCarty, Indiana Beta
First woman ever named to a full term as U.S. attorney, appointed by President Carter, 1977. Now in private practice.
Lisa Murkowski, Oregon Gamma
U.S. Senator for Alaska and the first Alaskan-born Senator to serve the state.
Dr. Evelyn Murphy, North Carolina Beta
Former lieutenant governor of Massachusetts and the first woman in Massachusetts elected to statewide office.
Phyllis Elliott Oakley, Illinois Epsilon
Diplomat, United States State Department. Served as assistant secretary of state.
Agnes Wright Spring, Wyoming Alpha
Historian. First person to serve as official historian for two states (Wyoming and Colorado). In National Cowboy Hall of Fame. Author of "Near the Greats."
Jenonne Walker, Oklahoma Alpha
Ambassador to the Czech Republic.
Valerie Plame Wilson, Pennsylvania Epsilon
Wife of former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, IV, and former United States CIA operations officer.
Theater, Film and the Performing Arts
Mary Elizabeth Blackmon, Louisiana Alpha
Actress, seen in "In the Heat of the Night"
Beth Brickell, Arkansas Alpha
Actress. Starred in 1960s television show "Gentle Ben."
Katherine Browne, Illinois Zeta
Opera star in 1920s.
Edith Chan, Texas Beta
Television producer.
Dianne DeWitt, Texas Beta
Model and television fashion commentator.
Betty Cole Dukert, Missouri Alpha and Gamma
Producer of "Meet the Press."
Faye Dunaway, Florida Beta
Oscar-winning actress.
Jennifer Garner, Ohio Eta
Star of "Alias."
Kathy Garver, California Delta
Actress and producer. Played Cissie on "Family Affair."
Rebecca Hoke Hollen, Texas Beta
Soap-opera actress.
Marilyn Horne, California Gamma
Metropolitan Opera star.
Traylor Howard, Florida Beta
Actress, star of "Monk."
Martha Hyer, Illinois Epsilon
Actress, seen in "McCloud."
Julia Kato, California Eta
Actress, On Emmy Award winning TV series "Rugrats" and hit movies "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie" and "Rugrats Go Wild."
Nancy Kulp, Florida Beta
Played Jane Hathaway, Mr. Drysdale's secretary, in the 1960s television show "The Beverly Hillbillies."
Rosemary Lane, Iowa Beta
Actress in 1930s, seen in "Sing me a Song of Texas."
Charlotte Lansing, New York Alpha
Opera singer in 1930s.
Ruby Mercer, Ohio Alpha
Metropolitan Opera star.
Patricia Neal, Illinois Epsilon
Oscar-winning actress.
Melanie Moore Paxson, Missouri Alpha
Actress, seen in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and starred in "Notes From the Underbelly."
Paula Ragusa Prentiss, Virginia Alpha
Actress.
Maudie Prickett, Wyoming Alpha
Actress.
Jane Sibbett, California Delta
Actress. Appeared on "Friends."
Robin Smith, Ohio Alpha
Filmmaker.
Sally Sockwell, Texas Beta
Stage actress.
Eileen Heckart Yankee, Ohio Beta
Actress. Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner.
Pioneers
Rhea McCarty Ahn, Ohio Beta
NBC's first American woman broadcaster to go behind the Iron Curtain, 1946. Great, great, great-granddaughter of President William Henry Harrison.
Dr. Leona Baumgartner, Kansas Alpha
Scientist. Served as commissioner of the Public Health Department of New York, and as deputy in the Agency for International Development with the State Department. Awarded a 1933 Pi Beta Phi Fellow for graduate study.
Rev. Peggy Bosmyer, Arkansas Alpha
The first Episcopal priest ordained below the Mason-Dixon line.
Frances Rosser Brown, Oklahoma Alpha
Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Responsible for establishing the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Dorothy Buffum Chandler, California Alpha
Chairman of the board, Los Angeles Times. Leader behind the establishment of the Los Angeles Civic Center. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion named in her honor.
Ann Turner Cook, Texas Beta
Was the original Gerber baby featured in the Gerber baby food ads.
Imogen Cunningham, Washington Alpha
World-famed photographer.
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. Welthy Honsinger Fisher, New York Alpha
Founder of Literacy House, India. Recipient of the 1970 International Humanitarian Award from Variety Club.
Ima Hogg, Texas Alpha
Philanthropist. Daughter of Jim Hogg, governor of Texas. President of the Houston Symphony. Collector of decorative arts housed at Bayou Bend, now a part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Established the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at the University of Texas, Austin.
Phyliss Hickman Howlett, Iowa Beta
Former assistant commissioner of the Big 10 Intercollegiate Conference; served as NCAA secretary/treasurer.
Dr. Sue Ann Huseman, Missouri Alpha
Monmouth College's 11th president and the first woman to hold that position; installed October 1995.
Dr. May Lansfield Keller, Maryland Alpha
Founding dean of Westhampton College at the University of Richmond Grand President of Pi Beta Phi, 1908-1918.
Maria Leonard, Indiana Gamma
Founder of Alpha Lambda Delta, National Scholastic Honorary for Freshmen Women.
Dr. Esther McDonald Lloyd-Jones, Illinois Epsilon
Pioneer in the field of college student personnel.
Dr. Isabel MacArthur, Manitoba Alpha
Given the second highest award in Canada, the Medal of Service of the Order of Canada, for her community service.
Marcia Mobley Mitchell, Missouri Gamma
Founded Little Light House in 1972 to help the handicapped children in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Dr. Louise Pearce, California Alpha
Major figure in development of the control of sleeping sickness.
Vida Peene, Ontario Alpha
Cultural leader of Toronto. Holder of 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.
Charlotte Tiller Schexnayder, Louisiana Beta
Newspaper publisher and first woman president of the Arkansas Press Association, first woman to be elected an officer and as president of National Newspaper Association, and first woman appointed to the Arkansas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Agnes Wright Spring, Wyoming Alpha
Historian. First person to serve as official historian for two states, Wyoming and Colorado. In National Cowboy Hall of Fame. Author of "Near the Greats."
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. (deceased)
Dr. Dorothy Truex, Oklahoma Alpha (honor initiate 1964)
Vice Chancellor Emerita at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. In 1974, was highest-ranked woman in education in Arkansas
Emma Eaton White, Iowa Zeta
Legal editor from 1895-1900. First woman to hold such a position.
Elmina and Alda Wilson, Iowa Gamma
Sisters and architects. Elmina was the first woman to earn a bachelor's of science in Civil Engineering (1892) and a master's of science in 1894. Designed Teachers Cottage at the Settlement School.
Others
Susan Akin, Mississippi Beta
Miss America, 1986.
Marilyn Van Derbur Atler, Colorado Alpha
Motivational speaker and Miss America, 1958. Named Outstanding Woman Speaker in America and the first woman to win the Speakers' Hall of Fame Award, 1980.
Lisa Morgan Beaupre, California Delta
Miss Teenage America, 1988.
Amy Biehl, California Alpha
Served as a volunteer for the Peace Corps in South Africa.
Dianne DeWitt, Texas Beta
Model and television fashion commentator.
Anna Fisher, California Epsilon (honor initiate)
Former astronaut and current NASA physician.
Gay Warren Gaddis, Texas Alpha
Founder, president and CEO of T3, an Austin, Texas, advertising, marketing and public relations firm that was named one of the largest woman-owned businesses in Texas.
Courtney Gibbs, Texas Delta
Miss USA, 1988.
Sonja Hillgren, Missouri Alpha
Editor of Farm Journal, the nation's largest farmer and agricultural businessmen magazine. Executive vice president of parent company, Farm Journal Inc. Former National Press Club president.
Dr. Susan Chace Lottich, North Carolina Beta
Breast surgeon and founder and director of the Center for Women's Health in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Jennifer Biddulph Maxwell, California Beta
Co-creator of the Power Bar.
Ann Sommovigo Moore, Tennessee Beta
President of People Magazine Group.
Susan Hills Murphy, New York Delta
Vice president of Student and Academic Services at Cornell University.
Dr. Valerie Neal, Texas Delta
Curator in the Department of Space History at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.
Barbara Oliver Tootle, Ohio Beta
Former special assistant to the president of The Ohio State University and motivational speaker among men's and women's fraternities. Co-winner of the 1965 National Amy Burnham Onken Award.
Jacquelyn Mayer Townsend, Illinois Epsilon
Miss America 1963. Stroke survivor and motivational speaker.
Frances Allison Weaver, Kansas Beta
Author and lecturer. Senior editor for the "Today Show."
Dr. Christine Kajikawa Wilkinson, Arizona Beta
Vice president for Student Affairs at Arizona State University.
Pi Beta Phi Fraternity Leaders
Olivia Smith Moore, Missouri Alpha
Grand Treasurer 1952 - 1967. The Silver Slipper Award honors her.
Amy Burnham Onken, Illinois Epsilon
Honored as the "greatest Franternity woman of all time" and grand president for 31 years, (1921-1952) the longest term of any Pi Phi grand president. The Amy Burnham Onken Award, Pi Phi's highest individual award, was established in her honor.
Jean Wirths Scott, Pennsylvania Beta
Leader in the fraternity world. Chairman of the National Panhellenic Conference 1995-97.
Emma Harper Turner, Indiana Alpha
Grand president 1890-1893. Established the first women's fraternity alumnae association for Pi Beta Phi. Also presented the plan for the Settlement School. The Emma Harper Turner Fund is a memorial in her honor.
Marianne Reid Wild, Kansas Alpha
Grand President 1952 - 1958. Installed our 100th chapter, Pennsylvania Epsilon.
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