JANUARY 30, 2022

Brothers,

As we close out January, I’m proud to announce that our membership numbers are about 3% ahead of last year’s numbers at the end of January. Brothers who were financial in 2021 are renewing their membership at a greater percent and we are reactivating brothers who have not been in the fold for a long time. I’m proud of the work of our International First Vice President and the membership team. Our fraternity cannot exist without its members. Please encourage our brothers to get active and to come back home. The work in our communities is plenty and it will take Sigma men at all levels to be the change we need. 

February will usher in the observance of Black History Month. Phi Beta Sigma has so many history makers that will be celebrated. I would encourage our chapters to also celebrate the history makers in your local chapter. We have brothers doing extraordinary things in our local communities and they are absolutely worthy of acknowledgment on your chapter websites and social media platforms. Giving them their flowers while they can smell them will mean a lot.

Lastly, I encourage brothers to get vaccinated that haven’t yet. The research continues to be clear - vaccination helps to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keeps us from putting the most vulnerable populations at risk. Please continue to adhere to the updated COVID policy now in the BluPrint. As always, please safeguard our organization with the best in conduct. 

In Service and Truth,

Hon. Chris V. Rey, J.D.
International President 
World-renowned chemist and LSU Professor, Bro. Isiah M. Warner celebrates retirement after illustrious career
Dr. Isiah M. Warner with Baton Rouge Mayor, Sharon Weston Broome, who gave him the key to the city in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the community.
photo by Heavenly Bliss Photography LLC
LSU Boyd Professor, Bro. Isiah M. Warner recently retired after 44-years in science and academia. A native of Bunkie, Louisiana, Bro. Warner received his Bachelor of Science degree from Southern University in 1968 and his doctoral degree from the University of Washington in 1977.

A pioneer in chemistry and a mentor extraordinaire within STEM, Bro. Warner is the first - and only - African American Boyd Professor which is the highest professorial honor within the LSU System. He has also served as the vice president for strategic initiatives and as the Philip W. West Professor of Chemistry

In addition to his contributions to the field of chemistry, he has conducted extensive educational research that focuses on maintaining and enhancing student education in STEM, with a particular emphasis on encouraging underrepresented students, including women and minorities, to pursue terminal degrees in STEM.

Through Bro. Warner’s leadership and mentorship, the LSU Department of Chemistry has become the leading producer of doctoral degrees in chemistry for African Americans in the U.S. and leads in the percentage of women who receive doctoral degrees. Prior to Warner’s arrival at LSU, there were only six African American chemistry Ph.D. graduates in its 150-year history. Currently, there are nearly 100. In total, Bro. Warner has produced 68 Ph.D. and 8 M.S. graduates out of his research group - more than half of whom are women and more than a third are minorities.

Bro. Warner has received many awards over the years. He was a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring - presented by President Clinton, in 1997; in addition to the American Chemical Society Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students in the Chemical Sciences in 2003 and the Lifelong Dedication to Science, Education and Mentoring Proclamation, presented by Governor John Bel Edwards in 2016. In 2017, he was named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. In 2019, he received the scientific journal Nature’s Mentor of the Year award.

Upon his retirement, Warner was presented with several prestigious awards and recognitions. 
Sigma's quickly respond to New York's worst fire in 10 years
On January 9, 2022, a fire ripped through a large apartment building in the Bronx, New York, killing 17 people, including eight children.  It was one of New York's most tragic days in the past 10 years. The city galvanized their resources to support all the victims affected by the devastation. The Beta Psi Sigma Chapter’s Founders’ Day celebration quickly turned to a call of action as the Brothers pulled their resources together to assist with the on-going city-wide efforts. The chapter collected up to a thousand donated items in packaged food, clothing & toiletries for the displaced citizens.
Mu Alumni Board to endow
Azikiwe/Nkrumah Scholarship
The late Bro. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Bro. Kwame Nkrumah, the first presidents of independent Nigeria and Ghana respectively, are distinguished alums of Lincoln University of Penn. and also honored members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. They both pledged at Mu Chapter as students.

In honor of these forefathers of pan-African American students at Lincoln and the invaluable academic experience to study and reconnect with their ancestral roots for generations to come, Mu Chapter Alumni Board (MAB) is endowing a scholarship. Through Lincoln's International Programs Department, scholarships will be provided to students who have displayed academic promise with at least a 2.7 GPA and a financial need that would otherwise prevent them from traveling abroad. So far, over $50K of a $100K goal has been raised.

In 2018, MAB was established by Sigma members who are also alumni of Lincoln University of Penn. MAB is an advisory board to Mu Chapter, the national fraternity's collegiate chapter established on Lincoln's campus May 11, 1922. MAB encourages its members to join AALU chapters and Sigma graduates chapters. MAB assists the advising Sigma graduate chapter by mentoring collegiates.
Theta Mu Sigma Chapter's
Founders' Day Worship Service
The Brothers of Theta Mu Sigma Chapter of Dallas, Tx. Along with Zeta sisters, attended the Founders’ Day Worship Service at Great Mount Olive Baptist church where Bro. Rev. Lionell Alexander is the pastor.
Rock Hill Sigmas keep community beautiful
The Zeta Theta Sigma Chapter, kicked off Founders' Day weekend with their first community service event on January 8th, 2022. The Adopt-A-Highway was an effort to keep one of Rock Hill's oldest African American communities clean and beautiful. 
GLOBAL FOUNDERS' DAY 2022
NEW YEAR, NEW CAREER!
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