Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc, an organization of professional nurses and nursing students was Founded October 16, 1932 by Ailene Carrington Ewell with the assistance of 11 young courageous RN’s. The Charter Chapter, Alpha was organized at Freedman’s Hospital in Washington, DC. Gamma Chapter was chartered in Baltimore, MD at Provident Hospital on April 26, 1946.
For several years, Soror Louise Bullock tried to begin a Beta Chapter at the then Coppin State College. On July 9, 1990, Soror Bullock received a letter from Mr. Earl Jenkins, Director of Student Activities. He informed her that she had permission to organize a Beta Chapter on Coppin’s campus effective September 1990. At this time, Soror Bullock, Beta Sponsor and Mrs. Rosa Cain, Beta facility Advisor, began to organizing the chapter. On March 23, 1991, Gamma Alpha Beta was chartered on the campus of Coppin State College.
At the time of Charting, Dr. Loretta Richardson was Dean of the Helene Fuld School of Nursing. The Basileus of Gamma Chapter was Soror Pearl Holland; the Supreme Basileus was Soror Mary Helen Morris, National Organizer, Soror Mary Lois Watkins and Northeast Regional Director Annie Griffin.
The Chartering members and elected officers of Gamma Alpha Beta Chapter were: Claudia Waters, Adrienne Ray, Sharon Litaker, Rosa Ragin, Jewel Edwards, Gloria White, Pansy Price, Juanita Gladney, Gertrude Morrison, Elaine McFALL , Sandra Napper, Emma Hudson and Carolyn Washington.
Since it’s Chartering, Gamma Alpha Beta has been very active on the campus of Coppin State University. They have participated in campus wide and community services. Many of their activities included Campus Wide Blood Drive, HIV education and the cleaning up of the Penn-North area after the Baltimore riot. Many of their participation in the Annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer walk as well as the education of women on the college campus. The chapter have worked in food pantries for homeless shelters and held clothing drives. Gamma Alpha Beta has also encouraged fellow Junior Nursing students with study sessions.
As a result of their services in the community, Gamma Alpha Beta was recognized by Coppin State Universities as Sorority of the year in 2014 and 2018.