Leadership Highlight

Leadership Highlight: Diamond Mayo the Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta at Clark Atlanta University

In an effort to highlight the young leaders who are leading undergraduate chapters across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to the soros of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.’s Prolific Psi Chapter at Clark Atlanta University and did an interview with Diamond Mayo the Basileus/president of the chapter.

The position of president of an undergraduate chapter of a Black sorority is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes. 20-year-old Mayo has used the position to gain new leadership experience, improve the lives of other students on campus and help the community around her.

We interviewed the Early Childhood Education major and talked about her position, goals, future and what it means to hold a leadership on campus in the digital age.

Read the full interview below.

What does it mean to be a chapter president to you?

Being a chapter president means that I have a chance to fight for positive change I wish to see in the world. Being a president means I can bring about that from my position to impact others to want to join me to be advocates for the community. Being President of the Prolific Psi Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated means I’ve been given a daily opportunity to be a role model for all people (Greek or Non-Greek) because I have a chance to show them that it’s okay to be the best authentic self you can be. I know the zeal and passion from my founders, charter members, and Psi Chapter Sorors flow through me everyday.

What made you decide to attend the Clark Atlanta University for undergrad?

Rather than myself choosing Clark Atlanta University, it was Clark Atlanta University that chose me to attend for my undergraduate years. It was CAU’s premier historical legacy and HBCU presence that motivated me to apply during my junior year at Cedar Grove High School. I knew that Clark Atlanta University would lift my voice to be a great, poised, and elegant woman that would grow to be unapologetically Black.

What specific initiatives is your chapter heading up this year and how do you think they will improve the campus/surrounding community?

Psi Chapter is heading up initiatives such as March of Dimes, Breast Cancer Awareness, and maintaining a healthy body and healthy mind. I think that these initiatives will improve the campus and surrounding community by letting them know that there is a Community Conscious, Action Oriented organization committed to being there to support them. I believe that by us taking a stand on campus for what we stand for that the campus community will see that we want them to thrive and operate in Black excellence for all they do.

What made you want to pledge Zeta Phi Beta?

It was the principles of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood that made me want to pledge Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. I also noticed how the Zetas treated me on and off campus. I paid attention to how they welcomed me and embraced me for who I am where I could be my free and genuine self.

What is it about your specific chapter that makes it so unique?

The Prolific Psi Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. is a single letter chapter that was chartered on January 17, 1931. What makes Psi Chapter unique is that while we came from humble beginnings we have held our ground and have continuously been the epitome of scholarship, service, sisterhood and Finer Womanhood for 89 years. We are the only single letter chapter belonging to Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated to still remain standing in the state of Georgia. That’s what makes the chapter so special and unique.

We now live in a digital world, what do you think undergraduate chapters across all orgs need to do to represent themselves online in 2018?

I believe undergraduate chapters across all organizations need to rebrand their images to represent strong and powerful African American young men and young women committed to service and helping of others to represent themselves very well online in 2019. While it’s great to show our fun side by strolling, I believe that showing our compassion and love for helping people will take us further not just in 2019, but in the future. I also believe that we need to be mindful of what we post because the Internet is forever and everything we do will always be remembered somehow. So if we are to represent our prestigious organizations, I charge that we make everything count.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership to me means that I am willing to be strong to stand up and advocate for others and to serve so that others can live better. Leadership to me means being a beacon of hope on campus so that people can approach you if they have questions and need guidance and support from you. Even if I have to take the less traveled path for the sake of what is right and fair then I am willing to stand for that because that’s what great leadership means to me.

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black greekdom?

Watch The Yard portrays African American Greeks in a positive light and this allows us to speak on a platform that is welcoming and depicts the hope that all of our founders dreamed of becoming a reality.

What does sisterhood/brotherhood mean to you?

Seeing how I’m a part of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, I’m blessed to have brothers and sisters so to speak. Thank you God for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. being constitutionally bound to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Brotherhood and sisterhood to me means that they will be there for me to support and will stand with me for what is right. Having a brother and a sister means that no matter what our differences are we can come together for the greater good because what we’re serving is bigger than our lives. This is about impacting the lives of others so that the legacy can continue thriving on.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

After graduating from the Illustrious Clark Atlanta University, I plan on continuing my education for my masters and doctoral degrees at HBCUs. I plan on receiving a masters in Counselor Education minoring in Psychology and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. I plan on being an Educational Psychologist and advocating for youth in the school system and courtrooms. My goal is to teach middle and high school children and to eventually open my own school psychologist practice. They need to know that African Americans are brilliant and that we are not negative stereotypes that society chooses to say about us.

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Diamond Mayo for her work as the president of Prolific Psi Chapter which has a long legacy that spans back to 1931.