Leadership Highlight

Leadership Highlight: Karyn Burrell The Undergrad President 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 women of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.’s Psi Chapter at Clark Atlanta University and did an interview with Karyn Burrell the 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. 21-year-old Karyn Burrell has used the position to gain new leadership experience, improve the lives of other students on campus and help the community around him.

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

Read the full interview below.

What does it mean to be a chapter president to you?
Being chapter president is very important to me. Having the duty of upholding our chapter legacy and empowering my sisters to accomplish all that we can as a chapter isn’t an easy job but is the most rewarding and is a role that I’m extremely passionate about.

What made you decide to attend the Clark Atlanta University for undergrad?
I chose to attend Clark Atlanta University because the rich history of the institution and the community that it resides in.

What specific initiatives is your chapter heading up this year and how do you think they will improve the campus/surrounding community?
One specific initiative that our chapter is working towards is educating our youth and helping to improve reading skills and literacy among children in our community.

What made you want to pledge Zeta Phi Beta?
I chose to pledge Zeta Phi Beta because unlike other organizations Zeta stood out to me because it not only focuses on sisterhood, but also womanhood. I saw Zeta as a place where I could take my skills, passion, and talent.

What is it about your specific chapter that makes it so unique?
The Prolific Psi chapter is one of three single letter chapters to bear the same name as our brother chapter (The Mighty Psi Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma).

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?
Undergraduate chapters need to use to enhance and advance their chapter and national organization. Social Media should be used as a tool to help the world see what all D9 organizations do and are about aside from strolling, stepping, and hopping.

What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership to me means finding something that is more important than myself and having the ability to achieve extra ordinary things with the support and trust of individuals hoping that they too will see that they can accomplish the same things.

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black greekdom?
Watch The Yard is important to Black greekdom because it helps show the world what Black greekdom is really all about. Watch The Yard also broadcasts the good that D9 organizations are doing in an age where we don’t see much positive things about young black millennials.

What does sisterhood mean to you?
Sisterhood to me means a life long choice and responsibility to love, support and protect another woman knowing that in return she will do the same for you.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?
After graduation I plan to attend law school and one day become a prosecutor.

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