History
Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Incorporated (ESI) was founded on November 4, 1920 and incorporated on June 17, 1921 at Howard University School of Law. The founding women of excellence were Pearl Beldon, Willie Hazel Blount, Ollie May Cooper, Margaret DuBose, May Corinne Martin, Bertha C. McNeil, Zephyr Abigail Moore, and Gladys Tignor Peterson.
The organization was chartered with a threefold purpose. First, the sorority was to serve as a tool to motivate women to become lawyers. Second, it was to serve as a conduit to placing female Howard Law graduates in meaningful legal careers. Finally, it was to create a useful network of female graduates.
Mission
To encourage women to assume leadership positions in law school and throughout the legal community, to provide opportunities for networking and mentorship, and to promote the role of women as legal practitioners, academicians and scholars. The Sorority is to serve as a vehicle for achieving these goals, with an ultimate aim of facilitating the overall advancement of women, especially those of African descent, in the legal profession. While ESI’s mission continues to encompass the focus of networking and mentorship that was established by our founders, we have additionally committed ourselves to community outreach and economic development.
ESI seeks to empower women through programs that focus on academic, professional and personal development. Most importantly, we encourage women to assume leadership positions at the law school and in the greater legal community.
Purpose
Epsilon Sigma Iota, incorporated in 1921, was founded for social and educational purposes, and to induce other women to enter into the study of law. Today, our focus has expanded to include promoting the advancement of women in the legal profession, especially those of color and from disadvantaged backgrounds, for the ultimate purpose of achieving a better, more prosperous society.
Contributions
Please feel free to help support the mission and purpose of Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Incorporated by donating to our organization. If you are interested in contributing, please contact our Treasurer at Darica.Fenner@law.bison.howard.edu.
Programs
Mock Contracts Exam
Each year the Sorority hosts a Mock Exam, which provides 1L students with the opportunity to participate in an exam simulation in preparation for their actual exams. Students are frequently encouraged to take practice exams under actual testing conditions and this program gives students the opportunity to do so. Students are encouraged to then take those exams to their professors for review and feedback.
Additional study tips are provided to participating students.
Afternoon Tea
The afternoon tea is a mix and mingle event held in the fall semester. The purpose of this event is to bring the school community together in fellowship.
After a brief welcome, the 2L and 3L attendees answer any questions that the 1Ls may have regarding law school and provide them with advice and encouragement.
Networking 101
Networking 101 generally takes place during ESI Week, where a panel of sorority alumnae discuss important “do’s and don’ts” of networking in various settings.
Attendees are given the opportunity to ask legal professionals specific questions about successful networking skills. The Program is followed by a networking reception.
2018-2019 Executive Board
| President | Shenna Johnson |
| Vice-President | Lauryn Harris |
| Treasurer | Darica Fenner |
| Secretary | Nelisa Inyang |
| Alumnae Liaison | Vanessa Stephens |
| Community Service Chair | Éviealle Dawkins |
| Historian | Rishele Ellison |
| Parliamentarian | Eryn Howington |
| Social Chair | Jamila Cambridge |
| Sisterhood Chairs | Chassity Bobbitt & Idia Egonmwan |
| National Chapter Delegate | Oretha Manu |
| Membership Intake Chairs | Sheyla Soriano & Peyton Chaney |
Membership
2018 Membership Intake Class
- Chassity Bobbitt
- Courtnee Brinker
- Jamila Cambridge
- Eviealle Dawkins
- Idia Egonmwan
- Rishele Ellison
- Darica Fenner
- Mulunesh Gerima
- Eryn Howington
- Nelisa Inyang
- Yolanda Long
- Oretha Manu
2017 Membership Intake Class
- Brya Adams
- Aleena Aspervil
- Peyton Chaney
- Barri Dean
- Nyajuok Deng
- Leonette Rainey-Hammett
- Lauryn Harris
- Briana Hinton
- Korey Johnson
- Shenna Johnson
- Christian Malik
- Karla Mardueno
- Ky’Eisha Penn
- Olivia Sedwick
- Makida Seward
- Vanessa Stephens
- Sheyla Soriano
- Denys Symonette
- LaChe' Thomas
- Rachel Webb
2016 Membership Intake Class
- Olufunlola Adeoye
- Olamide Fadahunsi
- Nicole Franks
- Madison Gibbs
- Melody Godbolt
- Ashley Jones
- Frances Lawson
- Brittney Martin
- Dana McCann
- Monique Peterkin
- Niya Rafari-Pearson
- Katrenia Shelly
- Manonh Soumahoro
2015 Membership Intake Class
- Nadia Baksh
- Ashley Beard
- Danica Brown
- Leslie Gouthro
- Kandyce Jackson
- Lauren Jackson
- Alexis James
- April Jones
- Victoria Mansoor
- Shaneka McKellar
- Shaquila Montgomery
- Jennifer Moore
- Helen Osun
- Vianca Simpson
- Leonie Stoute
- Desirae Tongco
- Keitshawna Williams
2014 Membership Intake Class
- Nairuby Beckles
- Ashley Bennett
- Sharifa Crawford
- Stephanie De Los Santos
- Sitota Douglas
- Ashlyann Harrison
- Karissa Johnson
- Morgan Logan
- Alicia Lee
- Amber Mason
- Akasha Perez
- Monica Reid
- Monisola Salaam
- Chastity Threadcraft
- Tanesha Viverette
2013 Membership Intake Class
- Pembe Besingi
- Ashley Cross
- DeNealia Cunningham
- Tabitha Ferrer
- Ashley Foote
- Ashley Futrell
- Felecia Hunter
- Mercedes Knight
- Skylah Mitchell
- Cadene Russell
- Latisha Spence-Rivera
- Dominique Wales
- Brittany Williams
2012 Membership Intake Class
- Alexia Brown
- Darra Demps
- Karen Egbuna
- Tamika Hawkins
- Erika James
- Brandi Lofton
- Melissa Lovell
- Ashley Reece
- Ashley Sawyer
- Tiana Towns
- Brandi Twiggs
- Cindy Unegbu
- Sierra Wallace
2011 Membership Intake Class
- Kendra Courtney Adjei
- Auborn Finney
- Gabrielle Hall
- Laura Harding
- Samantha Hoagland
- Jackie Ihekwaba
- L’Kel Little
- Mikhaila McNicholls
- Amber Melton
- Yolanda Melville
- Taneka Miller
- Michelle Mills
- Nadine Mompremier
- Jasmine Negron
- Angela Porter
- Violet Richardson
- Courtney Scrubbs
2010 Membership Intake Class
- Stella Adegite
- Taris Burgess
- Katina Chase
- Nicole Grant
- Tamika Griffin
- Sha-Kara Jackson
2009 Membership Intake Class
- Stacy Allen
- Jessica Cooper
- Kristin Dobbs
- Aliciamarie Johnson
- Rachel Johnson
- Nadia Jones
- Leila Khazra
- Taylor Lewis
- Margarita Macon
- Alexius Parraway
- Deenea Shepherd
- Fathia Touray
2008 Membership Intake Class
- Kemba Bowles
- Christina Calloway
- Courtney Dixion
- Izu Emeagwali
- Koryn High
- Jeanne Laurenceau
- Ashley Lawson
- Regine Pointdujour
2007 Membership Intake Class
- Megan Boler
- Regina Brooks
- Tracy Burgess
- Shara Chang
- Danielle Davis
- Christa Forman
- Lindsay Hamilton
- Michele Jones
- Denise Linton
- Natalia Menesese-Brooks
- Jennifer Na
- Chanda Rice
- Valerie Rivers
- Shaili Shah
- Shannon Stokes
- Tiffany Tucker
- Krystal Williams
2006 Membership Intake Class
- Gina Antillus
- Lynettra Artis
- Marcia Bowman
- LaTasha Carter
- Nina Frant
- Tina Greene
- Amy Hatcher
- Whitney Jordan
- Maria Lloyd
- Ayana Robertson
- April Williams
2005 Membership Intake Class
- Shabnam Ahmed
- Joye Anderson
- Kasara Davidson
- Shirlethia Franklin
- Josephine Harriott
- Stephanie Harris
- Kamilah House
- Erin Johnson
- Tia Lance
- Angela Lipscomb
- Ekwutozia Nwabuzor
- Tony Sweeney
- Alexis Sykes
- Diana Vilmenay
- Reyna Walters
2004 Membership Intake Class
- Lenye Adams
- Racquel Callender
- Shannon Davis
- Stacey Demps
- Keri Foster
- Shrena Fraser
- Charlotte Grissom
- Sasha Hodge-Wren
- Michelle Miller
- Bernice Mireku
- Autumn Montague
- Adeyinka Oyesile
- Kristen Phinnessee
2003 Membership Intake Class
- Dalila Best
- Alesia Black
- Miesha Darrough
- Carmiece Graves
- Jennifer Hare
- Janelle White-Jones
- Fasha Lewis
- Lani Shaw
- Tameka Simmons
- Natalie Ward
- Rachel Zinman
2002 Membership Intake Class
- Nebiat Baaraz
- L’Erin Barnes
- Stephanie Bea
- Salihah Essed
- Genelle Francis
- Da’Net Henderson
- Antoinette Kirwan
- Stacy Ann Llwellyn
- Jocelyn Newman
- Nkechinyem Nwabuzor
- Ericka Thompson
- Natasha A. Yates
Honorary Members
- Rhea Ballard-Thrower
- Okianer Christian Dark
- Ursula Tracy Doyle
- Dione Duckett
- Marsha Echols
- Alice Gresham-Bullock
- Lenese Herbert
- Danielle Holley-Walker
- Laurence Nolan
- Alice Thomas
- Patricia Worthy
Establish A Chapter
If you are interested in establishing a law school chapter or Alumni chapter of Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Incorporated, please contact the National Advisory Board at the following:
Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Incorporated
Attention: National Advisory Board
2900 Van Ness Street, NW
410 Notre Dame Hall
Washington, DC 20008