Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated has welcomed a new group of honorary members into its sisterhood, adding several notable women from entertainment and public service to its Alpha Omega Chapter.
The Class of 2026 was inducted on July 11 during the sorority’s International Grand Boulé in Nashville. Among the new members are Emmy Award-winning actress Niecy Nash-Betts, Grammy Award-winning musician Sheila E., SWV lead singer Cheryl “Coko” Gamble and actress Elise Neal. U.S. Representative Lateefah Simon and Tennessee State Representative Karen D. Camper were also inducted.
Welcomed by International President and CEO Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant, honorary membership is Zeta Phi Beta’s highest recognition for women who are not already members of the organization. The Alpha Omega Chapter includes women whose professional accomplishments and service reflect the sorority’s principles of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood and Finer Womanhood.
Nash-Betts joins the organization following a career spanning television and film. Known for her performances in Reno 911!, Claws and When They See Us, she won an Emmy Award for her role in Netflix’s Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Away from the screen, Nash-Betts has supported causes related to breast cancer awareness and HIV education.
Sheila E. brings more than five decades of experience in music to the new class. The Grammy Award-winning percussionist and singer has performed with Prince and worked with artists including Michael Jackson. Her work outside of music includes supporting young people through arts education programs and providing resources to underserved schools.
Coko Gamble, best known as the lead singer of the R&B group SWV, was also inducted. In addition to her work with the Grammy-nominated group, Gamble has released solo R&B and gospel music. She has spoken publicly about mental health and encouraged members of the Black community to seek support when needed.
Neal has appeared in films including Rosewood, Scream 2 and Hustle & Flow, along with the television series The Hughleys. After losing her mother to metastatic breast cancer, she became an advocate for early detection and women’s health education.
The Class of 2026 also includes several women whose careers have focused on government and advocacy. Simon represents California’s 12th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before entering Congress, she spent years working on civil rights issues and programs serving communities in the Bay Area.
Camper has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since 2008 and currently serves as House Democratic Leader. A military veteran, she became the first Black woman to lead a caucus in the Tennessee General Assembly.
Other inductees include anti-hazing advocate Pamela Champion, Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Danielle Green, journalist Jenisha Watts and actress Kellee Stewart. Public relations executive Aliya Crawford, gospel artist Sheri Jones-Moffett and chef Valerie Knight were also welcomed into the organization. Dr. Grisanthia Franklin, relationship expert Dr. Milan Love McPherson and Women Leaders in Sports CEO Patti Phillips complete the new class.
Zeta Phi Beta was founded on January 16, 1920, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. The organization has inducted several notable women into the Alpha Omega Chapter over the years, including Anita Hill, Tatyana Ali, Vivica A. Fox, Dawnn Lewis, Leela James, Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker, and Wanda Durant, among a list of others.
