Welcome from our Eta Chapter Basileus:

Soror  Frances  C. Gray

Soror Frances C. Gray was raised in Norfolk, Virginia where she received her early education and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. Soror Gray entered Norfolk Division of Virginia State College (now Norfolk State University) and completed the requirements for an Associate Degree in Nursing.  After receiving her license, Soror Gray gained much of her nursing experience at Norfolk Community Hospital where she worked in Labor and Delivery. To further explore nursing possibilities, Soror Gray entered the Norfolk Community Hospital School of Anesthesia and was a staff CRNA as well as a didactic and clinical instructor. After leaving the area, thanks to the US Navy, Soror Gray continued to pursue other professional avenues and received her BSN and MSN from the University of Phoenix, San Diego with concentrations in education and administration. While pursuing her degrees, Soror Gray was Clinical Manager for six units at Naval Regional Medical Center San Diego (Balboa). Following graduation, several exciting opportunities arose that included Clinical Director, Regional Director for a multimillion dollar Department of Defense contract, Lead Case Manager, Warrior Transition Unit-Department of the Army. Having a strong desire to return to the area, Soror Gray transferred to Ft. Eustis in Newport News, VA as a Case Manager.  In 2010, Soror Gray enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN concentrating in education/leadership and management. After graduation, Soror Gray joined the faculty at Norfolk State University in 2012 and was Assistant Professor and BSN Program Coordinator.

In addition to her academic accomplishments, Soror Gray has been published in several leading nursing journals, is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, Case Management Society of America and was selected to the Editorial Board of the Austin Journal of Nursing. Soror Gray also serves as a Peer Reviewer for Nursing Forum. In addition, Soror Gray completed the Quality Matters on-line course reviewer program and has reviewed on-line course curriculua for Texas A & M University at Texarkana and University of Western Florida. Soror Gray was inducted into Eta Chapter, Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated in March,2010. Since becoming a member of Eta Chapter, Soror Gray has served as Epistoleus, Anti-Basileus and is currently serving as Basileus.  In her spare time, Soror Gray enjoys painting and cooking. She has two children, Valencia and Derrell, eight grandchildren and two adorable great-granddaughters.

 

About Chi Eta Phi Sorority Incorporated At a time when state and national nursing organizations offered limited, if any, opportunities for participation to African American nurses, nurse Aliene Carrington Ewell, RN and11 other founding members, established the Chi Eta Phi Sorority to provide an association for African American nurses to “To elevate the plane of nursing, and to increase interest in the nursing profession”.  Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated, is a national nursing sorority founded on October 16, 1932 at Freedman’s Hospital on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C.  While established for African American female nurses, its current membership consists of over 8,000 professional nurses and nursing students of both genders reflecting many cultures and diverse ethnic backgrounds.  There are over 100 chapters in 33 states, the District of Columbia, Liberia and the Virgin Islands.  Membership is by invitation and is a high honor.  Many members of Chi Eta Phi are also members of the ANA and their state nursing associations, including NCNA. Chi Eta Phi offers leadership, networking and mentoring opportunities for its members, organizes many community service projects that accomplish its motto “Service for Humanity,”  and sponsors educational and research conferences.  Chapter activities include raising funds and providing scholarships for nursing students, coordinating health fairs and other projects aimed at disease prevention and health promotion, and helping those in need.