GREAT LEADERS
As Pamela Mitchell, former chancellor of Sigma Alpha Delta, once wrote in a newspaper column, “Leadership takes place in Groups” – a statement that sums up the caliber of the students who have passed through the ranks of this oldest and most prestigious society at the Bernard M. Baruch College.
Sigma Alpha Delta also has a rich history having seen some of today’s great leaders and successful businessmen and businesswomen of every culture and nationality progress though its ranks. Outstanding members, worthy of mention, include William Rosen and Irving Liss of the Fifties, Bertie (Bert Norman) Mitchell and Jules Agines of the Sixties, Peggy Penick & Melva Harris of the Seventies, Henry Chiwaya and Selwyn Fung of the Eighties, Pamela Mitchell and Myron Ward of the nineties, and Tony Gruia in the new millennium, most having filled the mantle of “chancellor” of this prestigious organization.
BREAKING BARRIERS
We are proud to note that leaders produced at Sigma Alpha have transcended both traditional gender and racial boundaries. During the seventies, Sigma Alpha saw a stream of successful female leaders at its helm. During the Eighties and Nineties, the three most influential presidents were of African American and Asian American background. As early as 1963, four years after its inception, Sigma Alpha Delta had one of its members, Bertie Mitchell, a Jamaican American, nominated for entry in “Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges” an annual listing of outstanding students nationwide. And Peggy Penick of the Seventies was the first African American, Woman who graced the seat of Chancellorship. To date, Sigma Alpha has a large participation from the South American, Asian, and European Communities at Baruch.
SUCCESS STORIES
Over the years Sigma Alpha & Sigma Alpha Delta saw many of its members nominated (by the Department of Student Life at Baruch) to appear in “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.” “Who’s Who” was an annual listing of outstanding students (graduating seniors) nationwide recommended by their colleges. The accolade was awarded on the basis of their scholastic achievement and service to the school.
In 1963, out of five nominees for the entire Baruch, four of them were Sigma Alpha Delta members. They were: Julius Agines, Bernard Cutler, Genevieve Duke, Bertie Mitchell. Sigma Alpha also boasts alumni that have continued their leadership and success in the business world:
Selma Brenner, chancellor of Sigma Alpha during the Second World War went to become a project manager for many years at IBM.
Another famous name is Bertie (Bert Norman) Mitchell. In 1958 he came from Jamaica to the United States despite the odds. Bertie met his wife at the oak lounge at Baruch, became a father in March, 1963 and graduated three months later. Bertie is now CEO of Mitchell & Titus LLP the largest minority-controlled CPA and management consulting firm in the United States which he founded in 1974.
Bert has also been president of the NY State Society of CPA’s, chairman of the NY State Board of Accountancy, Member of the Board and the Governing Council of the American Institute of CPA’s, president of the Accountants Club of America, and co-founder and chairman of the National Association of Minority CPA Firms. He has also served on the Commissioner’s Advisory Group of the Internal Revenue Service.
Bertie is a graduate of the Owner/President Management Program of the Harvard Business School. He is the author of more than 50 published articles on accounting and business management and has received numerous honors and awards, including four honorary Doctorate degrees and the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service from the American Institute of CPA’s.
Glen Schaefer, now partner at Deloitte & Touche, also joins the honor roll. Aside from his accomplishments in the business world he has also proved to be a loyal supporter of Sigma Alpha, Delta, making a large donation in the Nineties.
