ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INC - KAPPA ZETA CHAPTER
95TH ANNIVERSARY
as part of the Zora Neale Hurston Festival Dallas
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 12:00 - 6:00 PM
Oak Cliff Cultural Center
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. – Kappa Zeta Chapter is approaching a historic milestone: 95 years of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood in the Greater Dallas community, to be commemorated in December 2026. As we prepare for this significant anniversary, we reflect on the extraordinary journey that has shaped our chapter—nearly nine and a half decades of dedicated service, cultural engagement, and steadfast commitment to uplifting the communities we serve.
In keeping with this legacy, Kappa Zeta Chapter is pleased to engage with the City of Dallas Zora Neale Hurston Festival, which celebrates the brilliance and cultural impact of one of our most prolific sorors, Zora Neale Hurston. This engagement represents the beginning of a growing relationship rooted in shared values of cultural preservation, education, and community enrichment.
As we look ahead to our 95th anniversary, we are committed to supporting the Festival through volunteerism and community engagement. We look forward to contributing to this meaningful celebration of art, history, and cultural preservation—building upon the foundation of service that has guided our chapter for generations.
Finer in our past.
Purposeful in our present.
Committed to our future.
Cornelia Hicks
Cornelia Hicks is a Senior Product Owner at Bank of America, where she bridges the gap between business strategy and technology delivery. In her role, she translates customer needs and strategic goals into clear, actionable work for engineering and design teams—turning ideas into meaningful digital experiences. Cornelia holds a Business Degree in Marketing from the University of North Texas and several professional certifications, including Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), SAFe Practitioner, and SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM). With more than a decade of experience in e-commerce, marketing, and payments, she has led multi-country product launches, built robust e-commerce platforms, and implemented secure payment gateway solutions.
A proud Legacy and Diamond Life Member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Cornelia has served the organization on local, regional, and international levels. She has chaired and contributed to committees such as Budget, Bylaws, and Community Service, and has held leadership roles including Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Second Vice President, and now, President of the Kappa Zeta Chapter. Her passion for organizational governance extends to her membership in the Crossroads Unit of the Texas State Association of Parliamentarians, the National Association of Parliamentarians, and the Electronic Association of Parliamentarians, where she continues to refine her expertise in parliamentary procedure. That expertise has positioned her as the Regional Parliamentarian of the Southern Region of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and as a board member for National Coalition of 100 Black Women Dallas Metropolitan Chapter, the Kappa Zeta Chapter, and the Stork’s Nest Charity Fund of Dallas—where she proudly continues to serve as parliamentarian.
Cornelia’s commitment to advocacy shines through her work with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Dallas Metropolitan Chapter, where she champions programs that uplift and empower Black women and girls. Her life’s work reflects a deep commitment to community, advocacy, and continuous personal growth.
When she’s not strategizing, serving, or leading, Cornelia finds joy in gardening, cooking, sewing, attending live sports and festivals, and hosting or attending tea and dinner parties with friends. She lives by the belief that every encounter—whether through learning, service, or friendship—should leave us with something new, good, and lasting.
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Please email questions to andrea.tosten@dallas.gov