Executive Council

The TBSAA is led by an Executive Council (EC) comprised of 6 members who are elected at-large nationally by the membership of the TBSAA. Each position has a 4-year term and the elections are staggered biennially, so that 3 members are elected every two years. Distance elections utilizing online ballots are held during the week leading up to each National Convention of the Sorority.

Each EC member must meet the following qualifications:

At least 25 years of age
A member in good standing of the TBSAA
Hold an undergraduate college degree
Demonstrate outstanding business ability
Life Member of the Sorority

Each member of the Executive Committee has a different set of responsibilities. The EC elects its Chairperson from within its members. The Chairperson leads the meetings of the EC and is also an ex-officio member of the National Council of TBΣ. The other five members of the EC have an assigned role within council and serve as the director of one area within the TBSAA. The EC also elects a Vice Chair to serve in the absence of the chairperson. Members of the EC may only serve up to two consecutive terms (eight years).

Dr. Thea Murphy

Chairperson of the TBSAA ~ tbsaa-chair@tbsigma.org

Dr. Ovura (Thea) Murphy was initiated into the Theta Kappa Chapter at the Morris Brown College in the spring of 1993. At MBC, she served in several chapter offices and served on several committees. Thea’s primary instruments are flute and piccolo and she was a member of the Marching Wolverine Band and symphonic band. She joined the Atlanta Alumni Association of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma in 2010 and has received several awards including the President’s Phoenix Award and Sister of the Year. Thea served two terms as the President of the Atlanta Alumni Association. She also served in other roles including vice president and historian. She became a Life Member of the Sorority in 2012.

Thea has been an educator for over 25 years and has served in many roles including elementary teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. She is currently a College and Career Readiness Coordinator for Atlanta Public Schools. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Morris Brown College and a Master of Science in Instructional Technology from Georgia State University. In 2018, Thea earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University. In her spare time Thea enjoys reading, quilting, belly dancing and spending time with her family and friends.

David Alexander

Vice-Chairperson and Communications Director ~ tbsaa-communication@tbsigma.org

David is a Life Member of the Gamma Omega chapter of Tau Beta Sigma at the University of Pittsburgh. He was initiated into the chapter on March 29, 1998. During his time at Pitt, he held several chapter offices including Parliamentarian, Corresponding Secretary, and President. He also served as the Northeast District President from 2001-2002, being one of the first men in the sorority elected to this position. As a member of the University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band, David was a trumpet player, a field conductor, and served two years as the Assistant Drum Major. David is an Honorary Member of the Western District and Northeast District of Tau Beta Sigma and also of the Omicron chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi.

David currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio and is a Contingent Workforce Manager for Progressive Insurance where he also serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Council for the corporate headquarters. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management, and is excited to serve the organization in the upcoming biennium.

Jon Leeper

Membership Director ~ tbsaa-membership@tbsigma.org

Jon was initiated into Tau Beta Sigma in the fall of 2012. As an active student member, Jon served on several committees including social and service and in key leadership roles Chapter Vice President and President. Upon their transition to alumni status, Jon joined the TBSAA and Atlanta Alumni Association of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma (AAA) Local Alumni Association. As an active alumni member Jon served on multiple national and LAA committees including the TBS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access, TBSAA Communication, and AAA Social, Bowl and Stroll, and Undergraduate Relations committees. Jon most recently served on the district level as the previous Director of Communications and the current Executive Chair of the TBS Southeast District Alumni Association(TBS SEDAA).

Outside of the Sorority, Jon works as an Assistant Branch Rental Manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is currently pursuing a Content Strategy Certification from Emerson College. In addition to serving others, Jon enjoys anime and video games, experimenting with makeup, and developing social media strategies.

Zara Simpson

Special Projects Director ~ tbsaa-projects@tbsigma.org

Zara is a Life Member of the Beta Eta Chapter at the University of Maryland, College Park. Zara holds a B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering (2013) and an M.Ed. in Middle School Mathematics and Science (2016) both from the University of Maryland. Originally from New Jersey, she lives with her fiancé, Chris, in Maryland and teaches middle school 8th grade math. When she isn’t teaching or doing TBS things, she can be found doing band photography or playing roller derby.

She was initiated into the Sorority in Spring 2010 and had held several offices and served on committees on the Chapter, District, and National Level. She is involved as a Tau Beta Sigma alumni, having served as NEDAA Secretary, and she maintains memberships in the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast District Alumni Associations. On the National level, she participated on the 75th Anniversary Communications Committee, served as a National Chapter Visitation Assistant, and currently serves on the Sorority’s Curriculum Committee and KKPsi Chapter Operations Committee.

Zara is excited to join the TBSAA Executive Council and help Sisters transition from active college students to involved and proud Alumnus/a members!

Jessica Smith

LAA Relations Director ~ tbsaa-laa@tbsigma.org

Jessica L. Smith is a Life Member of the Epsilon Epsilon chapter at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. She was initiated into the chapter on November 5, 2000. While at Kutztown, she was a member of the color guard, served as chapter secretary and treasurer, and the Convention co-Coordinator when Kutztown hosted the Northeast District convention in 2004, and served as NED Treasurer for 2004-2005. Jessica was a charter member of the TBSAA in 2007 and served as secretary of the NEDAA from 2006-2010.

On November 16, 2007, Jessica was granted Honorary membership into the Zeta Mu chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi at Kutztown University. She became a Life member of Kappa Kappa Psi in 2016. Jessica currently lives in York, Pennsylvania. She has a bachelor’s degree in Education (2004) and a master’s degree in Library Science (2008). She currently works as a Talent Management Specialist for WellSpan Health. In her free time, she participates in 5k events with friends and spends time with her niece and nephews.

Tyra Yiare-Holloway

Finance Director ~ tbsaa-finance@tbsigma.org

Tyra Yiare was initiated into the Eta Delta chapter of Howard University in the fall of 1988. While active in the chapter she served as VPM and Historian. During her tenure in the Howard University Showtime Marching Band, Tyra served as the section leader for the tenor saxophones and after two years changed over to the mellophone section where she served the remainder of her years in the band. Tyra became a life member of Tau Beta Sigma in 1994 also served as the caterer of the band. Tyra graduated from Howard University in 1993 with a degree in Political Science with a minor in Radio, TV and Film. While at Howard, Tyra decided to learn the business of real estate and insurance. She was recruited during her junior year at Howard. She quickly learned the business and began house flipping as well as accumulating rental properties. She started an LLC of rental properties along with her newly launched catering business, both of which have grown and continued to do so over the years.

Tyra is currently a Senior Mortgage Loan Officer with Everett Financial LLC dba, Supreme Lending, LLC located in downtown DC. Tyra holds a Master’s degree in Business Management and Marketing and currently lives in Clinton, MD. She is a member of the Patrick Lundy and the Ministers of Music Gospel Choir based in Washington DC. Check out their new CD called Way-Maker 25th Anniversary Live Recording.