Xi Nu Lambda Alphas

Today, the Brothers of the Xi Nu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., alongside brothers from Area II, gathered to honor our charter member and beloved brother, J.W. Vaughn, on his 70th Anniversary of membership in Alpha Phi Alpha.

Brother Vaughn was presented with his 70 Year Anniversary Pin and shared fellowship with brothers across generations of Alpha men.

Through every season, both prosperous and challenging, Brother Vaughn has remained a true example of commitment, integrity, service, and brotherhood. His life and legacy set a standard for all brothers on what genuine fraternity and accountability should look like.

We salute and thank you, Brother Vaughn, for 70 years of steadfast service to Alpha Phi Alpha.

The brothers of the Xi Nu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated joined brothers from across Area 2, including Beta Iota Lambda, Nu Psi, and Bet Sigma, in support of one of our national programs, the March of Dimes.

This longstanding initiative is dedicated to improving the health of mothers and babies by supporting prenatal care, advancing research, advocating for healthier pregnancies, and helping families access the resources they need for strong beginnings. Its impact reaches every corner of our community because healthy families create stronger communities.

As brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha, we remain committed to service that uplifts all people. Standing together for causes like this reflects our mission of leadership, advocacy, and brotherhood in action.

Service above self. Brotherhood in motion. Community always.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., mourns the death today of Brother Dr. Norman C. Francis. Brother Dr. Francis, a 1967 Sigma Lambda Chapter initiate, is the former longtime president of Xavier University, a Civil Rights leader, and a 2001 Alpha Award of Merit recipient.
 
He was 94.
 
Brother Dr. Francis was the first African American president and longest-serving president of Xavier University of Louisiana from 1968 to 2015.  He was also the second African American to ever serve as president of a Catholic university in the United States.
 
In 1961, while dean of men at Xavier, he played a key role in Xavier’s decision to house the Freedom Riders, an integrated group testing application of the Supreme Court decision banning discrimination in interstate rail and bus travel, in a campus dormitory when they were flown to New Orleans by Federal Marshals after having been attacked in three Alabama cities (Anniston, Birmingham and Montgomery).
 
Brother Dr. Francis also served as the chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, the state agency in charge of planning the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. For his various avenues of service, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush in 2006, and the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame in 2019. He also received 35 honorary degrees from colleges and universities around the country.
 
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