Lyla June to Deliver Keynote Address

Lyla June—an Indigenous musician, scholar, and activist—will be delivering the keynote address titled "Sharing a Cultural Compass; Indigenous Principles for a Beautiful Life" at this year’s 2023 Alpha Chi National Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her dynamic, multi-genre performance and speech style has invigorated and inspired audiences across the globe towards personal, collective, and ecological healing. Her messages focus on Indigenous rights, supporting youth, inter-cultural healing, historical trauma, and traditional land stewardship practices. She blends her undergraduate studies in human ecology at Stanford University, her graduate work in Native American Pedagogy at the University of New Mexico, and the indigenous worldview she grew up with to inform her perspectives and solutions. Her internationally acclaimed performances and speeches are conveyed through the medium of prayer, hip-hop, poetry, acoustic music, and speech. Her doctoral research focuses on the revitalization of Indigenous Food Systems.

Dr. Linda Cowan, Alpha Chi’s elected National Council Vice President and advisor for the chapter at West Liberty University in Virginia, expressed her excitement for Lyla June’s keynote address, saying “I am beyond excited for Alpha Chi to hear the thoughts and words of our keynote speaker. I have heard her speak, and I enjoy her music and cannot wait until we get to be together in March to experience the phenomenal Lyla June!” 

Learn more about Lyla June at LylaJune.com!

2023 Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Ron Johnson

Alpha Chi has named Dr. Ronald Angelo Johnson, a Baylor University professor and former CIA analyst, as its 2023 Distinguished Alumnus. Dr. Johnson holds two master's degrees, a Ph.D., and is a published author with over a dozen peer-reviewed articles in the areas of history and political science. He served for over a decade at the U.S. Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and has been a professor at Baylor University since 2008. In his current role, he teaches courses on intelligence and national security, and his research interests include the Cold War, the Soviet Union, and intelligence history.

Dr. Johnson will be honored during a special session at Alpha Chi's national convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico on April 1, 2023. He will deliver a keynote address and receive his award from Alpha Chi President Dr. David Jones.