Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Welcomes Four New Honorary Members

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The brothers of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated, a Black fraternity within the National Pan-Hellenic Council (a.k.a. “The Divine 9”) welcomed four outstanding men into their organization as honorary members.

As reported by Watch The Yard, the announcement was made during the fraternity’s biennial Leadership Conference.

Dr. Sean D. Housen, Sr. 23rd International Grand Polaris of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. expressed great pride in their new brothers, saying, “We are excited and proud to welcome into our Brotherhood four men who have lived exemplary lives and who have represented our fine tradition of strong citizenship and leadership.”

Iota Phi Theta’s 2024 Honorary Member Class

Chief Edgardo “Eddie” Garcia – 30th Police Chief of the Dallas (TX) Police Department, the first Latino to lead the department in its 140-year history

Harry Dunn – Retired Capitol Hill Police Officer celebrated for his heroic defense of democracy during the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Mayor Lioneld Jordan – Longtime mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas, known for his strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
Dr. Mark J.T. Smith – Two-time Olympian (fencing) and scholar renowned for his research in speech & imaging processing, as well as object detection & recognition

In a statement, Brian Love, Chairman of Iota Phi Theta’s Board of Directors, talked about the significance of the new members:

“These four remarkable public servants are ideal for this honor. Their lives and commitment to public service are in alignment with the history and practices of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Each man, in his own way, has contributed greatly to his community. We admire the commitment and determination of this class of Honorary Members. Your exceptional achievements and contributions in your respective fields have not only earned you this esteemed recognition but have also set a benchmark of excellence and inspiration for all of us. We are excited to welcome these men into our Brotherhood and know that our Members are eager to fellowship with our new Honorary Brothers.”

Dr. Housen adds:

“Iota reserves Honorary Membership for those citizens who represent our ideals and are exemplary in their public service. We take seriously the honor of bestowing our colors – Brown and Gold – upon any man. We say ‘It takes a Man’ to be an Iota and we say that to note it takes a serious, committed, intelligent, and selfless individual to be an Iota. We pride ourselves on producing leaders who do not seek the spotlight but whose passion is public service and contributing to building a better world. Officer Harry Dunn, Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Dr. Mark J.T. Smith, and Chief Eddie Garcia are four such men. It is my honor to welcome them into our Brotherhood and to call them Iotas and my Brothers.”

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Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Welcomes 2024 Honorary Members