Dr. Cicily Shaw
Candidate for Eastern Regional Nominating Committee Member
Leading with Purpose, Serving with Passion
Dr. Cicily Shaw is a dedicated member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. with a proven record of organizational leadership, community service, and championing chapter engagement and growth. She is running for the Eastern Regional Nominating Committee Member to ensure that our region continues to be led by the most qualified, visionary Sorors.
programs I have built from the ground up. These experiences have sharpened my ability to recognize potential, integrity, and commitment in others which is precisely the qualities needed to identify exemplary leaders for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
My extensive service within our Norfolk-Plymouth County Area Alumnae Chapter and beyond, has given me a comprehensive understanding of the sorority's mission, and the leadership qualities that drive our work forward. Having served as Chapter Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Scholarship Chair, Parliamentarian, and numerous committee leadership roles, I have worked across every dimension of chapter governance. This institutional knowledge, combined with my experience chairing nominating and governance structures in external organizations, including Board Chair for College Visions and as President of the New England Association for College Admission Counseling, equips me with the skills to conduct a fair, thorough, and mission-aligned nominating process that upholds the standards of our beloved sorority.
My professional and personal commitment to uplifting Black women and communities is at the core of everything I do and this commitment exemplifies values that are deeply aligned with our sorority's historic mission and Five Point Programmatic Thrust. As a lifelong advocate for Black students, families, and professionals, I have dedicated my career to creating access and opportunity for those who have been historically underserved, from building college counseling programs for first-generation and immigrant students to mentoring BIPOC student through my work on my Alma Maters BIPOC mentoring Committee. I understand that the women we nominate must embody more than administrative competence, they must be servant leaders who carry the legacy of our Founders, reflect the excellence of our membership, and remain deeply committed to the advancement of the Black community in every sphere of public life. Serving on the Eastern Regional Nominating Committee would allow me to bring all of these transferrable skills together in direct service to Delta Sigma Theta, ensuring that the leaders we elevate are worthy stewards of our mission, our sisterhood, and our movement.
Sorors, I am ready to SERVE you!
I hope you enjoy learning more about me, and I look forward to connecting with many of you over the next few months. I can't wait to see you all in Baltimore!
In Sisterhood and Service,
Soror Cicily Shaw
Dear Sorors,
I am honored to share my campaign platform with you as your Eastern Regional Nominating Committee Member Candidate. I joined our illustrious sorority 22 years ago and it has been an amazing experience. I am excited about the opportunity to get to know you and to assist the Nominating Committee in securing a qualified slate for our next Regional Conference. Please allow me to share more of my story so that you can learn about the qualities, commitment and qualifications I bring to this position.
I bring over 25 years of experience in education, counseling, and organizational leadership. With 22 years as a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, I bring a depth of professional knowledge and a proven track record identifying and cultivating strong leaders. My career has required me to consistently evaluate candidates holistically, whether reviewing thousands of college applications as an admission counselor and application reader at colleges like the University of California Santa Barbara and Boston College, assessing scholarship applications for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, or recruiting and mentoring first-generation students through
STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship means protecting the integrity of every voice in this region. That is what I will bring to the Nominating Committee.
Dr. Shaw's Core Platform & Commitments
My vision for the Eastern Region is built on a foundation of service, integrity, and progress. I am dedicated to delivering a platform that addresses the real needs of our community.
ENGAGEMENT
I will actively connect with every chapter and every perspective before any nomination is made.
REPRESENTATION
Strong chapters are the foundation of a strong region. I will ensure that chapter voices are heard at the regional level.
VISION
I will approach every nomination with the care, discernment, and long-term vision that Delta Sigma Theta deserves.
EXCELLENCE
The Nominating Committee shapes who leads our region, and I believe those leaders should reflect the highest standard of excellence.
Stewardship
Stewardship is not just a word to me, it is how I have shown up for this sorority at every level of service. From serving as Vice President and Corresponding Secretary at the chapter level, to representing our region as an Eastern Regional Membership Intake Committee MI Liaison and Risk Management Certified Trainer, I have consistently been trusted with responsibility and honored that trust. I have chaired elections, led parliamentary procedure, and built systems that keep chapters accountable and members protected. I do not take lightly the shoulders I stand on, those Sorors who paved this path with their sacrifice, their service, and their vision. Given the opportunity to serve on the Nominating Committee, I will carry their legacy forward by protecting the integrity of every voice in the Eastern Region.
Engagement
I have spent years showing up! From chapter meetings, to regional committee meetings, to cluster meetings, to regional conferences, and everything in between, these experiences have taught me that real engagement requires intention, not just presence. As Chair of Member Services, I created targeted programs to make sure our most vulnerable Sorors felt seen and supported. As Public Relations & Communications Chair, I built monthly newsletters so that no Soror would ever feel out of the loop. I will bring that same energy to the Nominating Committee, reaching every chapter, listening to every perspective, and working collaboratively alongside my fellow committee members to ensure we present a full and well-qualified slate.
Representation
From Norfolk-Plymouth County to Boston to Providence, I have had the privilege of working alongside Sorors from across this region, and that experience has given me a deep appreciation for just how powerful our sorority is. Through my work as an MI Liaison and Membership Intake Trainer, I have had the honor of supporting more than 45 chapters through their membership intake process, walking alongside both collegiate and alumnae Sorors at some of the most sacred moments in our Delta journey. This experience gave me an intimate understanding of who we are as a region through our chapters, our cultures, and our collective strength. On the Nominating Committee, I will be a steadfast advocate for ensuring that leadership reflects the full breadth of who we are, because a region that sees all of its members in its leadership is a region that is truly strong.
Vision
The women we nominate to lead this region will carry the torch of Delta Sigma Theta forward, and that reality demands discernment, courage, and the ability to think beyond the moment. When COVID-19 shut the world down, I helped position my chapter as one of the first to pivot to virtual programming, because I understood that serving our Sorors and our community could not wait. Through my experience working with both collegiate and alumnae Sorors, I have been privileged to see firsthand what transformational leadership looks like. I will bring that perspective, along with a deep respect for the legacy entrusted to us, to every conversation and every decision made.
Excellence
Excellence is the standard Delta Sigma Theta was built on, and it is the standard I have held myself to throughout my years of service. I was honored to be named my chapter's 2021 Soror of the Year, a recognition that reflected not just my commitment, but the measurable results I delivered alongside my chapter Sorors. I increased reactivations by approximately 30% during my tenure as Vice President, created meaningful support programs for our Delta DEARS, modernized our chapter's technology infrastructure, and built a communications presence that kept our members informed and engaged. I understand what it means to uphold our standards with care and consistency. I am committed to working hand in hand with every member of the Nominating Committee to ensure that we put forward a slate that is truly worthy of the Sorors who came before us and those who will come after.
Delta Leadership & Experience
National and Regional Experience
Eastern Regional Membership Intake Committee MI Liaison
Membership Intake Trainer
Regional Conference Choir Member
Risk Management Certified Trainer
State Level Experience
Tri-State Founders Day Committee:
Vendor Subcommittee Chair (N-PCAAC, 2018)
Workshop Subcommittee Chair (N-PCAAC, 2023)
Founders Day Choir (Boston, 2024)
Registration Subcommittee (Providence, 2025)
Protocol Subcommittee Tri-Chair (South Middlesex County, 2026)
Tri-State Cluster:
On site Contact and Technology Committee (2025)
Chapter Level Experience
Norfolk-Plymouth County Area Alumnae Chapter
Elected Positions:
Alternate Delegate
Chair of Membership Intake
Corresponding Secretary
Membership Intake Committee Member (Convener of Odyssey Experience)
Vice President
Appointed Positions:
Communication and Public Relations Chair
Crimson Tide Beach Day Committee Chair
Economic Development Chair
Educational Development Co-Chair
Elections Committee Chair
Membership Services Chair
Parliamentarian
Program, Planning & Development Chair
Scholarship Committee Chair
Technology Chair
Committee Membership:
Delta Academy and Delta GEMS Committee
Fundraising Committee
Policies & Procedures Committee
Risk Management Committee
Boston Alumnae Chapter
Appointed Positions:
Technology Chair
Committee Membership:
Delta Academy and Delta GEMS Committee
60th Chapter Anniversary Committee (Subcommittee Chair)
Providene Alumnae Chapter
Appointed Positions:
Sergeant At Arms
Committee Membership:
Delta Academy and Delta GEMS Committee
Ebony Fashion Show Committee
Key Accomplishments
Award 2021 Soror of the Year by the Norfolk-Plymouth County Area Alumnae Chapter
Increased reactivations by approximately 30% during tenure as Vice President
Enhanced member support as Chair of Membership Services by creating targeted programs for Delta Dears, including teas, home visits, drive-by services, and drop-off assistance
Pioneered virtual programming during COVID-19 as one of the first chapters to offer online engagement at the pandemics onset while serving as PPD Chair
Strengthened chapter communications as Public Relations and Communication Chair through the development of a monthly newsletter to keep Sorors informed and engaged
Modernized chapter technology as Technology Chair by creating and maintaining the chapter website and establishing a social media presence.
Successfully supported over 45 chapters throughout the Eastern Region as a Membership Intake Committee MI Liaison
Relevant Professional Experience
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Nominating Committee Member for the National Association for College Admission Counseling
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Nominating Committee Member and incoming Chair (2026) for the New England Association for College Admission Counseling
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Immediate Past-President of the New England Association for College Admission Counseling
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Affiliate Presidents Council for the National Association for College Admission Counseling
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New England Association of Schools and Colleges Accreditation Team (Conducted visits and lead re-accreditation processes)
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Board Chair and Governance Committee Chair for College Visions, Rhode Island
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President Emeritus for the Stonehill College Alumni Council
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Advisory Board member for multiple colleges and organizations (Simmons University, Providence College, Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Revolution Prep Counselor Advisory Board)
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Strategic Planning Committee member for several schools, colleges, and city planning committees
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