This story is part of AL.com’s series “22 Alabamians who made a difference in 2022,” highlighting people who have made our state a better place to live this year. Stories in this series will publish each weekday during December. Find all stories in the series as they publish here, and read about the Alabamians who made a difference in 2021 by clicking here.
Montgomery native Deborah Oberkor made history in November after being elected the first Black woman to lead the Alabama Panhellenic Association.
The century-old organization remained segregated until 2013, when a Crimson White investigation revealed that APA sororities barred at least two Black women from recruitment. National news attention and demonstrations later prompted the organization to reopen its bidding process.
Since then, Panhellenic sororities have made some progress in diversifying, but still don’t reflect the campus’s demographics. APA sororities were about 89% white in 2021, down from 96% in 2011, according to university data. Chapter members and officers are now required to complete diversity trainings surrounding the recruiting process.
Oberkor, a current junior majoring in chemical engineering, didn’t know much about the Panhellenic recruitment process before she joined Kappa Delta in 2020, she said. But she felt more encouraged when she saw friends from her high school, as well as other women of color sharing their experiences.
Now she wants to be that example for others, she said.
“Just to be someone that they can look and see, ‘Oh, well if she can do it, I can totally do it. I can pursue anything I want’ – I think that’s really the most important part for me,” she said. “I just really want to be someone that people can kind of see as representation.”
Oberkor got involved in APA as a delegate her freshman year and most recently served as vice president of the organization.
In her previous role, she amended the organization’s bylaws to ensure that every chapter has a “Safe Sister” who can coordinate resources for survivors of sexual assault. Oberkor says the partnership, which is with the campus’s Women and Gender Resource Center, has been her biggest accomplishment so far.
“I do feel as though things have been able to change for the positive,” she said. “That was really exciting to see, and I know that’s going to have a positive effect.”
Moving forward, Oberkor said she wants to create more programming that’s “meaningful” and helps break through some of the stereotypes people hold about the organization.
Her election, after all, comes after a summer of controversy. Many criticized the APA this year for its handling of a potential documentary about the rush process, and for denying a bid to a non-binary candidate.
“There really is so much more that it offers and much more of a community that these girls are really looking for,” Oberkor said. “And I feel like that shouldn’t be undercut by all these other ideas that people may have about the organizations.”
Oberkor is just now settling into her new role, which began on Nov. 15. In the semester ahead, she said she wants to focus on boosting efforts around sexual assault awareness, mental health and service opportunities.
She also plans to discuss expanding swaps and other social engagements between APA sororities and historically Black fraternities and continue holding diversity, equity and inclusion roundtables, where members can talk about any issues that arise in their sororities.
“I want to continue to have those open discussions, and to have other people understand what’s going on so they can be cognizant of what they’re doing and have us all be able to move forward,” she said.
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