Gabby Thomas Inducted as Honorary Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha

Olympic gold medalist and public health advocate Gabby Thomas has been inducted as an Honorary Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. The honor was bestowed today during the sorority’s 2025 Leadership Seminar in Anaheim, California, recognizing Thomas and three fellow inductees for their groundbreaking accomplishments and commitment to service.

Thomas made history as the first Ivy League graduate to win an Olympic track and field medal. With a personal best of 21.60 seconds in the 200-meter sprint, she ranks among the fastest women in history. She won gold medals in both the 200-meter and 4×100-meter relay at the 2024 Paris Olympics, following her medal-winning performances at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

A graduate of Harvard University with a degree in neurobiology and global health, Thomas also holds a master’s degree in epidemiology. Beyond the track, she is a passionate advocate for increasing diversity in STEM fields and regularly uses her platform to inspire young women of color to pursue careers in science and public health.

Alpha Kappa Alpha awards Honorary Membership as its highest recognition, extended to women who exemplify the organization’s ideals of scholarship, service, and sisterhood. Honorary Members are encouraged to fully engage with the Sorority’s initiatives and community programs.

“Welcoming these phenomenal women into our Sisterhood is a powerful testament to our legacy of distinction,” said International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed, who led the induction ceremony. “Their voices and vision will further strengthen our mission of impactful service to all mankind.”

Gabby Thomas joins the 2025 class of Honorary Members alongside Laura Coates, CNN’s chief legal analyst and anchor; Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House Press Secretary and senior advisor to President Joe Biden; and Beverly Johnson, trailblazing supermodel, bestselling author, and entrepreneur.