A senate RESOLUTION

to recognize and honor charleston native Dr. Karen Wright-Chisolm for her leadership of a global organization, and to commend her election as the Imperial commandress of the Imperial Court, Auxiliary of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of the Nobles Mystic Shrine.

Whereas, on Thursday, August 24, 2023, during the 112th Imperial Court Session in Tampa, Florida, Dr. Karen Wright Chisolm was elected as the 50th Imperial Commandress of the Imperial Court, Auxiliary of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of the Nobles Mystic Shrine (A.E.A.O.N.M.S.), Inc. In her office, she oversees the membership of more than nine thousand five hundred daughters in over two hundred courts in the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, the United States Virgin Islands, the Far East, Asia, Korea, and Western Europe; and

Whereas, she holds an associate's degree in personnel administration, a bachelor's degree in human resources management, a dual master's degree in human resources management development, and a Doctor of Divinity from Ambassador Bible College and Seminary. She is a doctoral candidate in organizational leadership from the University of Phoenix; and

Whereas, in the proud tradition of the Palmetto State, Dr. Wright-Chisolm served in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant after twenty-seven years. She was the first Black and first female to serve as Superintendent of the 315th Mission Support Squadron on Charleston Air Force Base; and

Whereas, Dr. Wright-Chisolm serves her community as a member of the City of Charleston Women and Minority Business Enterprise Advisory Board; the founder of the South Carolina Chapter of Boots 2 Heels, Inc.; a former first vice president of N.A.A.C.P's Charleston Branch; a Diamond Life member of the Charleston Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a member of the executive board  at Jenkins Institute for Children, and the founder and CEO of "A Centralized Moment - The Focus Is You"; and

Whereas, she is a graduate of the Cohort #2 of the Dorothy I. Height Global Leadership Academy, a life member of the National Council of Negro Women Bethune Cookman Section, a member of Hiram Mann Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, and a charter member of the IAAM of Charleston, a life member of Ladies Enriching the Community (LETC), and a life member of the National Board of the NAACP; and

Whereas, together with her beloved husband, Paul Chisolm, Jr., she has reared four fine children.  Her children have blessed her with the affection of eight loving grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and

Whereas, Dr. Wright-Chisolm's stellar rise to leadership in the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. took less than sixteen years, starting in 2009 as the lowest ranking officer and achieving the highest ranking officer of the Imperial Court; and

Whereas, on April 19, 2024, a black-tie gala will be held in the Charleston Gaillard Center to honor her outstanding leadership as Imperial Commandress of the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Charleston native Dr. Karen Wright-Chisolm for her leadership of a global organization, and commend her election as the Imperial Commandress of the Imperial Court, Auxiliary of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of the Nobles Mystic Shrine.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Karen Wright-Chisolm.

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