DURHAM, N.C. — Gamma Xi Phi, the professional fraternity for artists, announces the initiation of Alexandra Joye Warren and Maurice J. Miller, two North Carolina artists whose work reflects the fraternity’s commitment to fellowship, philanthropy, social justice, and service.

Warren, a director/choreographer, assistant professor in Elon University’s music theatre program and founding artistic director of JOYEMOVEMENT, joins Gamma Xi Phi with a focus on community engagement through dance and performance.

“I hope to use my artistic practice to serve the community,” Warren said. “I hope that membership in Gamma Xi Phi will provide more opportunities to serve North Carolina through dance and my other artistic skills and beyond, uniting with the mission of fellowship, philanthropy, social justice and service.”

Warren is the 2025 recipient of the Jan Van Dyke Legacy Award, which honors an individual who makes North Carolina a great place to dance. Her choreographic work has been presented by Microsoft Corporation, the American Dance Festival and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. She is a contributing author to Dance in Musical Theatre: A History of the Body in Movement and holds degrees from Spelman College and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Miller, a Charlotte-based multidisciplinary artist and visual storyteller, works in illustration, graphic and UX design, comics and sequential art. He leads Millsbury Media and collaborates with small businesses, creative organizations, and artists nationwide.

“While joining Gamma Xi Phi, I hope that this helps me grow as a creative leader, expand my network, assist and contribute to the community, as well as open up to new opportunities that strengthen me as an artist and my impact in the community,” Miller said.

National President Hunter Irby welcomed the new initiates.

“Gamma Xi Phi is proud to welcome Sister Warren and Brother Miller into our House,” Irby said. “Their artistic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and dedication to service reflect the very spirit of our fraternity. We are honored to stand beside them as they expand their impact across North Carolina and beyond.”

Gamma Xi Phi said the initiations strengthen its mission to uplift artists and advance community impact through the arts.

About Gamma Xi Phi

Gamma Xi Phi (ΓΞΦ), founded in 2010, is a professional fraternity for artists and creators across disciplines including literature, visual art, music, theater and dance. Guided by the principles of philanthropy, sodality, and elevation, the organization promotes service through the arts while fostering fellowship and community impact.

Local Artists Seek Prayer and Support Amid Federal Government Shutdown

CONWAY, N.C. (October 2025) — The Phi Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi, the professional fraternity for artists, has sent letters to more than 70 churches and faith communities throughout Northampton and Halifax Counties to raise awareness of National Arts and Humanities Month and to highlight how the ongoing federal government shutdown is impacting artists and cultural organizations across rural northeastern North Carolina.

The fraternity’s outreach emphasizes the spiritual and communal importance of the arts and calls upon congregations to pray for artists and cultural workers who enrich the life of the region yet often face uncertainty in times of economic disruption.

“In moments like this, the church and community can shine by opening our doors, sharing our gifts, and helping the arts continue to flourish even when federal support has stopped,” the October 20 letter said.

The fraternity’s letter urges churches to include prayers for artists in worship services or independently. This is the second such letter that the organization has sent to churches. It hopes to reach a wider group of faith communities in 2026.

National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM)—celebrated every October—honors the role creativity plays in strengthening the fabric of American life. The 2025 theme is “Stories Unite Us.” Through this initiative, Gamma Xi Phi’s Phi Chapter hopes to remind residents that the arts are a vital expression of culture.

Founded in 2010, Gamma Xi Phi is a professional fraternity for artists committed to the promotion of the arts and humanities. The Phi Chapter, serving Northeastern North Carolina, supports artists and creative initiatives throughout the Roanoke-Chowan region through service, advocacy, and community partnership.