Triumphant Soror Mary Harden Umolu, was a native of New York who had developed strong personal and professional ties with Nigeria – in particular, the EasternRegion – since 1958. Born in Newsom county in Virginia, Mary Harden was raised in New York, and graduated as a speech pathologist from Brooklyn College, a senior college of the City of New York University. Her marriage to John Umolu, a member of the Eastern House of Assembly and Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier of Eastern Nigeria, in the late 1950s took her to Nigeria, were she spent the next decade. Although her husband was highly involved in the politics of postcolonial Nigeria – during the 1950s he was one of the leading anti-colonial and labour activists in Port Harcourt – Harden would develop her own unique interest in the largest state in Africa.

During her decade in Nigeria, she worked as a producer for East Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, based in the city of Enugu, developing educational and cultural radio and television programs for children and women. While in

Nigeria, Harden endeavored to increase the level of engagement Americans – in particular, African Americans – had with Africa. Through her sorority, she supported the development of chapters of the sorority in Africa. Three were already established prior to her departure in 1958, with programs designed, according to the AfroAmerican, to establish ‘recreation rooms for children, backyard literacy programs, an international pen pal circle, theaters for children and a lecture and concert bureau. Triumphant Soror Harden was the 2nd Regional Director for Africa. Dr. Mary Helen Harden Umolu was also chairperson, Department of Mass Communications, Creative & Performing Arts & Speech at Medgar Evers College. She authored "The Griot Speaks", a collection of tales about the people of Africa and people of African ancestry in 1979.Triumphant Soror transitioned on September 25, 2007.

The Delta Iota Zeta chapter relaunched a Pen Pal program in her honor on January 15th, 2023 in partnership with the Delta Zeta Zeta chapter of Prince Georges' County, Maryland USA.

The project is being launched in partnership with our Adopt-A-School, the Ann Sandell Independent School in Paynesville, Liberia.