In her leadership as an educator and civic activist, Burke created important social capital.

Beulah Burke demonstrated in her work as an educator, sorority leader and civic activist how African-American sororities supported women "to create spheres of influence, authority and power within institutions that traditionally have allowed African Americans and women little formal authority and real power.

[7] In addition to Greek, during college Burke studied Latin, German, political science, chemistry, and physics.

After retiring from the Atlantic City school system, Burke returned in the 1940s to Washington, DC to direct Lucy Diggs Slowe Hall at Howard University.

[9] In addition to her work with the sorority (below), Burke was an active member of both professional - the National Education Association - and civic associations: the NAACP and the YMCA, in Washington, D.C.[4] Burke served an active role in expanding the organization during years of rapid social change.

[10] Burke also established the second graduate chapter (Beta Omega) in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1920, and led as president for two years.

[1] Burke's creation of new chapters in the Midwest kept pace with the dramatic increase of African American population, especially in Chicago, due to the Great Migration.

At a time when discrimination was a burden, the sorority chapters encouraged African American students, helping them to incorporate aspects of "racial identification, cultural heritage and social uplift.