Check out the spring 2024 edition of the Quarterly!
1
A Look Inside
4
34
Snapshot We’re looking back at Alpha Phi’s in-person and virtual Leadership Conferences hosted in Denver, Colorado. Limitless Meet some outstanding Alpha Phis pursuing limitless excellence in their personal and professional lives. Then & Now Get to know two Alpha Phis from Zeta Psi-Dayton who are 10 years apart! Tune In Need a new podcast to binge? Don't miss this list!
Being Well It’s time for spring cleaning! Check out our tips and tricks for optimizing your work-from-home space for efficiency and productivity. Amongst the Ivy Check in on updates from our collegiate members and chapters. Alpha Phi, Always Catch up on the latest news from our alumnae members and chapters.
12
36
26
42
45
28
Silent Chapter Join us in honoring our sisters’ passings.
Iconic Look back at a moment in Alpha Phi’s history preserved forever through HistoryIT.
47
30
Alpha Phi Finds Learn how to apply the Alpha Phi aesthetic through easy style.
32
Guides Us Home Get an inside look at the lodge at
Gamma Iota-Texas Tech, along with a guide on what to do and see while you’re visiting Lubbock.
1985 S. Josephine Street, Denver, Colorado 80210
Editorial Policy The purpose of the Alpha Phi Quarterly and its content is to provide information and services to the membership of the Alpha Phi Fraternity, in keeping with the Fraternity’s status as a 501 (c) (7) tax-exempt private membership organization. The magazine is devoted to highlighting its members and matters of fraternal and collegiate interest. The views expressed in the articles published in the Quarterly are those of the authors and their contributors, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Alpha Phi Fraternity, its officers or staff. Questions Please direct any submission questions or inquiries regarding advertising or reprint permissions to the editor at quarterly@alphaphi.org.
AlphaPhi.org
@alphaphiintl
@AlphaPhi
On the Cover Illustration credit: Maddy Chapman
2
Alpha Phis Overseas
Meet three Alpha Phi alumnae who embarked on international journeys to satisfy their taste for adventure and make a global impact, including London-based Newless founder Anita Shannon (Beta Epsilon-Arizona) pictured here. Page 18
3
International President Kate Halfon (Eta Delta-CSU East Bay)
The first time I traveled on an airplane I was 16 years old. Prior to that trip, I had only been to three states — all by driving. I was nervous and excited … and I immediately caught the travel bug. The opportunity to explore new places and learn about the world is something I continue to do with my family and friends. Travel is a great way to make connections and memories. I love when I visit chapter houses and see their “Phis Overseas” board. It is amazing to see where our collegiate Alpha Phis study and travel. In this issue, we’re highlighting alumnae who have spent time abroad, both personally and professionally. If you participated in our “Ask Alpha Phi” question on Facebook, you will also see some of those results. We all cherish our collegiate memories and the special times we have spent with our sisters. Those memories can continue after college, and travel is a great way to make it happen. How fun would it be to make those memories not only with your chapter sisters, but with other Alpha Phis? Please connect with us and let us know if you would be interested in traveling with Alpha Phi. We are exploring opportunities and welcome your thoughts. I wanted to take a moment to thank those who have sent positive feedback on the redesigned Quarterly magazine. We want to continue to make it even better, and we would love to hear from you. Please let us know what you want to see or learn about in future editions. You can submit article ideas, share feedback or submit photos to quarterly@alphaphi.org.
I look forward to seeing those of you attending our upcoming biennial convention in Palm Springs, California, in June. Both collegiate and alumnae Alpha Phis will gather to conduct Fraternity business, receive thoughtful training and development and celebrate our sisterhood. If you have never been to Convention, I urge you to consider adding it to your bucket list, gathering some sisters and traveling there for a reunion.
Loyally,
Kate Halfon (Eta Delta-CSU East Bay) International President
Submit photos to marketing@alphaphi.org. Have you traveled with your Alpha Phi sisters?
Ex-officio: Rebecca Andrew Zanatta, Foundation Chair Foundation Directors Rebecca Andrew Zanatta, Chair Jenny Concepciòn Hansen, Vice Chair
Ex-officio: Kathleen (Kate) Boyle Halfon, International President Executive Office Executive Director: Renee Smith Zimmerman Zainer
International Executive Board Kathleen (Kate) Boyle Halfon,
Foundation Office Executive Director: Amy Peebles 1985 S. Josephine Street Denver, Colorado 80210 (847) 475-4532
International President Linda (Allie) Winkelman, Vice President Billie Coskey Battiato, Secretary/Treasurer Dawn Kreisel Bauer Karen Bloch Bavender Stacey Daniel Thulin Keri Miller Van Acker Ex-officio: Laura Malley-Schmitt, Council of Delegates Ex-officio: Renee Zimmerman Zainer, Executive Director
info@alphaphifoundation.org www.alphaphifoundation.org National Panhellenic Conference
Claire Costin, Treasurer Coree Smith, Secretary Janis Coughlin-Piester
1985 S. Josephine Street Denver, Colorado 80210 (847) 475-0663 fraternity@alphaphi.org www.alphaphi.org
Janelle Del Carlo Susan McNeice Shana Goss Smith Barbara Tingley Amy Peebles, Executive Director
Council of Delegates: Laura Malley-Schmitt Chief Panhellenic Officer: Linda Long Boland Alternate Delegate: Laura Lynn Davidson Ellett
4
“
I cannot stress the importance of mentorship. Being in a sorority gave me dozens of built-in mentors who could tell me what a regular day of work looked like in several different careers. Every opportunity I’ve had has been because someone older or wiser than me has taken an interest in me.”
Sally Yi (Iota Tau-Harvard)
See page 12 to learn more about Sally and how a surprising life shift into the pageant world helped propel her to where she is now and gave her a platform to speak on topics she is passionate about, like anti-bullying initiatives and history education.
5
Leadership Conference 2024 Recap
Interested in what collegiate officers and volunteers learned at Leadership Conference 2024? Get an inside look at this year’s conferences held in Denver, Colorado, and virtually.
By Anna Claire Howard
For three weeks from the end of January through the beginning of February 2024, Alpha Phi chapter officers, alumnae volunteers, members and staff gathered in Denver, Colorado, and virtually to network on the topic of effective and impactful leadership at the Fraternity’s annual Leadership Conferences. Alpha Phi trained more than 2,000 alumnae and collegiate leaders at these in-person and virtual training events. Attendees enjoyed educational sessions led by Alpha Phi staff members on topics ranging from finance, marketing and new member education to HWA (health, wellness and accountability), housing and membership. Additional leadership development and training included sessions on social media best practices, DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), alumnae engagement, alcohol safety, hazing prevention initiatives and more. Those in attendance were also encouraged to share their own experience in these areas during the sessions so members could learn from one another. Alpha Phi’s annual Leadership Conference focuses on leadership development, training and strategic improvements to create actionable plans collegians and alumnae can take back with them to initiate positive changes in their own chapters. Thank you to the Alpha Phi Foundation’s generous donors for making Alpha Phi's leadership programs possible! Collegiate and alumnae chapter officers, volunteers, advisors and staff travel from all over North America to attend the Fraternity’s annual Leadership Conference.
6
Meet a Leadership Conference Attendee!
Denver Fowler Vice President of Health, Wellness and Accountability Iota Rho-Clemson
"The Alpha Phi Leadership Conference has made me so excited to be a part of this outstanding organization with amazing sisters! I have gained such valuable lessons and knowledge at this Conference on how to be a compassionate and supportive leader to my chapter! Overall, attending this conference as an Executive Council leader has made me realize that I made the best decision that I could have made in my college career — running home to Alpha Phi on Bid Day!" What was your biggest takeaway from this year’s Leadership Conference? My biggest takeaway from the Alpha Phi Leadership Conference was the other personal experiences and insights that I heard about from other Alpha Phis across the South and West quadrants! Being able to connect with this large network of collegians was invaluable to my college experience in Greek life. I learned about the traditions and events that other chapters have implemented, I have had such a great time meeting sisters that are a part of this great organization with me. Which information or session did you find the most helpful? One of my favorite sessions was the information session with Bonny Shade. She gave such an amazing presentation about leadership and how to be an effective leader in your sorority chapter. Her talk was my first session of the Leadership Conference, and she gave me such motivation and excitement to learn about how to be a better executive leader in my chapter, Iota Rho. Overall, I feel that it gave me such a good insight into what the next few days would look like at the Conference regarding maintaining a healthy chapter with thriving and happy members! What advice would you offer other Alpha Phi officers who may attend future Leadership Conferences? My advice to future Alpha Phi officers attending Leadership Conference would be to take on any opportunity to make friends with other Alpha Phi executive officers. Being a part of a sisterhood means that you are always looking for ways to create relationships. With my excitement in being present at Leadership Conference, I talked to other Alpha Phis and advisors around me in the information sessions and got to know them and their chapters. Alpha Phi’s sisters are bonded with the same mission of raising awareness for heart health, and in doing this, we should come together in friendships to further connect as sisters, even over miles of distance from each other!
7
Leadership Outstanding Recruitment East Alpha-Syracuse Eta Eta-Seton Hall Xi-Toronto North Theta-Michigan Beta-Northwestern Gamma Epsilon-Lake Forest South Omicron-Missouri Delta Delta-Oklahoma City Theta Zeta-Florida Tech West Zeta Beta-Loyola Marymount Eta Kappa-UC Irvine Chi-Montana Iota Chi-Yale Kappa Zeta-McGill North Delta Epsilon-Iowa Delta Theta-Western Michigan Epsilon Delta-Northern Illinois South Iota Nu-Kentucky Kappa Eta-Florida Eta Lambda-George Mason Kappa Kappa-Angelo State Theta Rho-Cameron West Beta Pi-USC Eta Theta-San Francisco State Iota Gamma-University of the Pacific Eta Beta-CSU San Bernardino
Leadership Conference offers chapter officers an intensive training program, which also provides the opportunity to network with officers of other chapters as well as with talented alumnae who share their insights based on professional and volunteer experience. These opportunities become the foundation for the establishment of a professional network of outstanding women, who will provide a lifelong support system through graduation and beyond. However, as insightful and innovative as the workshops were, the liveliest event at this year’s Leadership Conferences was undoubtedly the highly anticipated awards banquet, where attendees were encouraged to dress in their school colors to represent their current universities or alma maters. If you’ve ever attended a Leadership Conference, you know what this night entails – staff and alumnae standing on chairs and cheering as the newly appointed officers walk into the banquet hall. This year’s awards banquet showcased the chapters that excelled in various areas by honoring them with certificates and recognition during a skit put on by alumnae volunteers. Alpha Phi chapters across the country work tirelessly to embody the Fraternity’s High Ideals of Membership — character, sisterhood, generosity and innovation. And at this year’s Leadership Conferences, all of that hard work was recognized at the annual awards banquet. Chapters that met or exceeded their goals or made significant progress in key areas were honored with awards at their respective conference per their designated geographic category – South and West or North and East. Alpha Phi’s International President Kate Halfon (Eta Delta-CSU East Bay) proudly presented the winning chapters’ officers in attendance at each Leadership Conference with their awards. Nearly 100 awards were presented between the conferences. Thank you to all of the chapter officers, volunteers, advisors and staff members who made this year’s Leadership Conferences possible! We look forward to celebrating with you next year and continuing to develop Alpha Phi’s future leaders.
Outstanding Financial Mamagement East Epsilon Nu-Delaware
Most Improved Recruitment East Eta Iota-Pennsylvania
Zeta Rho-Bentley Delta Nu-Maine North Rho-Ohio State
Epsilon Psi-Lehigh Eta Omega-Towson Kappa Delta-Stevens Institute of Technology North Gamma-DePauw Epsilon Xi-Southern Illinois Epsilon Alpha-Ashland South Kappa Epsilon-Georgia Iota Mu-Georgia Tech Gamma Omega-Midwestern State West Epsilon Chi-Cal Poly Iota Alpha-Pepperdine Iota Xi-Denver Outstanding COB East Eta Alpha-New Hampshire
Psi-South Dakota Zeta Xi-Elmhurst South Theta Iota-James Madison Iota Psi-North Florida Theta Lambda-Central Missouri West Gamma Pi-Arizona State Gamma Kappa-CSU Long Beach Delta Gamma-Northern Colorado Outstanding Housing Management East Alpha-Syracuse
8
Conference 2024
Award Winners
North Nu-Nebraska
South Eta Lambda-George Mason
Theta Eta-Western University Theta Kappa-Rochester North Iota-Wisconsin, Epsilon-Minnesota Delta Eta-Adrian South Omega-Texas Kappa Alpha-UNC Chapel Hill Delta Beta-Texas A&M Commerce West Epsilon Chi-Cal Poly Epsilon Rho-UC Davis Eta Psi-Eastern Washington Outstanding Member Education & Programming East
Delta Pi-Indiana State South
Gamma-DePauw Beta Eta-Manitoba South Delta Tau-LSU Theta Phi-Christopher Newport Iota Beta-St. Mary’s West Beta Pi-USC Theta Sigma-Southern Utah Beta Psi-San Jose State Outstanding Marketing & Social Media East Eta Alpha-New Hampshire Iota Omicron-WPI Eta Sigma-Lafayette North Nu-Nebraska Epsilon Xi-Southern Illinois Delta Kappa-Wisconsin La Crosse South Iota Omega-Ole Miss Kappa Eta-Florida Delta Beta-Texas A&M Commerce West Beta Gamma-Colorado Sigma-Washington Chi-Montana Outstanding Diversity, Equity & Inclusion East Eta Epsilon-Villanova
Gamma Phi-Florida State, Theta Nu-Appalachian State Upsilon-Washburn West Zeta Gamma-Santa Clara Kappa-Stanford Epsilon Gamma-Sacramento State Outstanding Potential Member Outreach South Phi-Oklahoma Gamma Phi-Florida State Kappa Epsilon-Georgia Gamma Eta-North Texas Excellence in Increasing Recruitment Registration East Iota Lambda-Connecticut Iota Chi-Yale Delta Nu-Maine North Theta-Michigan West Gamma Beta-UC Santa Barbara Beta Rho-Washington State FOUNDATION AWARDS Move Your Phi't (Innovation) East Iota Theta-Wilfried Laurier North Epsilon Xi-Southern Illinois Hoops for Hearts (Innovation)
A Phi Fair (Innovation) West Chi-Montana Martha Watkins Mast Spirit of Philanthropy Qualifier East Epsilon Kappa-West Chester North Gamma Omicron-Drake South Kappa Epsilon-Georgia West Gamma Pi-Arizona State Top Fundraising Chapters East Alpha-Syracuse Delta Zeta-Maryland Theta Theta-St. Joseph’s North Epsilon-Minnesota Rho-Ohio State Beta Tau-Indiana South Iota Rho-Clemson Kappa Alpha-UNC Chapel Hill Omega-Texas West Zeta Gamma-Santa Clara Sigma-Washington
Delta Zeta-Maryland Theta Tau-Rensselaer Eta Sigma-Lafayette North Zeta Delta-Iowa State
Delta Xi-Nebraska Kearney Gamma Sigma-Wisconsin Stout South Iota Rho-Clemson Gamma Eta-North Texas Epsilon Eta-Old Dominion West Eta Upsilon-Chapman Iota Pi-Northern Arizona Kappa Iota-Wyoming Outstanding Health, Welnness & Accountability East Iota Lambda-Connecticut Iota Theta-Wilfrid Laurier Iota Upsilon-Ottawa
Beta Epsilon-Arizona Eta Upsilon-Chapman
Epsilon Psi-Lehigh Theta Mu-Hofstra North Eta Mu-Marquette Psi-South Dakota
9
Alpha Phi Foundation
Thank you for your help to advance women's lives! The generosity of sisters and supporters like you makes empowering Alpha Phis and women everywhere possible year after year.
Join us in celebrating our impact by supporting Alpha Phi Foundation today!
LEADERSHIP $1.5 Million
SCHOLARSHIP $296,000 83 total scholarships to 81 recipients: 57 undergraduates, 24 graduates
in grants to Alpha Phi Fraternity to support innovative leadership programming
HEART TO HEART GRANT $100,000 to University of Florida Health "Hearts on Fire" research project
FORGET ME NOT $64k 39 Total Grants: 19 Collegians, 20 Alumnae
HERITAGE 1972 - 2022 Years documented and celebrated in Volume III of Alpha Phi history book, "Ivy & Forget-Me-Not"
Make a gift today!
10
2024 Heart to Heart Grant Recipients
Alpha Phi Foundation is pleased to announce the two recipients of the Heart to Heart Grant for 2024. In its 31st year, the Foundation created a new arm of eligibility for the Heart to Heart Grant to better serve funding in the cardiac space, through traditional bench research or education and programming projects.
Heart to Heart Grant Clinical Recipient The Heart to Heart Grant Clinical recipient is Barnes- Jewish Hospital. They will use their $100,000 grant for the project “cFAS Blood Biomarker to Diagnose Peripheral Arterial Disease in Women.” This will utilize a patented biomarker for circulated fatty acid synthase (cFAS) discovered at the hospital to help identify patient risk for developing Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). Led by Dr. Mohamed Zayed, a vascular surgeon at the hospital, he and his research team hypothesize that this biomarker is elevated for women who have a diagnosis of Type II Diabetes and that there is a correlation in these women who also have chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). CLTI is the leading cause for limb amputation in the United States and is a severe progression of PAD. Heart to Heart Grant Community Recipient The Heart to Heart Grant Community recipient is the University of Missouri. They will use their $25,000 grant for the project “Missouri CARES Heart Squad,” which embarks on a mission to increase the rate of bystander CPR and AED usage across the state, focusing on the utilization of female training manikins. Led by Dr. Julie Stilley and Kayla Riel — both emergency medicine professionals — the goal of this program is to eliminate barriers to Missourians receiving bystander intervention, as there are disparities prevalent that are both gender- and race- based.
Read more: aphifdn.org/h2hspringquarterly
11
12
SALLY E. YI (Iota Tau-Harvard) PhD student at Princeton University Miss New Jersey Collegiate America 2024
Living in New York City during the height of COVID-19, Sally Yi (Iota Tau-Harvard) experienced what many Asian- Americans sadly endured during those years from 2020 on — discrimination and hate crimes. And despite being a women, gender and sexuality major — which arguably could have given her a deeper understanding than most of what women face in this country and all over the world — she was not prepared for what was coming as a result of the pandemic. Sally was physically assaulted on the street, a horrendous act that sparked a domino effect of depression. Afterward, she hid herself and her feelings from her loved ones while hiding her body under ill-fitting clothes that made her feel safe while walking outside. However, in 2022, she fought back in a surprising way. Sally decided to enter the Miss New York USA pageant, despite having never competed in pageants or even being familiar with the process. She was driven by the determination to use that stage and her interview time to present herself on her own terms and in her own words.
So, that’s exactly what she did.
“I was shocked by how much discipline it took to practice walking in a gown, work out and talk about myself concisely,” Sally recalled. “The experience of preparing for the pageant gave me a completely different goal from the one I had previously achieved — taking the LSAT and applying to graduate school. I was using a completely different part of my brain, which was scary and difficult, but thrilling at the same time.” Sally said she was extremely proud of herself after the experience, but what she was even more energized by was the diverse cadre of women competing for the title. “The last time I had been in a group of extremely diverse women with wide-ranging interests, beliefs and backgrounds was in my Alpha Phi chapter in college,” Sally explained. “Though I was about to ‘age out’ of competing for ‘Miss’ titles, I took a leap and competed at America’s Ideal Miss in Atlanta, Georgia, which opened my eyes to this huge community of girls and young women committed to self- improvement and self-confidence.” Sally had not heard of the Miss Collegiate America organization until she connected with Stephanie Skinner, an Alpha Phi from the Eta Iota Chapter at the University of Pennsylvania. Together, Sally and Stephanie led an anti-
13
bullying workshop for middle school girls at the Girls Inc. Philadelphia’s She Leads Advocacy Summit last year. “I was inspired by how [Stephanie] used pageantry as a vehicle to spread awareness against domestic abuse and encourage young girls to have confidence in their voices and abilities,” Sally said. “Stephanie was Miss High School America a few years ago. I was intrigued by the opportunity to meet more socially engaged young women by competing in the collegiate division this summer.” The Miss High School America organization is devoted to its mission to build respect and values for everyone (BRAVE). As someone who said she felt disempowered and experienced bullying as a young person, Sally is dedicated to the mission of youth empowerment that this organization embodies. Sally is honored to spend the year working with young people to nurture care and empathy so no one feels alone. She plans to use her sash to engage with young people through anti-bullying and history education. The pageant is held in Little Rock, Arkansas, and is sponsored by the city, which is an added bonus for Sally as she is currently pursuing her PhD in 1990s American history and plans to visit the Clinton Presidential Library there. “This is likely my last pageant,” Sally admitted. “I’m 28 now, so I am ‘aged out’ of most systems. I found this to be a phenomenal opportunity. I’m so proud of my growth throughout the past three years, and I am grateful I met so many girls and young women throughout this process.” Sally’s goal as a titleholder is to be someone younger children see as the “Bill Nye of history” — trustworthy, informational, caring and a little silly. “As someone who learned English as a second language, educational entertainment shows like ‘Sesame Street’ and ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ played a huge role in how I thought of myself and the possibilities of what I could achieve,” Sally expressed. Prior to pageantry, Sally received her Bachelor of Arts degree in studies of women, gender and sexuality from Harvard College in 2018, where she was a John Harvard Scholar. While at Harvard, she also completed the undergraduate teacher education program, through which she student- taught U.S. History at a local high school. Sally then worked on Wall Street at Deutsche Bank and the D.E. Shaw Group where she helped the two companies within their human resources departments with their internal diversity, equity and inclusion programming. During this time as an HR generalist, she assisted the companies with immigration cases and paperwork for H-1B visa applications and renewals, and she helped spearhead both companies’ inaugural affinity groups for Asian American and Pacific Islander employees and allies. It was at this time Sally became increasingly interested in the role that the Department of Homeland Security plays in building the talent pool for the country’s businesses at home and abroad. She found herself applying to history programs
to help document the history of the immigrants and government systems that have influenced the digital world as we know it. This led her to Princeton University. Now, Sally is a historian of the recent past interested in how immigration policy, globalization and technocratic authority complicated ideas of Asian American identity in the late 20th century. “My previous life in Human Resources has influenced my interest in exploring these spheres through a labor-centric lens,” Sally explained. “For example, how has the American tech industry influenced immigration and labor policy? Further, how has the H-1B system racialized the notion of technical expertise and perpetuated myths of Asian American class homogeneity? I honestly did not expect to work in HR for so long after college, but it gave me a lot of insight into what working means and sparked my interest in labor and immigration history.” Her current project explores the attempts of municipal officials to ameliorate both tangible and intangible harm incurred by Downtown Seattle residents after the 1999 WTO Ministerial Conference. Sally credited Alpha Phi with bringing her out of her “bubble,” particularly because she was studying women, gender and
14
From left to right, top to bottom: Sally and a friend at the New York Stock Exchange; Sally and her Iota Tau sisters posing for graduation photos; Sally at a red carpet event for the 2022 America's Ideal Miss (photo credit: Sheldon Smith Photography); Sally competing in the Miss New York USA pageant in 2022 (photo credit: Edwin Shaw); and Sally in full glam as the new Miss New Jersey Collegiate America 2024 (photo credit: Carlos Velez Studios).
sexuality — one of the smallest majors available.
work in and out of the classroom.”
“Alpha Phi was the newest sorority at Harvard, which was exciting because the group was figuring out its identity,” Sally remembered. “What struck me was the immense diversity of educational and cultural interests of women in the chapter. Our chapter had an extremely eclectic group of girls from all different geographical, economic, cultural and political backgrounds. During [recruitment], I did not meet anyone in my potential major, but I connected over shared interests like crafting and classical music.” Sally ruminated on her time in Iota Tau, more specifically on its couch where she spent a lot of her time studying, completing assignments and connecting with her sisters who passed through each day. “In graduate school, my entire community is other history students,” Sally said. “I miss the days when friends who studied everything under the sun would come by and tell me the coolest thing they learned that morning, what they watched on TV the last night or what their lab was working on. I was so motivated and inspired by my sisters' incredible
Like so many Alpha Phi alumnae, Sally made some of her closest friends at Iota Tau. Even since graduating, all of her roommates over the years have been Alpha Phis. And Sally has felt the support of her Alpha Phi community throughout the years since college — professionally, academically and in the pageant world. And her advice to younger Alpha Phis? Don’t shy away from seeking out a mentor. “I cannot stress the importance of mentorship,” Sally implored. “Being in a sorority gave me dozens of built-in mentors who could tell me what a regular day of work looked like in several different careers. Every opportunity I’ve had has been because someone older or wiser than me has taken an interest in me. When I get an email from someone younger, I am delighted to share my experiences as I hope that something in my twists and turns may help smooth their future journey.”
Keep up with Sally on Instagram at @sallywhyeye.
15
client was different than what the rest of my office did, and I got to see them from jail to graduation, which is really rewarding. I became a bit obsessed about learning everything I could about best practices and figuring out how to do things better. The rest has been history.” Madison counts herself among the lucky few who can say that, on most days, work doesn’t feel like work. “For every tough day or moment, there is someone to celebrate for a big win in their life,” Madison expressed. “I have a great team at work who all show up and give their all each day. (That helps!) I also have a great friend group. We all work in this space in different ways, so we understand the heaviness of the work.” Madison said in a recent interview with The Oklahoman (bit. ly/MelonOklahoman) that she believes putting people in prison, where the root cause of their criminal behavior is untreated mental health or substance abuse, is not fixing the problem. “They're going to get out and not be any better than when they went in — and these are our neighbors and fellow citizens,” Madison told the news outlet. “We really owe them more than we are giving them; so more treatment programs, access to programs like drug court and
MADISON MÉLON-MCLAWHORN (Phi-Oklahoma) Assistant Public Defender and Supervisor for Treatment Courts Oklahoma County, Oklahoma Since graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in women’s and gender studies and Georgetown University with her law degree, Madison Mélon-McLawhorn (Phi-Oklahoma) has dedicated her career to helping vulnerable Oklahomans avoid incarceration and overcome substance abuse since 2015. In her current role with Oklahoma County, Madison works as the assistant public defender and the supervisor for treatment courts, where she oversees her team of lawyers and other staff members who work in all nine of the county’s diversion programs. She also works on resources, strategy and policy for how to grow programs to serve more people wrapped in the system. “My first day in the office, the chief public defender told me I was assigned to the mental health court, and I had no idea what that was,” Madison admitted. “I didn’t learn about [these] programs in law school, so it was a totally new concept. I got a copy of the docket notes and directions to the courtroom, and that was it! But I quickly fell in love with the model – spending months/years working with a
16
mental health court for people who want to do that [are worthwhile].” Watching people who society turned their backs on change their lives and find joy in recovery is Madison’s favorite part of her job. “I had the opportunity to hire one of our [prison diversion program] graduates in 2019 to work as a peer on our team,” Madison recalled. “We now have a team of eight graduates — soon to be 17 — that work as Recovery Navigators. They are my favorite coworkers, and it is a daily reminder of why I do what I do.” However, Madison said the hardest aspect of her job is something she encounters a great deal — seeing potential in people that they don't see in themselves "and watching them self-sabotage," Madison confessed. "Also, representing clients that are going to prison, fentanyl and overdose deaths, and having too many ideas for change that the system isn’t ready to support," Madison added. But if Madison is anything, it’s tenacious and wholeheartedly devoted to her clients — leadership qualities she gained while a member of the Phi Chapter at Oklahoma where she served as the director of finance and the vice president of programming and education (VPPE). Thinking back on her undergraduate years, Madison recalled Alpha Phi immediately making her feel at home and like she could be herself. “I felt I would be supported in my interests and goals, and I was right,” Madison expressed. The leadership development Madison experienced as a chapter officer, along with the support and development she received as a volunteer during law school, made a long- lasting impact on Madison and her future career as a public servant. “[While I was working as a volunteer during law school,] I was across the country [from home] and didn’t know anyone other than my new classmates — except an educational leadership consultant (ELC) from my time in college who was the chapter advisor at George Mason University,” Madison recalled. “I had the opportunity to reconnect with her and get to know another group of amazing Alpha Phis as the recruitment advisor.” While living in D.C. for law school, Madison served as the recruitment advisor at George Mason and the finance advisor at Virginia Tech. “It was an amazing balance to studying and a connection to a group of women who weren't just talking about law school stuff,” Madison shared. “I had the opportunity to work with amazing leaders — both members and fellow volunteers — [and] it had a huge impact on how I transitioned from a student leader to how I found my place as a ‘grown up.’ I'm looking forward to getting back involved at OU in the next few months.”
Madison with her now 4-year-old daughter, Willow
Thinking back on her journey to where she is now in her career, Madison said she knew from the time she was a child that she wanted to be a lawyer; so, following through on all of that talk seemed “inevitable,” even just to show everyone that she meant what she had been saying all along. “I knew there were injustices in the criminal legal system, but when I started digging in during law school, I was horrified and drawn to do whatever my small part could be to change things,” Madison explained. “I was able to participate in the Criminal Defense and Prisoner Advocacy Clinic at Georgetown and learn from Professor Abbe Smith, who is a bit of a legal giant in this space. After that, my fate was sealed. It is a privilege and honor to work with my clients throughout their time in treatment court.” As Madison approaches the 10-year anniversary at her job, she has spent time reflecting on what might be next. But truth be told, she shared that she has no plans of doing anything differently. “I feel like I still have things I want to do in my current role, although getting my law school loans forgiven [by working for a state-based entity] will be a huge weight lifted,” Madison said. “There’s been so much positive change over the past 10 years that I hope continues over the next [decade]. My team has grown, and hopefully will continue to grow, which will lighten my load a bit. I would love to have a bit more flexibility to be able to do things as my daughter starts school. I hope to continue to grow as a leader and a mom.” And Madison’s advice to younger Alpha Phis? To be true and kind to themselves. Madison is married to a fellow public defender, and they have a daughter who was born the week everything shut down for COVID. She enjoys reading, doing Barre3 and spending time with her family. “You are never too much or not enough,” Madison implored. “Find a way to contribute to this world, and that purpose should make your heart sing!”
17
18
Get to know three Alpha Phis who embarked on international adventures after college to advance their careers and make a global impact.
By Anna Claire Howard
19
It takes an immense amount of courage to leave everything you know behind — your family, friends, everything that’s familiar — and move to an entirely new country and embrace an entirely new culture. But that’s exactly what three Alpha Phis from Beta Epsilon- Arizona, Lambda-Berkeley and Iota Eta-DePaul did.
life could look like in Australia and turned to her Alpha Phi network on LinkedIn where she ultimately made a life- changing connection. “I reached out to a sister I'd never met before named Michelle Barry (Eta Alpha-New Hampshire) who was living in Queensland at the time just to see if she had any advice for someone who was interested in living overseas like she had done. Even though Michelle was a decade ahead of me in her career and the only thing that tied us together was our shared experience as Alpha Phis, Michelle quickly responded and gave me her advice and encouragement on how to make the jump. I moved a few years later with a recruiting role at a tech company and ended up spending nearly eight years in Australia before moving for work again in 2022 to Japan.” Megan currently lives in Tokyo with her pug, Miche, and works in a strategy role for a global real estate company. She loves exploring the culture, the food and the city every day, and trying to pick up as much of the language as she can.
In fact, two of these women still live abroad.
And the third? She turned her passion for travel into an exciting career wherein she empowers other women to see the world. In this feature story, we’re going to take a deeper dive into the life stories of three outstanding Alpha Phis who embarked on international adventures after graduating from college to advance both their careers and their personal development, making a global impact and advancing women worldwide. Do you know any Alpha Phis who meet this description? We’d love to hear about them! Email us directly at quarterly@alphaphi.org with the member’s name, chapter and LinkedIn page if you have it.
Let’s get to know her better!
What was your favorite part of living in Australia those eight years after college? There's so much to love about Australia, but I think my favorite thing about living there was how much of an adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit exists in the culture. Aussies love to travel and so many young Australians spend time traveling, living and studying abroad that it was easy to find likeminded friends that wanted to go out and explore. I found that my friendship group had an incredibly global perspective on the world, and it included expats and locals alike. My least favorite aspect of living in Australia was the length of the flight from Sydney to anywhere else. I got very good at sleeping on planes! You live in Tokyo now. What prompted that move from Sydney, and how do you like living in Japan? I currently work in people strategy for a global real estate company where my job is to make sure we're set up to employ in all the markets we operate in and that we have the right systems in place for things like hiring, compensation and workforce management. My current company sponsored the move, which allows me to live and work in Japan while also working virtually with team members all around the world. I love living in Tokyo! It's such a simultaneous mix of old and new. On one hand, it’s a city of incredible technological advancement and hyper-optimized processes that make living in a density of 14 million people feel spacious, clean and safe. On the other hand, Japan has a culture deeply rooted in tradition, and it's not uncommon to see the continued practice of traditional crafts like ikebana [the
Megan
Megan Beale (Lambda-Berkeley) Megan Beale can date her desire to live abroad back to her freshman year of college when she moved from her small hometown of Cochranville, Pennsylvania, to the wildly diverse campus of UC Berkeley where there was more representations of cultures she had never experienced before. In the years after graduating as she was thinking about the next steps she wanted to take in life, Megan wondered what
20
Japanese art of flower arranging] […] or Shinto shrines tucked away on a side street in the bustling city […] Not to mention the food is incredible! Do you see yourself ever moving back to the states? Yes, I do think I'll come back some day. I moved to Sydney in 2015 to work for Uber, and I stayed there for about seven years before moving to Tokyo, Japan, in the fall of 2022 where I currently still live and work. While I have loved being an expat, I do think there is something special about the blend of individualism, innovation and generosity that is celebrated at the heart of American culture. Every time I come home, and a friendly stranger strikes up a conversation with me – which is not something that happens on the streets of Tokyo – I am reminded about the place that I come from and all the forces that shaped me into the person I am today. How did Alpha Phi prepare you for life after graduation and living abroad? I am so fortunate that Alpha Phi had a direct hand in shaping my career, as my first job after graduating was as an educational leadership consultant (ELC)! My year as an ELC was an enormous growth year for me as I stepped out of a world of tests and grades and into a working environment that encouraged me to think and act independently while being supported by a network of strong women at every turn. In 2013, I supported the establishment of the Iota Sigma Chapter at Carnegie Mellon University by recruiting a group of student founders who kickstarted an incredible legacy on this campus. Following this, I moved back to the west coast where I landed my first corporate role on the recruiting team at Square – a skill I was able to draw on directly from my days as an Alpha Phi! What advice would you offer younger women/Alpha Phis who are preparing to graduate from college and enter the career phase of their lives? There is no “right” path. Run toward problems that you find fascinating to solve. Seek out and make your own opportunities. Spend time doing the things you love! Don’t get hung up on title and salary; these things will come with time. Instead, focus the early part of your career and on surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to grow. When you look back on the steps of your career, it will all make sense how you’ve gotten there; so, don’t sweat it, and enjoy the ride. As Michelle once told me when I was curious about life overseas, “I think it's very important for young women to travel the world. There is nothing better to enrich your mind and soul than travel.” I’d love to pay this advice forward to any Alpha Phis who are considering life abroad at some stage, along with the message that the power of your Alpha Phi network should not be underestimated. Our sisterhood is one of lifelong support, and wherever you go there will be Phis who have
walked the path ahead of you and are cheering you on along the way. What has your involvement with Alpha Phi looked like over the years? During my college years, I was involved in leadership roles in my chapter, which allowed me to work closely with ELCs that visited us and ultimately led me to apply for the role myself. In the early days of arriving in Australia, I connected with a small, but mighty, group of Alpha Phis who helped me with the early part of my move, advising me on practical things like where to live and how to properly eat vegemite on toast (hint: with a LOT of butter). While I haven’t lived in a country with an active chapter in about a decade, I can’t count the number of times I have met someone in my personal or professional circles who has a connection back to Alpha Phi. We really do have sisters all over the world! My real-life sister, Emily Beale, was also an Alpha Phi at Epsilon Nu-Delaware. On one trip home from Australia, I was able to attend her chapter’s Red Dress Gala along with our mom, which was truly special. Most recently, I was back home on the east coast in January to see Emily compete in the Miss America Pageant as Miss Delaware 2023. That was definitely a proud big sis moment!
21
Arden
sisters to help shape the chapter, its traditions and its culture. But it was a lot of work to have to figure everything out — so many things for the first time. Thankfully, we had the support of alumnae and the Executive Office all along the way! How did Alpha Phi shape your collegiate experience? College can be a real whirlwind of new experiences and challenges, and Alpha Phi played a pivotal role in helping me navigate this transformative period of my life. In the middle of the excitement and uncertainty, Alpha Phi provided me with stability, direction and friendship that helped ground and guide me. I quickly learned about the incredible power of a supportive community and a strong sisterhood that could be your home away from home. Alpha Phi also gave me a place to spread my wings, learn about myself and discover my strengths as a leader. These experiences not only shaped my collegiate years but also influenced the trajectory of my future. Alpha Phi taught me resilience, leadership, sisterhood and the importance of giving back, which is all part of who I am today and what I do. When I walked into my first job, I felt prepared for the professional environment in part because of what I had learned in Alpha Phi. When I was feeling lost about where to go in my career, I turned to Alpha Phi for guidance and ended up getting a job at the Executive Office. And when I was ready to step out and begin my own work as an entrepreneur, I knew I had the skills because I had honed them in Alpha Phi! What are the benefits of spending time abroad? I think every woman should make it a priority to travel (whatever that looks like for them). Traveling is a lot like running a marathon. It isn’t always easy but it’s always rewarding! Discovering all that you can do and how far you can go is something everyone deserves to experience. But just as importantly, traveling helps you learn more about the world. When you explore outside your boundaries, you come to understand (or are reminded that) what you know is only a tiny strand in a large tapestry. When you forge connections to people and places outside of your world, you become more open-minded and respectful of the world around you. That is something we need more than ever these days. But when it comes to benefits, don’t take my word for it! In a recent survey, 75% of women said travel makes them stronger, and 88% said it makes them more empathetic. You can't beat that! Where are some of your favorite places you’ve been? I’ve traveled to many incredible places, but a piece of my heart will always be in Japan. I had the immense privilege of living and working in Japan as an English teacher. Working there gave me the rare chance to experience the culture in a way that a short visit simply can’t offer. Domestically, one of my favorite places in the world to go is Galena, Illinois. It’s a small town at the corner of Illinois,
Arden Joy (Iota Eta-DePaul) Arden Joy is the executive director of Girls Who Travel, a community dedicated to making travel accessible to all women. This group is dedicated to redefining what it means to travel the world in an inclusive, sustainable and empowering way. She is also a published author of her debut novel, "Keep This Off the Record", a fresh take on Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” where classic damsels in distress are transformed into various strong women — queer women, women of color and women overcoming trauma. Arden is one of the founding members of DePaul’s Iota Eta Chapter in Chicago, what she described as an “incredibly empowering experience that [she has] carried with [her] all these years.”
Let’s get to know Arden!
What was your experience like as a founding member? DePaul University, nestled in the heart of Chicago, allows students to have all the benefits of a big city at their fingertips. And while that is wonderful, being spread out across the city sometimes means missing out on that close-knit community vibe you might find on a more traditional campus. Although I was not someone who knew a lot about Greek Life going into college, I was interested to find out more about becoming part of a sisterhood on campus. Walking into the Alpha Phi room on that first day of recruitment was one of those rare and wonderful moments in life when it was just obvious. Every person I talked to made me feel seen and welcome, and I knew I had found my home. When I learned that they were starting the chapter at DePaul, I could not have been more excited! I couldn’t believe that I was going to get the chance to be part of building the foundation of the Iota Eta chapter and leaving a legacy for all the women to come. Being a founding member was both as fun as I expected and harder than I thought! I loved getting to work with my
22
Iowa and Wisconsin. When people think of the Midwest they, rightfully, think of flat land. But Galena is an unglaciated area of the Midwest, meaning it has breathtaking, rolling hills that look like they fell out of California wine country. The town — home of Ulysses S. Grant — is 85% a historic district; so as you walk through the hilly streets, you are literally walking through history. Galena is the perfect reminder to me that travel can happen anywhere. You can see incredible and surprising things without ever leaving your country! What are your top three tips for women who are traveling or exploring a new location for the first time? First, do your research! Booking the trip is only the start. Look into the customs, cultural dos and don’ts, safe neighborhoods and transportation options. Find out about local scams, what to do in an emergency, what weather conditions you can expect. Learn a few words to be polite and ask for help, and of course, find the bathroom! Make sure you know how to take care of yourself, be respectful of the people welcoming you to their home and know how to give back to the community you are visiting. Second, trust your instincts. I can’t stress this enough. As women, we’re pushed not to listen to our gut, but it’s an
incredibly powerful tool. If something feels off, trust that feeling and remove yourself from the situation. Whether it’s a dodgy street, an uncomfortable interaction or a too-good- to-be-true offer, it’s okay to say no and walk away. Always prioritize your safety and well-being. Lastly, stay connected. Yes, use that sisterhood! Whether it’s Alpha Phi, Girls Who Travel or your book club, connect with your network. Ask for advice and recommendations, you never know who will be able to join you or support you along the way. And of course, always have a trusted contact at home that has a copy of all your important documents, knows your itinerary and stays up to date on your whereabouts. Have you traveled with any Alpha Phis? Yes, my mother! After I became an Alpha Phi, my mother went through Alumnae Initiation. She is the one who instilled the love of travel in me and encouraged me to think outside the box when it came to travel. When I was living in Japan, she came to visit me, and we explored the country together. While traveling solo has many benefits, being able to share your travels with someone else who you are close to is a gift that I would highly recommend. What advice would you offer younger Alpha Phis regarding life and traveling? On that first European trip I went on after college, my friends and I were in Rome for Christmas, so we took the train to Vatican City to see the pope speak. Afterward, we headed back to the train only to find out that all public transportation was shut down for the rest of the day. Not only that, but it started raining cats and dogs. Our hostel was miles from Vatican City, and this was back when you couldn’t just take out your phone and call an Uber. So, we pulled out our paper map (yep, it was that long ago), figured out which direction we needed to head, and just started walking. As the hours passed, “just keep walking” became our mantra as we made our way back to the hostel in the pouring rain. There were some tears along the way but we still managed to have fun together, and we made it back in time to dry off and have a delicious and well-deserved dinner. So, my advice to younger Alpha Phis is to just keep walking. Your travels and career will not always go as planned. But don’t give up. You can find joy, even in the hard moments, especially if you are surrounded by women who are in it with you. Girls Who Travel didn’t happen overnight. I had to keep walking, even when it was really hard to keep pursuing my dreams. I’m a published author, too, and guess what? I got rejected over 200 times before my book was published. Don’t ever give up. Whatever it is you want to do can only happen if you keep going. Photos on right, top to bottom: Arden ziplining in Costa Rica; Arden with her fellow members of Girls Who Travel.
23
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software