Summer 2020 - To Dragma

Summer 2020

FORWARD THROUGH THE DARKNESS,
FORWARD INTO LIGHT

Celebrating the Women’s Vote Centennial

In this issue... Let's Talk About Diversity, A 2020 Focus
Equity & Inclusion on Recruitment
Collegiate
Chapter News

Beta Tau (U of Toronto)
Photo was taken pre-pandemic.

2 | Summer 2020

Contents

Pandemic Biases Racism
Protests Justice Freedom
Education Resources Action
Diverse Equitable Inclusive

10 24

32 42

4 Editor’s Letter 34 Foward Through The Darkness,
7 Viewpoint Forward Into Light: Celebrating the
8 Fraternity News Women’s Vote Centennial
10 Summertime Virtual Firesides 38 Celebrating in the Midst of a Crisis
12 Virtual Leadership Institute Recap 42 A 2020 Focus on Recruitment
20 Meet the 2020-2021 ELCs 46 Things We Love: Women Owned
24 Let’s Talk About Diversity, Businesses
Equity & Inclusion 48 AOII Foundation Focus
30 NPC News 51 Colleigate Chapter News
32 It’s Time to Vote! 69 Life Loyal AOIIs

3

About Alpha Omicron Pi: from the editor
Alpha Omicron Pi was founded at Barnard College
in New York City, January 2, 1897, by Jessie My summer 2019 editor’s letter began with, “This
Wallace Hughan, Helen St. Clair Mullan, Stella has been a magical summer!” I wrote those words
George Stern Perry & Elizabeth Heywood Wyman. after we had concluded a fabulous Convention in
The Object of the Fraternity: Orlando filled with celebrations and sisterhood, incred-
The object of the Fraternity shall be to encourage ible memories and in-person hugs. What a difference a
a spirit of Fraternity and love among its members; year makes. While it’s a stretch to describe the summer
to stand at all times for character, dignity, scholar- of 2020 as magical, it has still been filled with celebra-
ship, and college loyalty; to strive for and support tions, sisterhood, memories and endless virtual hugs.
the best interest of the colleges and universities In this issue, you will find numerous articles highlighting
in which chapters are installed, and in no way to the ways we have celebrated and advanced our sister-
disregard, injure, or sacrifice those interests for the hood over the last few months, even in the midst of a
sake of prestige or advancement of the Fraternity pandemic. I especially call your attention to our colle-
or any of its chapters. giate chapter news updates. Even in the midst of their
Culture Principles: academic chaos, notice their positive spirits, creative
A look at “how” we do things: Accountability minds and generous hearts. They are our inspiration!
& Ownership, Collaboration, Engagement, Our cover clearly articulates that It’s Time to Vote! We
Innovation, Open & Honest Communication. encourage you to use your voice and your vote to make
How to Join Life Loyal AOII: a difference. Democracy is one of the fundamental prin-
Visit the Life Loyal page of the AOII website or ciples AOII was built upon. AOII Founder and women’s
contact [email protected]. suffragist Jessie Wallace Hughan encouraged women
How to Join an AOII Alumnae Chapter: in 1919 to “learn to use the ballot wisely” and her words
Visit the Chapter Locator page on the AOII web- remain as true today as they were 101 years ago. This
site for contact information on an alumnae chapter sentiment coinsides with the end of a year-long cel-
near you. ebration for the Women’s Vote Centennial. This issue is
International President being intentionally released on, August 26th, the 100th
Crystal Grafton Combs, Nu Beta (U of Mississippi) anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment
Executive Director giving (White) women in the United States the right to
Kaya Miller, Gamma Theta (U of South Florida) vote. The article Forward Through the Darkness, For-
Alpha Omicron Pi is a member of the National ward Into Light explores a brief history of the suffrage
Panhellenic Conference and the Fraternity movement including a clarification of privilege and the
Communications Association. struggles for Black women and women of color to earn
the same right.
4 | Summer 2020 In closing, I share an important To Dragma update for
the 2020-2021 fiscal year. In an effort to be fiscally
responsible during these challenging times, we will only
be sending To Dragma out digitally rather than in print.
So watch your inboxes rather than your mailboxes for
this year’s issues.
Fraternally,

Mariellen Perkinson Sasseen, Alpha Delta (U of Alabama)
Director of Communications/Editor

We want to feature About To Dragma:
To Dragma is the official magazine of Alpha Omicron
your photos! Pi Fraternity and has been published since 1905.
The mission of To Dragma of Alpha Omicron Pi is: to
Tag @alphaomicronpi in your Instagram photos or email inform, educate and inspire our readers on subjects
your photos to [email protected] to be fea- relevant to our Fraternity, our chapters, our members
tured. Don’t forget to follow AOII to stay in the know! or Greek life; to encourage lifetime AOII involvement;
to salute excellence; and to serve as a permanent
record of our Fraternity’s history.

Director of Communications/Editor
Mariellen Perkinson Sasseen, Alpha Delta
(U of Alabama)

Assistant Director of Communications
Katherine Nixon, Omicron (U of Tennessee)

Creative Director
Hillary Brewer, Sigma Gamma (Appalachian State U)

View To Dragma Online:
alphaomicronpi.org/news-events/to-dragma/

How to Contact To Dragma:
Mail: To Dragma, 5390 Virginia Way, Brentwood, TN
37027; phone: (615) 370-0920, fax: (615) 371-9736; or
email: [email protected]

How to Update Your Name or Address:
Go to the For Members page on the AOII website,
email your new information to aoiihq@alphaomicronpi.
org, or call (615) 370-0920.

How to Subscribe to To Dragma:
Subscriptions are $25 annually and can be paid by
check or credit card. Checks, made payable to AOII,
should be mailed to:

Alpha Omicron Pi
5390 Virginia Way, Brentwood, TN 37027
Attn: Accounting

Credit card subscribers (Visa, Master Card or Discover
only) should email [email protected].

Stay Connected:
facebook.com/aoiifraternity
twitter.com/alphaomicronpi
Instagram: @alphaomicronpi

5

Xi (U of Oklahoma)
Photo taken pre-pandemic.

6 | Summer 2020

Viewpoint

If we are being honest, It was beautiful to be a part of these celebra-
2020 has likely not tions, even amid a global crisis.
shaped up to be quite like Our future is one still riddled with uncertainty.
any of us had imagined. I believe it is also bursting with possibility –
In fact, this year has been for our members as individuals and for our
called many things – from Fraternity. Our professional staff team and
a dumpster fire to, well, I international volunteers have developed
will let you fill in the blank. toolkits, templates, and other resources to
This global pandemic support our chapters as they return to campus
upended life as we know this fall. This return will inevitably be different
it. Sisters have suffered as we approach life through a virtual lens and
illness and the loss of make memories from behind masks. However,
family and friends. Others I believe that our Fraternity can and will rise to
have faced job loss and financial insecurity. meet these challenges.
Still others are struggling with their mental AOII has also established a new Diversity,
health and wellness. These many months Equity, Inclusion, and Education Work Group.
have been hard for all of us, particularly for We look forward to this work better informing
our Black sisters and sisters of color, who the strategies and policies of our Fraternity
have endured terrible affronts against the as we begin the process of removing barriers
Black community. And, through it all, we are to joining our sisterhood and strengthening
asked to maintain our social distance. the membership experience for all of our
It is during times such as these that I sisters. As an organization, we are committed
encourage our sisters to remember that our to doing better. It is only through this commit-
Fraternity is based in friendship. Sometimes ment that we can affect positive change for
we must be that friend upon whom our sisters our Fraternity and its members.
have no fear to call. At others, we may be the Founder Stella George Stern Perry was
one making that call. The one thing I know quoted as saying, “If we did not foresee the
for sure is that while we may be physically future, neither did we fear it.” That was in
isolated, we are never alone. 1936. Now, more than 80 years later, these
I have been heartened to see our chap- words still ring true. While we could not have
ters pivot to virtual platforms, remaining foreseen what 2020 would offer, we must
connected to one another across the miles. I not fear our future. Each of us has a responsi-
could not have been more impressed with the bility to our Founders to continue the legacy
work of our professional staff team and inter- they built for us. Activities may have been
national volunteers as our Fraternity shifted canceled and events may have been post-
to a virtual Leadership Institute experience, poned, but our sisterhood is NOW and our
connecting nearly 900 members for two future is YOU!
days of education, training, and sisterhood. Fraternally,
This event was filled with “firsts” for me, from
learning to use a teleprompter app for pre- Crystal Grafton Combs, Nu Beta (U of
recorded videos to presenting live via Zoom. Mississippi) AOII International President
I have also learned the value of a tripod stand
and a light ring! Another first was the oppor-
tunity to initiate over 550 new members
over twelve virtual initiations this summer.

Fraternity News

2020 Milestone Anniversaries SAVE THE DATE

Congratulations to the following chapters VIRTUAL Leadership
celebrating milestone anniversaries during the Academy Jan. 9-10,
upcoming school year: 2021
Alpha Omicron Pi Fra-
75th Anniversary ternity is excited to
Greater Vancouver Region Alumnae, announce that Leadership Academy 2021
Installed Dec. 7, 1945 will be held as a virtual experience. Chap-
Birmingham Alumnae, Installed Feb. 18, 1946 ter Presidents and Chapters Advisers were
notified that several key collegiate chapter
50th Anniversary officers and an adviser will have an oppor-
Lambda Chi (LaGrange College), tunity to participate in officer training, sis-
Installed May 15, 1971 terhood, and learning during AOII's Virtual
Leadership Academy 2021! Virtual LA will
25th Anniversary take place Saturday and Sunday, January
Jersey Shore Alumnae, Installed Nov. 10, 1995 9-10, 2021. We look forward to sharing more
Chicago City Alumnae, Installed June 2, 1996 information with our attendees soon!
Delta Rho (DePaul U), Installed June 2, 1996

AOII Becomes a Circle of Sisterhood Bronze Sponsor

Alpha Omicron Pi is proud to become a Bronze Interfraternal Sponsor for Circle of Sisterhood.
Circle of Sisterhood’s mission is to leverage the collective influence of sorority women to raise
financial resources for entities around the world that are removing educational barriers for
girls and women facing poverty and oppression.
The Circle of Sisterhood Foundation is a mechanism by which sorority women can stand
together as one community to help improve the lives and livelihood of girls and women world-
wide by removing barriers to learning. Collectively, sorority women
are one of the largest communities of college-educated women in the
world while not even seven percent of the world – men and women
combined – has college degrees, and two thirds of all illiterate adults
are women.
Currently, Circle of Sisterhood has impacted 26 countries, engaged
with over 260 campus sorority communities and over 20 alumnae
groups, worked with over 3,300 donors and funded 34 school builds.
Check out Circle of Sisterhood’s Take Action page to see if your cam-
pus community is involved with Circle of Sisterhood! If not, many of the
tools needed to help remove education barriers for girls and women
are available on Circle of Sisterhood’s Resources page.

8 | Summer 2020

Arthritis Foundation Hosts a Virtual JA Conference

Even though the 2020 JA Conference transitioned to a virtual experience, AOII was still a proud
supporting sponsor of the event and shipped 800 pandas to the Arthritis Foundation headquarters
in Atlanta, Georgia for distribution. More than 1,500 attendees participated from 47 states and eight
countries. The event featured 18 live or pre-recorded sessions, live teen hangouts, sessions for par-
ents, children, teens and young adults. AOII's pandas, dressed in smartly monogrammed white hood-
ies, were shipped to every registered child in a pre-event box along with several other materials.

Sign Up to Participate in a Mentor Power Hour

What are Mentor Power Hours? They are virtual networking opportunities for collegiate and alumnae
members in the same career field. Members will be split up into small groups to ask and answer ca-
reer-based questions, share experiences and expertise, and begin creating relationships with sisters
of different chapters, ages, and backgrounds. Scheduled Session Times:

• Business / Management / Administration: Tuesday, August 25 at 7:00 PM CT
• Communication / Marketing / PR / Broadcasting: Thursday, August 27 at 7:00 PM CT
• Higher Education: Wednesday, September 16 at 7:00 PM CT
• Early / Elementary Education: Thursday, September 24 at 7:00 PM CT
• Secondary Education: Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 PM CT
• Engineering & Technology: Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 PM CT
• Nursing: Thursday, November 5 at 7:00 PM CT
• Healthcare / Medical: Tuesday, November 10 at 7:00 PM CT

Click here to sign up now!

Note: More career fields will be scheduled for the spring semester

Get the latest Fraternity News by visiting 9
alphaomicronpi.org/news-events/fraternity-news/

Fraternity News

Summertime
Virtual
Firesides

Since March and our journey with the Our alumnae members noted that many
COVID-19 global health pandemic, of their dearest and closest friends are
the world has been fully virtual and AOII’s AOIIs, not from their collegiate chapter
Membership Connection opportunities experience, but from their post-college
have been no exception. While we had lives. AOII is a place to be surrounded
been looking forward to conducting focus by friends to dream your dreams. As an
groups onsite at Leadership Institute in alumnae volunteer, there are opportunities
June, the online format meant that we had to mentor and to guide the next genera-
to pivot and rethink our approach. tion of women. AOII has been somewhere
Throughout the month of July, AOII’s Ex- to thrive through life changes. Many alum-
ecutive Board and Properties Board part- nae women talked about
nered with our staff leadership team to ex- AOII as an opportunity
ecute a series of 26 Virtual Firesides. Each to create immediate and “It may be cliché,
session was scheduled for an hour and
limited to a small number of participants to meaningful connections but AOII changed
create an intimate and open environment, when relocating to a new
even via Zoom. The invitation to partici- place – there was great my life.”
pate was open to all collegiate and alum-
nae members of our organization, with the comfort in knowing that there are AOIIs
hope of engaging with a true cross-section wherever you may go. One alumnae noted
of our sisters. that AOII offers friendship, encouragement,
We used this opportunity to hear about and motivation that is not available any-
what AOII means to our members and how where else in her life.
we can continue to inspire ambition in all
we do. We asked our members to consider Our collegians were excited about AOII
a variety of questions and we are sharing as a space to be with other women and to
some of the responses and insights here. expand your life and your vision of sister-
hood. Many collegiate women described
AOII as a grounding point during a pan-
demic – while other clubs and activities

10 | Summer 2020

may have fallen through “AOII is different because it is about people who can
or stopped gathering, AOII be there for you who are like-minded. I feel at home.”

provided purpose and world events and things happening in
structure. AOII was described as a space our society. Both collegiate and alumnae
to be accepted for who you are where you sisters were looking forward to our con-
can gain confidence and have a strong tinued amplification and learning about
support system. Collegians were particu- diversity, equity, and inclusion matters. It
larly excited by opportunities to develop was also suggested that we use the 2020
as a leader and to have consistency and election cycle as a springboard to discuss
support. civic engagement. Several members asked

Both our collegiate and alumnae women us to consider providing more education
viewed AOII as a constant – something about women’s advocacy and the roles our
you can always come back to and have a Founders played in such activities in their
shared experience. We are a network of lifetimes.
multi-generational women with a common
mindset. Everyone was As a closing question to our Fireside par-
happy to have the support ticipants, we asked them what they wanted
“You are never of a group such as this in a AOII to be known for and how they wanted
going to be alone.” pandemic. to be remembered. There were several
recurring words and themes that were
We asked our participants to consider how shared with us and they’re shown in this
AOII could be more relevant to them as a word bubble:
woman or a professional and how what
they seek from AOII is different from other
valued groups or organizations. Our mem-
bers view AOII as a unique opportunity
to have a broad network of support after
college from all over the United States
and Canada. It can be a wonderful venue
for professional connections and assisting
women in considering how to take the next
step in their lives and careers. From a pro-
fessional perspective, we were asked to
consider how to translate AOII experiences One participant noted that our Found-
on a resume and how to promote the ers were forward-thinking, so we need to
real-life skills and abilities that have been continually move in that direction. Another
developed through AOII membership and asked, “would our Founders be proud of
leadership. We also want our sisters to un- us today?” How can we be a beacon of
derstand that leadership opportunities and change to continue forward momentum
skills development are available through- not just in this moment, but always. We are
out your AOII journey. Many sisters were strong, powerful, individual women who
extremely complimentary about the Men- can make change. We are founded on
tor Power Hours that were first launched at love, above all else.

Virtual Leadership institute, which will be Overall, the Virtual Firesides were an
returning in the fall. incredible opportunity to connect with our
members in a more intimate way. We look
Our participants were inspired by AOII’s forward to continuing to engage in these
approach to taking a stand on current types of sessions on an ongoing basis.

11

Event Recap

Virtual Lea ershi nstitute

This past June, nearly 900 AOII sisters across Petrucci which included a
North America gathered virtually for Lead- wonderful keynote address from Chris Meroff,
ership Institute 2020. While the event looked Founder and CEO of Alignment Leadership.
different this year due to the COVID-19 global Following the welcome and keynote was a so-
pandemic, the weekend was still filled with mo- cial and networking hour during which attend-
ments each AOII sister looks forward to at every ees were able to choose from collegiate and
event: education, reunions and sisterhood. Prior alumnae happy hours, trivia, TikTok dance party,
to the event, attendees had the opportunity to emoji challenge game and the AOII Foundation
connect through the event app, Whova, to start Virtual Donor Celebration. These events made
conversations with each other and plan their for a fun wrap-up to Friday evening!
own virtual gatherings during LI. Through this
app, participants were also able to utilize the Saturday, June 20
agenda feature to learn more about education
tracks and other fun sessions prior to the event Due to the event gathering sisters across North
and during the weekend. To also prepare for American time zones, Saturday’s morning ses-
the event, attendees received an #AOIIVirtualLI sion began bright and early for some attend-
branded swag box containing an AOII “Be In- ees, while others were getting ready for lunch.
spired” t-shirt, pen, whiteboard to utilize in ses- The morning session began with a welcome
sions, keyboard stickers and emoji stickers for from Kaya Miller and Jackie Petrucci, followed
computer decor. Participants were so excited to by another impactful keynote message deliv-
have this gift arrive at their door! ered by Jaclyn Johnson, Founder and CEO of
Create & Cultivate. To wrap up the morning
Friday, June 19 session the Fraternity and AOII Foundation
shared updates with attendees and sisters live
Beginning Friday evening, attendees gathered on Facebook. Following a lunch or snack break,
on Zoom through the Whova app for the open- the afternoon learning tracks began. These ses-
ing session led by Executive Director Kaya sions were created specifically for attendees
Miller and Assistant Executive Director Jackie and their roles within AOII. The topics for the

learning tracks included fall 2020 recruitment, legiate members.
sisterhood, women’s advocacy, Ritual and more. Click here to sign up
Through these sessions and activities, attend- for a session now!
ees were able to hear from an array of speak- To wrap up the weekend, AOII hosted the
ers, professionals and sisters from across North evening session live from AOII Headquarters
America. in Brentwood, Tennessee. The session fea-
After the Learning Tracks, attendees had the tured our Virtual Leadership Institute 2020
opportunity to participate in Inspiration Ses- Awards Ceremony and “Some Inspiring Stuff”
sions that allowed sisters to share a best prac- our sisters have been doing during the tough
tice, great idea or interesting topic with one times brought on by COVID-19. The ceremony
another. Three separate sessions were held for was also streamed on Facebook Live, allowing
collegiate chapter members, alumnae chapter sisters everywhere to join in and watch. Nearly
members and local and international volun- 300 awards were announced from 24 catego-
teers. Immediately following the Inspiration Ses- ries for both collegiate and alumnae members
sions, the final Learning Track took place be- and chapters. Congratulations to all of our
fore Mentor Power Hour. During Mentor Power awards winners!
Hour, alumnae had the unique opportunity This successful weekend would not have been
to share experiences and expertise with col- made possible without AOII’s amazing volun-
legiate members, and begin creating relation- teers and Headquarters Staff members. Many
ships with sisters of different chapters, ages, thanks to AOII’s Events Team for their count-
and backgrounds. Collegiate members were less hours of hard work and dedication for this
able to choose from 13 different career fields international event. We hope to see everyone,
and spend the hour learning more about their in-person, in Palm Desert, California for Con-
potential future line of work. After seeing the vention 2021!
positive networking experience this was able
to provide our virtual attendees, the Fraternity 13
is continuing to offer the opportunity to meet
other AOIIs in your field to all alumnae and col-

Event Recap

Award Winners 2020

Alumnae Awards Nashville Area Alumnae
Ottawa Alumnae
Click here to watch the alumnae awards Reno-Tahoe Alumnae
presentation San Fernando Valley Alumnae
Excellence in Collegiate Engagement Excellence in Sisterhood
Baton Rouge Alumnae Baton Rouge Alumnae
Bozeman Alumnae Bozeman Alumnae
Calgary Alumnae Calgary Alumnae
Chicago West Suburban Alumnae Chicago NW Suburban Alumnae
Delaware Alumnae Chicago West Suburban Alumnae
Jersey Shore Alumnae Denver Alumnae
Orlando Area Alumnae Green Bay-Fox Cities Alumnae
Excellence in Communications Long Island Alumnae
Atlanta Alumnae Madison Area Alumnae
Austin Alumnae Nashville Area Alumnae
Bucks County Alumnae Reno-Tahoe Alumnae
Calgary Alumnae Southern Orange County Alumnae
Chicago West Suburban Alumnae Alumnae Philos
Denver Alumnae Chicago NW Suburban Alumnae
Nashville Area Alumnae Chicago West Suburban Alumnae
Reno-Tahoe Alumnae Indianapolis Alumnae
San Fernando Valley Alumnae Lake County, IL Alumnae
Toledo Area Alumnae Nashville Area Alumnae
Excellence in Community Involvement Reno-Tahoe Alumnae
Calgary Alumnae
Chicago West Suburban Alumnae Collegiate Awards
Kentuckiana Alumnae Chapter
Nashville Area Alumnae Click here to watch the collegiate awards
Orlando Area Alumnae presentation
Reno-Tahoe Alumnae Excellence in Alumnae Engagement
Southern Orange County Alumnae Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U)
Toledo Area Alumnae Delta Epsilon (Jacksonville State U)
Excellence in Membership Recruitment Delta Rho (DePaul U)
Calgary Alumnae Gamma Delta (U of South Alabama)
Chicago West Suburban Alumnae Iota (U of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Kentuckiana Alumnae Chapter Kappa Alpha (Indiana State U)
Kappa Kappa (Ball State U)

14 | Summer 2020

Kappa Lambda (U of Calgary) Lambda Sigma (U of Georgia)
Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U) Lambda Tau (U of Louisiana at Monroe)
Lambda Tau (U of Louisiana at Monroe) Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U)
Nu Beta (U of Mississippi) Tau (U of Minnesota)
Pi Alpha (U of Louisville) Xi (U of Oklahoma)
Pi Delta (U of Maryland) Zeta (U of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U)
Tau (U of Minnesota) Excellence in Finance
Zeta (U of Nebraska-Lincoln) Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U)
Excellence in Campus & Community Involvement Alpha Pi (Florida State U)
Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U) Beta Phi (Indiana U)
Alpha Delta (U of Alabama) Chi Lambda (U of Evansville)
Alpha Phi (Montana State U) Delta Epsilon (Jacksonville State U)
Beta Phi (Indiana U) Gamma Delta (U of South Alabama)
Chi Lambda (U of Evansville) Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U)
Delta Delta (Auburn U) Lambda Chi (LaGrange College)
Delta Epsilon (Jacksonville State U) Lambda Sigma (U of Georgia)
Delta Omega (Murray State U) Omicron (U of Tennessee, Knoxville)
Iota (U of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Phi Upsilon (Purdue U)
Iota Theta (Monmouth U) Pi Delta (U of Maryland)
Kappa Alpha (Indiana State U) Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U)
Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U) Tau Delta (Birmingham-Southern College)
Lambda Chi (LaGrange College) Theta Iota (California State U San Marcos)
Lambda Sigma (U of Georgia) Xi (U of Oklahoma)
Lambda Tau (U of Louisiana at Monroe)
Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U) Excellence in Membership Experience
Sigma Delta (Huntingdon College) Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U)
Xi (U of Oklahoma) Alpha Phi (Montana State U)
Excellence in Communications Beta Zeta (Kennesaw State U)
Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U) Chi Lambda (U of Evansville)
Alpha Phi (Montana State U) Delta Delta (Auburn U)
Alpha Pi (Florida State U) Delta Epsilon (Jacksonville State U)
Alpha Rho (Oregon State U) Delta Omega (Murray State U)
Beta Zeta (Kennesaw State U) Epsilon Omega (Eastern Kentucky U)
Chi Phi (U of South Carolina Aiken) Iota Theta (Monmouth U)
Delta Omega (Murray State U) Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U)
Gamma Delta (U of South Alabama) Lambda Chi (LaGrange College)
Gamma Omicron (U of Florida) Lambda Sigma (U of Georgia)
Iota (U of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Omicron (U of Tennessee, Knoxville)
Kappa Alpha (Indiana State U) Phi Gamma (Georgia College and State U)
Kappa Kappa (Ball State U) Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U)
Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U) Tau (U of Minnesota)
Zeta (U of Nebraska-Lincoln)

15

Event Recap Alpha Pi (Florida State U)
Alpha Psi (Bowling Green State U)
Excellence in Membership Recruitment Beta Phi (Indiana U)
Alpha Phi (Montana State U) Chi Lambda (U of Evansville)
Delta Epsilon (Jacksonville State U) Delta Omega (Murray State U)
Delta Omega (Murray State U) Iota (U of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Gamma Alpha (George Mason U) Kappa Alpha (Indiana State U)
Gamma Delta (U of South Alabama) Kappa Lambda (U of Calgary)
Kappa Alpha (Indiana State U) Lambda Sigma (U of Georgia)
Kappa Kappa (Ball State U) Lambda Tau (U of Louisiana at Monroe)
Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U) Nu Omega (Northern Kentucky U)
Lambda Sigma (U of Georgia) Omega Sigma (Oklahoma State U)
Omicron (U of Tennessee, Knoxville) Pi Alpha (U of Louisville)
Pi Delta (U of Maryland) Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U)
Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U) Sigma Beta (Saint Joseph’s U)
Sigma Delta (Huntingdon College) Tau (U of Minnesota)
Zeta Pi (U of Alabama at Birmingham)
Excellence in Philanthropy Excellence in Wellness & Safety
Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U) Alpha Lambda (Georgia Southern U)
Delta Delta (Auburn U) Alpha Pi (Florida State U)
Delta Epsilon (Jacksonville State U) Beta Eta (Gettysburg College)
Delta Omega (Murray State U) Beta Zeta (Kennesaw State U)
Epsilon Omega (Eastern Kentucky U) Iota (U of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Gamma Delta (U of South Alabama) Kappa Kappa (Ball State U)
Kappa Chi (Northwestern State U) Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U)
Kappa Kappa (Ball State U) Lambda Eta (Grand Valley State U)
Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U) Lambda Iota (U of California, San Diego)
Lambda Iota (U of California, San Diego) Omicron (U of Tennessee, Knoxville)
Lambda Sigma (U of Georgia) Pi Alpha (U of Louisville)
Nu Beta (U of Mississippi) Pi Delta (U of Maryland)
Nu Omega (Northern Kentucky U) Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U)
Omicron (U of Tennessee, Knoxville) Tau (U of Minnesota)
Phi Chi (U of Chicago) Theta Psi (U of Toledo)
Pi Delta (U of Maryland) Xi (U of Oklahoma)
Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U)
Sigma Beta (Saint Joseph’s U) Outstanding AAC
Sigma Omicron (Arkansas State U) Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U)
Tau (U of Minnesota) Kappa Alpha (Indiana State U)
Xi (U of Oklahoma) Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U)
Zeta Pi (U of Alabama at Birmingham) Lambda Tau (U of Louisiana at Monroe)
Excellence in Rituals Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U)
Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U) Tau (U of Minnesota)
Alpha Lambda (Georgia Southern U) Theta Iota (California State U San Marcos)
Alpha Phi (Montana State U) Zeta (U of Nebraska-Lincoln)

16 | Summer 2020

Outstanding Leaders Council Delta Delta (Auburn U)
Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U) Delta Omega (Murray State U)
Alpha Delta (U of Alabama) Epsilon Omega (Eastern Kentucky U)
Delta Delta (Auburn U) Gamma Delta (U of South Alabama)
Epsilon Omega (Eastern Kentucky U) Iota (U of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Gamma Alpha (George Mason U) Iota Theta (Monmouth U)
Iota (U of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Kappa Alpha (Indiana State U)
Kappa Alpha (Indiana State U) Kappa Kappa (Ball State U)
Kappa Kappa (Ball State U) Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U)
Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U) Lambda Iota (U of California, San Diego)
Lambda Tau (U of Louisiana at Monroe) Lambda Tau (U of Louisiana at Monroe)
Phi Chi (U of Chicago) Omicron (U of Tennessee, Knoxville)
Phi Upsilon (Purdue U) Pi Delta (U of Maryland)
Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U) Sigma Rho (Slippery Rock U)
Tau (U of Minnesota) Tau (U of Minnesota)
Xi (U of Oklahoma)
Zeta (U of Nebraska-Lincoln) Individual Awards
Collegiate Philos
Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U) Click here to watch the individual awards
Alpha Phi (Montana State U) presentation
Alpha Pi (Florida State U)
Beta Gamma (Michigan State U) Alumnae Woman of Leadership
Delta Delta (Auburn U) Molly Fenton
Delta Epsilon (Jacksonville State U) Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U)
Delta Omega (Murray State U) Leah Horton
Gamma Delta (U of South Alabama) Tau Gamma (Eastern Washington U)
Kappa Alpha (Indiana State U) Samantha MacKenzie
Kappa Kappa (Ball State U) Pi Alpha (U of Louisville)
Kappa Lambda (U of Calgary) Summer Steib
Kappa Tau (Southeastern Louisiana U) Delta Beta (U of Louisiana at Lafayette)
Pi Alpha (U of Louisville)
Tau (U of Minnesota) Collegiate Woman of Leadership
Tau Delta (Birmingham-Southern College) Vanessa Cai
Xi (U of Oklahoma) Phi Chi (U of Chicago)
McCausland Cup Sara Chan
Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U) Phi Chi (U of Chicago)
Academic Achievement Megan DeVore
Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U) Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U)
Alpha Delta (U of Alabama) Shania Harrison
Alpha Phi (Montana State U) Kappa Alpha (Indiana State U)
Beta Phi (Indiana U)

17

Mamie Hertel Laura Jacques Boyer
Alpha Phi (Montana State U) Lambda Beta (California State U, Long Beach)
Ruple Jairath Rina Rickman Galehouse
Chi Lambda (U of Evansville) Delta Omega (Murray State U)
Ileana Lopez-Martinez Christine Graves
Phi Chi (U of Chicago) Phi Chi (U of Chicago)
Mackenzie Moore Amy Vanourek McSwane
Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U) Phi Upsilon (Purdue U)
Lauren O’Neil Shokooh Miry
Lambda Sigma (U of Georgia) Sigma (U of California, Berkeley)
Lydia Robinson Jackie Petrucci
Phi Chi (U of Chicago) Omega Upsilon (Ohio U)
Dominique Satterwhite Amy Sittler Pike
Alpha Delta (U of Alabama) Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U)
Brynn Vaughan Kristie Prichard Ryan
Xi (U of Oklahoma) Rho Omicron (Middle Tenneessee State U)
Olivia Vizzini Cindy Hines Tooley
Phi Chi (U of Chicago) Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U)
Baylee Waldrop
Lambda Tau (U of Louisiana at Monroe) Alpha Omicron Pi
Rebecca Wells Foundation Awards
Phi Upsilon (Purdue U)
Click here to watch the AOII Foundation awards
Named Awards presentation

Click here to watch the named awards Alumnae Excellence in Fundraising
presentation Indianapolis Alumnae - $2,550.00

Mary Louise Roller Award Collegiate Excellence in Fundraising
Natalie Brejcha Campuses with 1-5 NPC Chapters
Phi Upsilon (Purdue U) Delta Epsilon (Jacksonville State U) - $31,870.00
Morgan Maddox Campuses with 6-9 NPC Chapters
Delta Delta (Auburn U) Alpha Chi (Western Kentucky U) - $18,308.34
Campuses with 10 or more NPC Chapters
Stella George Stern Perry Award Alpha Delta (U of Alabama) - $50,588.84
Emily Black
Xi (U of Oklahoma)

Rose Award
Stefani Barnett Billington
Delta Omega (Murray State U)

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Meet The ELCs

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
CONSULTANTS 2020-2021

While our 2020-2021 ELCs’
experience will look a
little different this year due to
COVID-19, AOII is thrilled to
introduce this wonderful team
of nine outstanding sisters.
These recent AOII graduates
will have the unique opportu-
nity to visit chapters in person
where it is safe to do so, or
virtually, which is a new and
exciting opportunity for our
consultants, members and
volunteers alike.

20 | Summer 2020

KATIE BLOMMEL ALYSSA CRAIG

Alpha Pi Chapter Beta Zeta Chapter

(Florida State U) (Kennesaw State U)
Alyssa served Beta Zeta Chap-
Katie joins the ELC team from ter from Kennesaw State U
Alpha Pi Chapter at Florida as Assistant Vice President of
State U where she earned a Membership Recruitment and
bachelor’s degree in Elemen- Vice President of Member-
tary Education and a masters ship Recruitment. In addition
degree in Curriculum and to earning a bachelor’s degree
Instruction. Katie served her in Organizational and Profes-
chapter as Chapter President sional Communication, Alyssa
and Vice President of Educa- served on Kennesaw State’s
tion as well as various roles Greek Programing Board as
in FSU’s Dance Marathon the Director of Greek Week. Alyssa adds, “I’m looking forward
program such as captain, to connecting with sisters from all over and getting to experi-
coordinator and a member of ence other chapters than my own!”
the Dance Marathon Execu-
tive Board as the chair of the McKENNA GALLAGHER
Community Marathons. Katie
shares, “As an ELC, I'm look- Theta Iota Chapter
ing forward to interacting with
and learning from members (California State U,
no matter how we have to San Marcos)
meet. In addition to that, the McKenna’s roles in Theta Iota
new opportunities we might included Chapter President,
be presented with now that Vice President of Communica-
we have to be creative with tions and serving as a member
our visits, and I can’t wait to of the standards committee.
see what our chapters can McKenna was also a member
accomplish and overcome.” of two Greek Honor Societ-
ies, Gamma Sigma Alpha and
Order of Omega, and was
named Sorority Woman of the
Year in the Spring of 2020. She
earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication with a minor
in psychology from California State U, San Marcos. McKenna is
looking forward to “the virtual impact we will have with chap-
ter members. Although some visits will be moved to the online
world, we will still be able to assist chapters and help them
move in the right direction! Sisterhood is NOW!”

21

SHANIA HARRISON

Kappa Alpha Chapter (Indiana State U)

Shania earned a bachelor’s degree in communication with a
minor in business administration from Indiana State U. Shania has
served as Vice President of Communications, Vice President of
Finance and Chapter President for Kappa Alpha Chapter in ad-
dition to holding various leadership roles on campus including
Welcome Team Student Leader, Team Captain for STATE Dance
Marathon and more. She is also a Former Miss America Organi-
zation Titleholder. Shania shares, “I cannot wait to connect with
collegiate members around the country and assist chapters in
working through these difficult times. I want every member to
have a beneficial membership experience that they are proud of
and are able to look back on with the biggest smiles.”

MORGAN MADDOX

Delta Delta Chapter (Auburn U)

Morgan comes into this role having served as the Auburn University Panhellenic President and
as Panhellenic Delegate and Junior Panhellenic Delegate for Delta Delta. Morgan majored in his-
tory and German while also serving on staff for Auburn University Dance Marathon, which raised
money for Children’s Miracle Network
Hospital. As an ELC, she is looking
forward to “meeting and hearing
everyone's AOII stories. I know every- GABBY JACKSON

one has a different story, and I am Xi Chapter
excited to hear how AOII has played
a part in their life.” (U of Oklahoma)

Gabby was the Vice
President of Member-
ship Recruitment, Vice
President of Chapter
Development and So-
cial Chair for Xi Chapter
and also served as a
Vice Chair for Oklaho-
ma U’s Campus Activi-
ties Council’s Dad’s Day
for three years. Gabby
earned a degree in
marketing and received a minor in sociology while work-
ing at a Community After School Program as a teacher
for two years. Gabby is excited for the opportunities
ahead and shares, “I am looking forward to seeing how

our chapters get creative in the virtual world. There are

22 | Summer 2020 so many opportunities to be had and I can't wait to see

how chapters use them.”

ALIVIA MAXWELL

Alpha Chi Chapter (Western Kentucky U)

Alivia served Alpha Chi as New Member Educator as well
as a member of the standards committee. During her time
at Western Kentucky U, she received a bachelor's degree in
marketing and an associate's degree in business. In addi-
tion to her membership
in AOII, Alivia was also
a peer mentor for third
grade students during her
collegiate years. Alivia
adds, “I am so look-

ing forward to how we

will adapt to all of the

changes that have come

our way. While this ex-

perience is going to be LAURA JOY (LJ) STEWART
so different than I ever
imagined, I cannot wait Delta Gamma Chapter
to work with the women
(Missouri State U)

of AOII to provide them Laura Joy has served her cam-
the best experience pos- pus as the Director of Public
sible.” Relations and Marketing on the

Panhellenic Executive Board,
and she also served Delta
Gamma Chapter as Keeper of
the Ritual and Vice President of
Administration. Laura Joy double
CATE SKINNER majored in psychology and ger-
ontology at Missouri State U. She
Xi Omicron Chapter (U of Arkansas) says, “Despite COVID-19, I'm so
excited to meet new sisters and
Cate has served Xi Omicron as VP Communications, VP of learn more about each chapter I
Chapter Development and Chapter President. She was also a visit, as well as bonding with my
ELC team more and in person!”
full-time volunteer, reporter
and producer at UATV News
and a member of U of Arkan-
sas’s Communication Honors
Society and Greek Honor
Society. Cate studied journalism with an emphasis in broadcasting
and received a minor in communications. She shares, “I am look-

ing forward to meeting student leaders and hearing about the

great work these women have and continue to do to ensure AOII’s

sisterhood advances. I hope to be a supportive and inspiring voice

to the members I come into contact with, and I am most looking

forward to an amazing year of growth.”

23

Feature Dear sisters,

Let’s Talk The world feels different these days – and that is
About not simply because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Diversity, The time has never been more appropriate for us
Equity & to view our actions and words through a filter of
Inclusion diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is our moral im-
perative to serve as a voice and advocate for those
by Hillary Brewer, Sigma Gamma who are less privileged in our society and to create
(Appalachian State U), Creative Director an environment that respects and values individual
differences of varying dimensions. We, as members
of Alpha Omicron Pi, already bring forth a certain
level of privilege as college-educated women. That
being said, our AOII members come to us with
diverse perspectives and backgrounds that need to
be respected, honored, and addressed. AOII mem-
bership should provide a platform and opportunity
for broader education, understanding, and harness-
ing of both power and access – it is a movement
towards a more equal and just existence.

We, as an organization, are committed to investing
the time, resources, and courage necessary to cre-
ate a more inclusive environment, not only within
AOII but for society as a whole. We look forward to
going on this journey with all of you. Our Founders
were forward-thinking women who envisioned a
different world. We honor their memory as we step
forward in their footsteps.

Yours sincerely,

Koren Phillips, International Vice President
Executive Board Liaison to the Diversity, Equity,
and Inclusion Education Work Group

Diversity represents the range of human differences, includ- Equity seeks to

ing but not limited to personality, age, life experience, race/ ensure fair treat-
ethnicity, socio-economic class, sexual orientation, gender
identity, national origin, caste, tribe, ability, communication ment, equality of
styles, and religion. It is the representation of these varied
identities and differences both collectively and as individuals. opportunity, and

fairness in access.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion. These cases, exclusivity Pandemic
three words may seem like 2020 of membership re-
buzz words to some, but why haven't they quirements. Alpha Biases
always been normal, everyday words and Omicron Pi is no Racism
practices embedded in the organizations exception.
we are a part of? Whether considering your WHY NOW?
place of employment, school, place of wor-
ship, or yes, even fraternal membership, Racial injustice is
we need to talk about diversity, equity, and not a new concept,
inclusion (and a whole lot more!). We need by any means. The Protests
to talk about how the lack of incorporating world has seen up-
them in to our everyday activities – inten- risings and protests
tionally or unintentionally – has been a for centuries, from Justice
detriment for centuries (from slavery, to the numerous slave
segregation, to redlining and much more). rebellions begin-
Systemic racism, also called structural or ning in the 1660s
institutional racism, has been a part of to the Civil Rights Freedom
North America’s fabric since its inception. movement of the
NAACP President Derrick Johnson defines 1960s. But why
systemic racism as "systems and structures now, why is this year any different? Let’s
that have procedures or processes that recap a few of the many notable events of
disadvantages African Americans." While 2020 thus far…
being a product of our environments is no
excuse for perpetuating racist structures, On February 23, Ahmaud Arbery, a
it's important for organizations such as 25-year-old Black man, was killed in Glynn
fraternities and sororities to recognize the County, Georgia by two White men while
systemic racism ingrained in the landscape running through a neighborhood. Arrests
of higher education. People of color have were not made for months.
historically been left out of fraternity and
sorority life completely – whether because On March 11, the World Health Organiza-
of the makeup or barriers to entry of the tion declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
institution (and inherent privilege that is as-
sociated with higher education) or in many On March 13, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-
old Black woman, was killed in Louisville,
KY by plainclothed police officers attempt-

Inclusion is actively and intentionally valuing multiple layers of human differ-

ences and viewing these differences as strengths. Inclusion is the degree to which
sisters of all identities – whether visible or not – are able to be authentic and to
feel safe and respected. It is the creation of a culture of belonging where no one
person can or should be called upon to represent an entire community.

25

Feature

ing to execute a no-knock search warrant. AOII'S COMMITMENT
As of the release of this article, no arrests So, let’s talk about AOII and our commit-
have been made. ment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

From March 13-22, major North American On May 29, AOII made the following state-
cities, and more populous areas, including
New York City, Philadelphia, Quebec, and ment on social media. “In Alpha Omi-
Northern California began to close non- cron Pi, we stand for Inspiring Ambi-
essential businesses and enact shelter- tion in all we do. We cannot fulfill this
in-place/stay-at-home orders. Additional ambition by staying silent. Silence is
cities, states and provinces followed suit. a privilege that does not acknowl-
edge deep injustices against Black
On March 21, US-Canada borders closed Americans that are a part of our
to non-essential travel. nation’s history and that continue
today. We ask our members to stand
On April 15, protests throughout the US with us in condemning acts of ha-
urged mayors and governors to reopen cit- tred, bigotry and violence; to speak
ies and states to restart the US economy. out against racism and join us in
educating ourselves on the issues at
Throughout May, numerous states began hand. The purpose of AOII is to carry
communicating and executing phased into the world a spirit of love. Bigotry
reopening plans. The US unemployment and hatred have no place in such a
rate toped an all-time high since the Great world.”
Depression at 14.7%.
Following this statement, it was brought
On May 25, George Floyd, a 46-year-old to our attention that this statement was
Black man, was killed when a police officer not inclusive of members across North
kneeled on his neck for more than eight America and was amended for future use
minutes while attempting an arrest.
to, “Black Americans, Black Canadi-
On May 26, protests began in Minneapolis, ans or citizens of any other nation.”
MN in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
All four officers on-site were fired, and We know that this statement alone is not
have since had charges pressed against enough. We are aware that this state-
them. ment may seem performative to some. We
recognize that we have not done nearly
Since that day, protests have erupted enough in the past to support BIPOC
throughout the world from those calling (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
for justice. Justice for Arbery, Taylor, and and/or LGBTQIA+ sisters. And while we
Floyd, justice for the countless other Black can’t go back in time to correct and enact
men and women killed be- change in our organizational practices, we,
fore them with no due pro- as sisters of Alpha Omicron Pi, can move
Black cess, and justice for all Black forward. We can enact change now.
people and people of color.
These protests are a rally- On June 2, AOII participated in Black Out
ing cry for racial equality, an Tuesday. The purpose of this movement
Lives end to systemic racism and was to take the day off from promoting
police brutality.

Matter26 | Summer 2020

work or personal agendas, and put time Align, Educate, & Participate
and energy towards anti-racism education,
and making actionable change. Since that We would like to thank our sisters from Kappa
time, we have been listening, learning, and Omicron (Rhodes College) and Nu Omicron
reflecting. (Vanderbilt U) for sharing their Align, Educate
On June 3, AOII volunteers and staff imple- and Participate information below as we con-
mented an action plan beginning with our tinue to build a space to share resources.
new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Educa-
tion (DEIE) Work Group. Align Yourself with a Cause
In addition, AOII provided an opportunity for
women to share their voice with Fraternity • Examine your values and how your actions
leaders through a form located on the web- outwardly reflect upon those values
site, and with permission from two collegiate
chapters used and promoted their Align, • Listen thoughtfully to those whose experiences
Educate, and Participate information to help differ from your own
members understand how they can be in-
volved in the fight against racial injustice. • Hold yourself accountable to call out instances
Another step we have taken as an orga- of bigotry
nization is to remove barriers around re-
cruitment. On June 9, the AOII Executive • Be mindful to share images and videos that
Board voted to change our longstanding are appropriate and respectful
membership recruitment policy and remove
the preferential treatment given to legacies Educate Yourself on the History of Inequality
during recruitment. This is to ensure that all
women interested in joining have an equal • Take initiative to independently seek out
chance to be a part of Alpha Omicron Pi, ac- knowledge without relying upon others to teach you
knowledging that there are women whose
mothers, sisters, and grandmothers did not • Read articles, books, speeches, and website from
have the same access to higher education a variety of perspectives, ensuring to include works
or the ability to join Alpha Omicron Pi, which written by BIPOC
would allow them the privilege of being a
legacy. This change also empowers our col- • Reflect upon art, movies, comedy, and literature
legians to have additional autonomy in mak- created by artists of color through a lens of
ing their own membership selection deci- empathy and understanding
sions. We are hopeful this change will allow
for a more inclusive recruitment process • Encourage conversation among your peers
and a greater membership experience. and family
Since Black Out Tuesday, the Executive
Board has also updated the Diversity Policy • Attend campus events hosted by cultural
to include language more inclusive of the organizations
LGBTQIA+ community. AOII has also been
intentional in the holidays and celebrations Participate
being recognized since January 2020.
• Identify groups or organizations with goals and
values similar to your own

• Donate as you are able to organizations that
support those impacted by injustice or violence

• Sign petitions to express your voice
• Exercise your right to vote for officials at every

level who advocate for the principles in which
you believe
• Use any platform at your disposal to raise
awareness for injustice and violations of humanity
• Remain committed to your own education and
engagement over time, in the absence of heavy
news coverage

27

Feature the skillset and Education

Holidays and celebrations not typically tools to create Resources
posted in the past include the Lunar New meaningful ac-
Year, Passover, Easter, Ramadan, Holi, tion against racial
Pride Month, Juneteenth and more. We are injustice, implicit
happy to be more inclusive of our sisters and explicit bi- Action
who celebrate many religious and cultural ases, and bigotry,
holidays and hope to continue to educate both within our
members on the wide range of holidays own organization
celebrated by our sisters. and in the world around us. To this end,
Because understanding our history will the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Educa-
help us frame our future, AOII is commit- tion Work Group has been charged with
ted to researching our archives to discover identifying areas for improvement, creating
potential past biases. We are fortunate educational resources, and recommend-
to have had founders with diverse back- ing initiatives and Fraternity policy changes
grounds from our very beginnings, but to the Executive Board. This work group
realize the lack of diversity, equity, and represents a cross-section of experiences
inclusion are issues we still need to bet- and backgrounds, and the members will be
ter understand throughout our Fraternity's charged with gathering perspectives and
history. insight from across our AOII sisterhood.
MOVING FORWARD The work group will be grounded in the
We are not done yet. We are pleased to broad definitions of diversity, equity, and
announce the members appointed to the inclusion on pages 24-25.
DEIE Work Group on the following page.
You can expect to find more information The AOII Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
about these volunteers and their work Education Work Group will:
through AOII’s social media channels as 1. Listen to our membership’s experiences
well as future issues of To Dragma.
The charter of the work group states: The and perspectives by conducting focus
purpose of AOII is to carry into the world a groups, reviewing submissions in the
spirit of love. Our organization was found- “Share Your Voice” survey and participa-
ed on values including integrity and dignity ting in other opportunities to connect
and we stand for Inspiring Ambition in all with sisters; partner with the Executive
we do. AOII’s commitment to diversity, eq- Board Membership Connection Comm-
uity, and inclusion comes from the under- ittee to integrate these activities into the
standing that a diverse sisterhood, grou- overall Membership Connection Plan
nded in unique perspectives and experi-
ences, is one of the most important cor- 2. Analyze trends in the policy and pro-
nerstones of our organization. Recognizing grammatic suggestions provided by
that these words are meaningless unless members through the above vehicles to
we take tangible action, the Fraternity is inform decisions and to educate our sis-
committed to creating opportunities for re- ters regarding DEI topics and approaches
flection, discussion, and education. We are
committed to equipping our members with 3. Based on the data-driven trends, make
recommendations regarding policy and
procedure changes at all levels of the
Fraternity

28 | Summer 2020 *Thank you to the Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation for funding this training.

4. Collaborate with volunteers and profes- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
sional staff to create educational curricu- Education Work Group
lum and resources to assist chapter lead-
ers, volunteers, and members at all levels • Emily Axsom
of the organization to: Beta Phi (Indiana U), 2018
a. Support the creation of spaces for
difficult dialogue • Jennifer Bowers
b. Develop an understanding of implicit Kappa Omega (U of Kentucky), 2010
and explicit biases
c. Help members understand privilege • Radha Chaddah
and how it can be leveraged to stand Phi Chi (U of Chicago), 1988
up for the oppressed
d. Guide members in furthering their • Elizabeth (Elle) Dworkin
advocacy efforts Omega Sigma (Oklahoma State U), 2018

The DEIE Work Group has begun their • Ruth Frias
important work and will make policy and Sigma Chi (Hartwick College), 2013
procedural recommendations as well as
create educational resources to support • Christina Ganotakis
our collegiate chapters. Fraternity leader- Gamma Chi (Carleton U), 2017
ship including the Executive, Foundation,
and Properties Boards; Past International • Shannon Keeny
Presidents; International Standing Commit- Epsilon Chi (Elon U), 1998
tee Chairs; Network personnel; ambassador
teams; Chapter Advisers; and professional • Ileana Lopez-Martinez
staff have participated in an anti-racism Phi Chi (U of Chicago), 2017
training* with Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington,
President and Founder of the Washington • Gabby Rivera
Consulting Group, and look forward to con- Upsilon (U of Washington), 2015
versations with members about AOII’s role in
racial justice. • Jessica Scott
Kappa Chi (Northwestern State U), 2012
We know there is much more to be done,
and we are not done evaluating our policies • Heather Stanton
and procedures. Our work will continue to Pi Alpha (U of Louisville), 1996
make Alpha Omicron Pi a more diverse, eq-
uitable, and inclusive organization. It is time • Summer Steib
for action, and we look Delta Beta (U of Louisiana at Lafayette),
forward to making real, 1995
Diverse lasting change at all lev-
els of our organization. • Shaill Vasavada
Pi Delta (U of Maryland), 2013
Equitable
• Leah Horton
Inclusive Education Committee Liaison

• Jessica Li
Headquarters Staff Liaison

• Koren Phillips
Executive Board Liaison

29

NPC News

NPC Announces Access and Equity Advisory
Committee to Help Identify Reforms to
Eliminate Structural and Systemic Barriers to
Sorority Membership

NPC’s new Access and Equity Ad- spectives will be critical as we consider
visory Committee is charged with how we operate, recruit and support
recommending ways to increase ac- collegiate sorority women—and make
cess to the sorority experience and ours a community in which all women
equity across NPC policies and pro- can engage as their full selves.”
cedures. The Committee’s work will
complement efforts led at the NPC The members of the NPC Access and
member organizational level regard- Equity Advisory Committee, serving
ing membership policies, programming though June 30, 2021, are:
and practices. The formation of this
committee is one step NPC is taking • Krystal N. Clark, M.Ed., director
to identify and eliminate the structural of student leadership development
and systemic barriers for women to at Vanderbilt University, Delta Delta
join our organizations. Delta, committee chairman.

“As a Panhellenic community, we must • Parice S. Bowser, M.S., director of
be more deliberate and intentional if Greek life at University of Arkansas,
we are to honestly address the inter- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
section of systemic racism and the so-
rority experience,” said NPC Chairman • Teresa Jones-Haney, M.A., special
and AOII Past International President education teacher in a Cerritos,
Carole Jurenko Jones, Alpha Delta California, school district, Gamma
(U of Alabama). “As the NPC Board of Phi Beta.
Directors outlined in June, we must
embrace our responsibility to examine • Kalina Haynes, television news
our own practices, seek feedback and producer at a Dallas/Fort-Worth
create change. Today’s announcement area station, Alpha Gamma Delta.
is a natural extension of that approach,
even as the hard work of prioritizing • Christopher Jefferson, M.Ed.,
and enacting concrete additional re- director of fraternity and sorority
forms remains ahead of us. life at Pennsylvania State University,
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Inc.
“It is essential that our work is informed
by broadly diverse perspectives, • Stephanie Koprince, client services
including from BIPOC. To that end the associate for a global outplacement
members we announce today repre- and career transition firm, Alpha
sent a range of identities—based on Sigma Alpha.
race, ethnicity, religion, age, ability—
and also represent varied Greek-letter • Mojdeh Nourbakhsh, student at
organizations. Their insights and per- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University, Kappa Alpha Theta.

• Alexa Nunn, student at The
University of Alabama, Alpha Chi
Omega.

30 | Summer 2020

• Beth Reisinger, global technology ethnicity, LGBTQ
and operations market leader identity, religious
program lead for a national beliefs, ability and
banking and financial services socioeconomic
corporation, Phi Mu. status, among others. The committee’s
recommendations for changes to NPC
• Ani Rodriguez-Newbern, JD, policies and practices will be designed
attorney at law at an Orlando-based to complement efforts led at the NPC
firm, Delta Zeta. member organizational level regard-
ing membership policies, programming
• Ebony R. Rose, M.A., CCDP, senior and practices.
learning and development The committee will also be asked to
consultant and adjunct faculty consult with NPC leadership regarding
member at Texas Christian DEI factors that should be considered
University, Alpha Delta Pi. during NPC volunteer and staff recruit-
ment.
• Rabbi Melissa Zalkin Stollman, “Sororities should be places where
major gifts officer for the Union for members know they belong, that they
Reform Judaism, Alpha Epsilon Phi. matter and that they are heard just as
they are,” said Krystal N. Clark, M.Ed.,
• Toney Welborn, M.D., medical NPC Access and Equity Advisory Com-
practice improvement and wellness mittee chairman. “But, we know that is
consultant, speaker and blogger, not the belief about or experience of
Sigma Sigma Sigma. Panhellenic sororities for far too many
women. Our goal as a committee will
Jones said the NPC Equity and Access be to listen, collaborate, and have ro-
Advisory Committee will begin its work bust conversations in order to provide
immediately and that one of its first guidance and recommendations on
actions will be to hold a listening tour, what NPC can do to make the sorority
alongside the NPC Board of Directors, experience more welcoming, inclusive
with various constituencies including and accessible to more women. We
College Panhellenic officers, fraternity/ have a great deal of good, challenging
sorority advisors, collegiate members and necessary work to do.”
and alumnae members regarding ac-
cess and equity. The listening tour will READ MORE
be facilitated by the Cross Cultural For more information on additional in-
Fraternal Advisors Institute Collabora- formation provided by NPC to increase
tive team. Session dates and ways to Access and Equity, visit the AOII web-
attend will be shared with the constitu- site/NPC updates, here.
encies soon. For more information on the progress
of NPC’s commitment to diversity, eq-
Following the listening tour, the com- uity and inclusion, including the work
mittee will begin its work with an audit of the NPC Access and Equity Advisory
of Unanimous Agreements, policies, Committee, see here.
best practices and template docu-
ments to provide recommendations for
changes to increase access and equity.
They will also review norms and prac-
tices that have emerged on campuses
that create barriers facing potential
members based on racial identity,

31

Feature

VOTE - it’s your right and your voice matters!
VOTE - when you don’t, you surrender your power to

someone else!

VOTE - this right was championed for decades by an

earlier generation of inspiring women who fought for
your opportunity to do so!

IT’SViNsiOt VTotTeOirnROepgeLirsAstorTanEtiooTrnOb.oyrRgaEbtGoseIrSnetTgeiEsetR.erTtOo vVoOteTE.

32 | Summer 2020

by Mariellen Sasseen, Alpha Delta (U of Alabama), Director of Communications/Editor
In the 2020 elections at all levels, the
women's vote will count in more ways “A danger we are likely to fall into is that
than one. As AOIIs, we learned early to of supporting good men rather than good
platforms, for women are brought up to
value democracy and the guiding prin- judge things personally, and many of us
ciples on which we operate. The democ- are tempted to vote for a respectable
racy we have exercised since our found- gentleman without first asking his attitude
ing continues to shine on the floor of upon the big problems before us.” Jessie
every AOII Convention business session, offered a message to women voters in
and our right to have our voices heard is 1920 that is just as applicable in 2020 -
a privilege we encourage our members “learn to use the ballot wisely.”
to exercise during national, state and
local elections. We understand the privi- This 2020 election cycle holds special
lege for women to vote in US elections is significance. Not only is it a presidential
something we have not always had and election year, but also the commemora-
should be a right we never want to take tive year recognizing 100 years of wom-
for granted. en’s right to vote.

Founder Jessie Wallace Hughan sup- Whether you are a Democrat, Republican,
ported suffrage as one of her passion- Libertarian or independent, make your
ate interests. In 1919, just a few months voice heard and vote! It will be critically
before the 19th Amendment was ratified, important this year to research the can-
Jessie wrote, “… the battle is not yet won, didates, spend time reviewing their plat-
that in the very states where the discrimi- forms and determine who best aligns with
nations against women are the most seri- your personal values and beliefs. Don't
ous, where the dangers to little children allow the campaign noise around you
are the greatest, and where the influence to cloud your decision making. As Jes-
of the mothers of men is most needed sie reminded us, learn to use the ballot
for humanity and purity, there the ballot wisely. Many elections at all levels will
will probably be withheld from us until a come down to the wire – so exercise your
federal amendment is put through.” Re- privilege – GO VOTE!
flecting on a woman’s vote, she shared,

33

Feature

FORWARD THROUGH THE DARKNESS,
FORWARD INTO LIGHT

Celebrating the Women’s Vote Centennial

by Mariellen Sasseen, Alpha Delta (U of Alabama), Director of Communications/Editor

Throughout 2019-2020, the US has en in the US earning the right to vote
been celebrating the 100th anniver- and catching up with Canadian women
sary of the 19th Amendment ratification who, province by province, began earn-
giving women the constitutional right ing the same privilege in 1916. Though
to vote. Led by the Women’s Suffrage many of the early suffragists never lived
Centennial Commission, the US Con- to see their efforts succeed, genera-
gress has designated August 2020 tions who have followed continue to
as National Women’s Suffrage Month. reap the benefits of their efforts. The
The culmination of this celebration will fight that began by suffragists in the mid
occur on August 26, the same date the 1800s was during a time when women
19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. were little more than second-class
On this day, state capitols, skyscrap- citizens. Because they were deemed
ers, bridges and city halls all across the intellectually inferior to men, they were
country will light up in official suffrage expected to claim the thoughts and
colors of purple and gold to recognize opinions of their husbands and were
this historic milestone and honor the discouraged from pursuing serious edu-
suffrage slogan, “Forward through the cation. After marriage, a woman did not
Darkness, Forward into Light.” have the right to own property, maintain
a wage, sign a contract or vote. Their
THE FIGHT OF THEIR LIVES expected place was in the home raising
It’s appropriate to reflect on the long children.
and frustrating process that led to wom-

THE CANADIAN VOTE
In Canada, women such as Dr. Emily Stowe led a suffrage campaign of petitions, lectures and demon-
strations that spanned more than four decades. Undeterred by public opinion and hostile politicians,
these women overcame enormous obstacles. Manitoba was the first province to allow Canadian
women to vote in 1916. Saskatchewan and Alberta were soon to follow. While it took several decades
before all provinces joined Manitoba's lead, the Canada Elections Act enfranchised Canadian women
21 years of age and over for federal elections on May 24, 1918, with an effective start date of January
1, 1919. While many Black women were granted voting access by province between 1916 and 1918,
restrictions remained in some areas.

34 | Summer 2020

In 1840, two American women, Lucretia rights movement in the US. In 1848, the
Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, at- movement was officially set in motion
tended the World Anti-Slavery Conven- with the first Women’s Rights Conven-
tion in London and were outraged over tion in Seneca Falls, New York.
being seated in galleries just because
they were women. Upon their return to ONE WAR AT A TIME
the US, they organized their own con- Major setbacks were encountered in the
vention to discuss the social, civil and form of the Civil War and national atten-
religious rights of women and crafted tion was diverted to another important
their Declaration of Principles that out- movement – the abolition of slavery.
lined the inequalities for women. Reso- Hoping both slaves and women would
lution 9 of this document, modeled after be given the same rights as white males
the Declaration of Independence, boldly after the war, women such as Stanton
requested the right to vote for women and Susan B. Anthony also worked tire-
and eventually became the centerpiece lessly for the emancipation of enslaved
of what would become the women’s people. Unfortunately, in the end, the
government determined the rights of
women and enslaved people were
two separate issues and advanced the
cause of abolition without addressing
the women’s cause. President Lincoln
famously said on the subject, “One war
at a time, so I say, one war at a time.”
Anthony questioned back to Lincoln,
“May I ask just one question based on
the apparent opposition in which you

CLARIFICATION OF PRIVILEGE
While the ratification of the 19th Amendment was cause for great celebration, it did not end the strug-
gle for Black women, particularly southern women, who continued to face racial barriers to vote. The
15th Amendment, which had passed back in 1870, may have prohibited the federal government and
individual states from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race or color, but did not prevent
states from using poll taxes, literacy tests, fraud, and intimidation to prevent Black citizens from vot-
ing. It wasn’t until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that these practices were outlawed.
This act opened the doors for the African American population to finally register and vote. According
to the US Department of Justice, the Act is considered to be the most effective piece of federal civil
rights legislation ever enacted in the country. Sadly, seven years ago, the Supreme Court effectively
struck down the law’s key enforcement provision – freeing certain states from having to get approval
for voting rule changes. Voting rights activists are working to restore the powers of the Voting Rights
Act, but much work is still left to be done. The recent death of civil rights activist, Representative John
Lewis, has intensified those efforts for others fighting for the cause he was so passionate about.

35

Feature

place the Negro and the woman? Do VOTES FOR WOMEN
you believe the African race is com- For 72 years, women leaders lobbied,
posed entirely of males?” marched, picketed, and protested for
When the 14th Amendment was ratified the right to the ballot. The U.S. House
in 1868, women activists were enraged of Representatives finally approved the
because it defined citizenship and Susan B. Anthony Amendment, which
voters as “male,” and raised questions guaranteed women the right to vote,
about whether women were considered on May 21, 1919. The U.S. Senate fol-
American citizens at all. In 1870, the 15th lowed two weeks later, and the 19th
Amendment was ratified, granting the Amendment went to the states, where
right to vote to African American men. it needed to be ratified by 3/4ths of the-
For the next two decades, internal strife then-48 states to be added to the Con-
existed between two women's rights stitution. By August, the Amendment
movements, the National Woman Suf- had passed 35 of the 36 states needed
frage Association (NWSA) in New York but suffragists were concerned because
and the American Woman Suffrage As- the remaining states all appeared to be
sociation (AWSA) in Boston but eventu- adamantly opposed.
ally led to the National American Wom-
an Suffrage Association (NAWSA) led by Hope rested on Tennessee where a
one of the prominent early suffragists, bitter clash was raging between the
Elizabeth Stanton. “pro” supporters and the “anti” support-
ers. The conflict would become known

36 | Summer 2020 Advocates march in October 1917,
displaying placards containing
the signatures of more than one
million New York women demand-
ing the vote. The New York Times
Photo Archives

11

as the “War of the Roses.” 24-year-old moment and went
Senator Harry Burn, who was expected on to become a
to vote no, brought the vote to a nail- successful judge.
biting tie after following the advice of She was the first
his mother. He explained that his last- woman to serve
minute change of heart was due to a as top legal coun-
telegram he received from his mother sel to any execu-
urging him to “…vote for suffrage and tive or adminis-
don’t keep them in doubt. With lots of trative agency
love, Momma.” With Burn’s “aye” vote of the Federal
the crowd erupted, but a tie vote still Government and
wasn’t enough for passage. Banks the first woman Lucy Somerville
Turner, a legislator who had earlier to chair the Mis- Howorth, Kappa
abstained then stood to cast the final
“aye” vote in dramatic fashion, making sissippi State Board of Law Examiners.
Tennessee the last state to ratify the Her mother was the first woman elected
19th Amendment on August 18, 1920. to the Mississippi House of Representa-
The 19th Amendment was officially rati- tives and Lucy followed in her mother’s
fied nationally by President Woodrow footsteps by serving as a member of
Wilson on August 26, 1920. the Mississippi State Legislature. This
impressive sister also served AOII lov-
AN AOII IN THE ROOM WHERE IT ingly through the years as a member of
HAPPENED the Executive Committee (now Execu-
Learning of the upcoming ratification tive Board) and on numerous commit-
vote, AOII’s Lucy Somerville Howorth, tees. Before her passing in 1997, AOII
Kappa (Randolph-Macon Women’s presented her with the 1985 Elizabeth
College) did not want to miss her op- Heywood Wyman award that recogniz-
portunity to hopefully watch history es outstanding success in a profession,
being made. On August 18, 1920, she the arts or service to humanity.
drove with her mom from Mississippi to
Nashville in order to be in the room for
the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
Lucy took great inspiration from this

ILLUMINATING HISTORY
Alpha Omicron Pi will be proudly participating in the “Forward Into Light” Women’s Vote Centennial
Campaign on August 26, 2020 by lighting up AOII International Headquarters in purple and gold, the
official colors of the suffrage movement. AOII’s Brentwood, Tennessee HQ will be one of many land-
marks, such as city halls, state capitals, bridges and sky-scrappers, all across also the country partici-
pating in this historic salute. Watch for photos of our participation on social media.

37

Feature

in the midst of a

by Katherine Nixon, Omicron (U of Julia Iannielli
Tennessee), Assistant Director of
Communications Alpha Gamma (Washington State U)
GRADUATED AND PUBLISHED HER FIRST BOOK
Over the past four months,
people all over the world Little did Julia Ianielli, Alpha book, Julia start-
have been impacted by the Gamma (Washington State ed a campaign
Coronavirus pandemic in un- U) know that she would for donations to
imaginable ways. Many have graduate from Washington help raise money
battled the virus person- State U and publish her to get the book
ally and all have struggled very first poetry book dur- published and
through these unprecedent- ing a global pandemic. Julia receive a copy
ed times of uncertainty, fear acknowledges, “Graduating of the book. She
and self-isolation. However, during this time has been reached her goal, and her
while these times have been nothing short of difficult. It’s book “Because the Univer-
filled with pain and strug- hard when you spend so sity Told Me To” is available
gle, there have also been much time in college being on Amazon.
many wonderful and joyous active and socializing, to
planned and unplanned mo- have your
ments that have been cel- last year
ebrated. From engagements end without
and births to degrees and goodbyes,
new business endeavors, our senior wills,
AOII sisters are staying posi- and most of
tive and finding reasons to all a gradu-
celebrate! ation cere-
mony!” After
38 | Summer 2020 writing her

Mimi Hymel

Lambda Psi (Arizona State U)
NEW AUNT, WINNER OF MISS PHOENIX TEEN USA
AND MISS QUARANTINE PAGEANT

While becoming an aunt and division! Mimi won Miss Phoenix
participating in Miss Phoenix Teen USA right before the pan-
Teen USA was always in the plan demic started. Her decision to
this spring for Lambda Psi mem- compete in this fun practice pag-
ber Mimi Hymel, the way these eant - Miss Quarantine - turned
events worked themselves out out to be a blessing. Every
looked a lot different than she aspect was virtual, from gown
imagined. Not only did times in and fashion, to interview and live
quarantine provide Mimi ad- announcements of the winners.
ditional time to spend with her Mimi shared that the feedback
newborn niece, Ivy, but it also has been great preparation for
allowed her the new opportunity the Miss Arizona Teen USA pag-
to enter a practice pageant, Miss eant in January.
Quarantine, and win the teen

Gabriella Lindskoug

Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U)
EARNED HER PILOT'S LICENSE

As a third-generation aviator, tion community. I was finishing
Gabriella Lindskoug grew up my last part of training in the
around aviation and always spring when all of a sudden,
loved the adventure of flying. the entire world changed.
She decided to pursue her Thankfully I kept my
dreams by obtaining a degree in focus of completing
Aerospace with a Professional my training and do-
Pilot Concentration from Middle ing the best I could,
Tennessee State University, given the situation.
where she also was a member Despite delays and
setbacks, I was
of AOII's Rho Omicron able to pass my
Chapter. Gabriella final exam, earn my
shares, “COVID-19 pilots license.”
has had a huge
impact in the avia-

39

Feature

Emma Bamba

Pi Alpha (U of Louisville)
FOUNDED BAMBA EGGROLL COMPANY

Starting a business was the last a chance to finally start
thing Emma Bamba, Pi Alpha (U the business Rudy has
of Louisville) and her husband always dreamt of, and
Rudy expected, especially in in May 2020, Bamba
the middle of a pandemic. Due Eggroll Company of-
to the effects of COVID-19 and ficially became
restaurant closings, Rudy found a registered
himself without a job after over business. Rudy
15 years of experience in food and Emma
service and manufacturing. In have since se-
efforts to still continue to support cured kitchen
their three children, Rudy and space and now
Emma began offering eggrolls to plan on adding
family and friends and within a pop-up events,
few weeks, people everywhere delivery and
were contacting the Bambas event catering.
to order Rudy’s eggrolls. The
couple took this opportunity as

Delaney Bates as she heard stories of many new moms
having to deliver alone. Ironically, the
Nu Beta (U of Mississippi) quarantine has provided her family more
BECAME A NEW MOM time and opportunity to bond with their
daughter in the most beautiful way.
While Delaney Bates, Nu Beta (U of Mis-
sissippi) and her husband Joey had been
preparing for the arrival of their sweet
little one for months, they did not antici-
pate delivering their daughter, Kerrigan,
in the midst of a worldwide pandemic.
Due to COVID-19 regulations, the end of

Delaney’s pregnancy was any-
thing but “normal.” On the day
of Kerrigan’s arrival, the wait-
ing room was not filled with
anxious family and friends,
but Delaney still feels fortu-
nate that her husband was
allowed in the delivery room

40 | Summer 2020

Brooke Cash Amy-Cole Photography

Delta Epsilon (Jacksonville State U) challenging, but at the end of it all I
GOT MARRIED was able to marry the love of my life
and the day could not have been more
Brooke Cash, Delta Epsilon (Jackson- perfect. Our July 11 wedding was so
ville State U) had the wedding of her worth the wait.”
dreams scheduled and ready to take
place on May 30, 2020. Like so many
brides, the wedding was postponed to
later in the summer due to COVID-19.
After many changes, updates sent
to guests, adjustments to the venue
and more, Brooke and her husband
Gage finally tied the knot in mid-July.
Brooke shares, “it was stressful and

Krista Davis

Lambda Eta (Grand Valley State U)
RECEIVED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (EMT)
CERTIFICATION
Congratulations to Krista Davis, Lambda Eta (Grand Valley State
U) for passing her first credit class making her eligible to take the
National Registry Exam for EMTs. During the pandemic she received
her certification as an EMT to save the lives of others!

Sarah Rech

Sigma Delta (Huntingdon College)
RECEIVED COUNSELOR CERTIFICATION
Hats off to Sarah Rech, Sigma Delta (Huntingdon College) who re-
ceived the certification of Board Certified Counselor by the National
Board of Certified Counselors.

To all of our sisters...

We would like to offer congratulations to all of the newlyweds,
new moms, graduates, etc. for all of the achiements reached and
successes celebrated throughout the global pandemic. We know
that these are tough times for all of our sisters and would love to
continue to share more of these stories in the future.

Visit the To Dragma page of AOII's website to submit a story.

41

Feature

onAR20e2c0rFuOiCtmUSent
by Courtney West, Gamma Delta (U of South Alabama), Director of Public Relations

It is without question that collegiate Delta Tau (U of Alabama in Huntsville)
members are facing uncertainty and
upheaval of their collegiate experi- gresses we are seeing most of those
ence this fall due to the global pan- transition to a fully virtual recruitment.
demic. Our chapter leaders have had This information is crucial to our
to re-evaluate all processes and pro- members as they continue to make
cedures as a chapter while also being plans and encourage their members
physically distanced from their sisters. throughout social distancing to stay
And like everyone, they are dealing connected with each other.
with the emotional turmoil brought on TOWN HALL EDUCATION
by these difficult days. AOII profes- Back on May 13, 2020, the Fraternity
sional staff and volunteers quickly hosted an informative town hall with
realized the need to pivot in order the intent to host an open conversa-
to best support our members during tion around planning for the future of
this time. One motivating factor was
to ensure that all of their hard work in
preparing for recruitment, did not go
to waste. Our Vice Presidents of Mem-
bership Recruitment and Recruitment
Advisers along with other chapter
leaders work year-round to prepare
chapter members for recruitment and
this year was proving to be more com-
plicated than ever before.
Almost every fall recruiting AOII chap-
ter was faced with a fully virtual or hy-
brid recruitment and those decisions
were made in a constantly changing
environment. Very few of the cam-
puses where we have a chapter went
forward with a fully in-person recruit-
ment, and as recruitment season pro-

42 | Summer 2020

AOII. This town hall helped to speak They have gone above and beyond
with collegiate and alumnae lead- the call to encourage women to con-
ers around new National Panhellenic tinue to go through the recruitment
Conference changes to remove barri- process, writing Membership Informa-
ers around hybrid and virtual recruit- tion Forms for potential new members
ment and pre-recruitment rules. These to introduce potential new members
changes were essential in the future to our collegiate chapters, and so
of sorority life. This town hall set the much more. AOII alumnae have shown
precedent for what pre-recruitment throughout this time that our sister-
and fall recruitment would look like hood is truly for a lifetime.
along with what AOII will do to support
our chapters through this transition. CREATING THE RECRUITMENT
This town hall was quickly followed CONTINGENCY WORK GROUP
by two more town halls, one specific Along with our alumnae, volunteers
for alumnae and one specific for col- and AOII professional staff took impor-
legiate Vice Presidents of Commu- tant steps to ensure positive member-
nication, advisers and other chapter ship experiences with our collegiate
officers. These three means of com- chapters. One of our first steps was
munication were widely attended to evaluate the situation and create
enabling us to quickly disseminate AOII’s Recruitment Contingencies
information to members facing a great Work Group. This group is made up
deal of unknowns as planning for fall of AOII volunteers and staff including,
recruitment was underway. Chief Panhellenic Officer Jenna Lutz,
Over the past six months, our alumnae Network Director Molly Fenton, Net-
have played such a significant role work Specialist-Membership Growth
in supporting our collegiate women. Quinn Heimann, Network Specialist
– Membership Growth and campus
based professional Kathryn Ionta, Net-
work Specialist – Membership Growth
Ankita Naik, Recruitment Ambassador
and campus based professional Emily
Oswalt, long term Recruitment Adviser
Heather Adams, Assistant Executive
Director Jackie Petrucci, Director of
Collegiate Experience Bailey Read
and Director of Public Relations Court-
ney West.

This group met virtually each week to
evaluate, research, collaborate and
develop recruitment specific plans
for our collegiate chapters. Within
the development of this new work
group, the AOII Recruitment Coaches

Xi (U of Oklahoma)

43

Feature

were selected and introduced. The
Recruitment Coaches represent 30
AOII professional staff and volunteers
who are dedicated to recruitment and
have experience in walking chapters
through all things recruitment. Every
fall recruiting collegiate chapter was
connected with a recruitment coach
to serve as an added support role for
our collegiate chapters and to work in
collaboration with Network volunteers
and local advisers.

THE RECRUITMENT ROUNDUP Theta Delta (Troy U)
The AOII Recruitment Contingency
Work Group, AOII professional staff However, from evaluating and speak-
and volunteers have continued to ing with recruitment go-to volunteers,
the work group, professional staff and
make important volunteers, AOII pivoted our voting
changes to en- techniques to provide a smoother
sure our chapters and simpler way for our membership
have everything to vote in a virtual setting. For more
they need go- information on the new IMSP/voting
ing into a hybrid guidelines visit Fulfilling the Promise.
or virtual recruitment. To communi- MASTERING TECHNOLOGY
cate ongoing changes and roll out Another daunting task for our colle-
new resources, a weekly Recruitment giate women is mastering the technol-
Roundup email was sent to collegiate ogy pieces that go along with hosting
officers, local advisers, volunteers and a virtual recruitment. This challenge
Recruitment Coaches to ensure easy has created the need of more and
access to all newly created and up- longer videos during a time when they
dated resources regularly. cannot conduct large group video
shoots due to the safety of members;
INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP many chapters needed over five-
SELECTION PROCESS OVERHAUL minute-long videos for each day of
One of the important updates made the recruitment process. It has meant
was to change how our chapters are becoming proficient in Zoom or other
utilizing and executing membership video conferencing programs sug-
selection during both a hybrid and
virtual recruitment. We recognize that
with collegiate chapters across North
America and chapter sizes ranging
from 20-500 members, it is a difficult
task to implement a single voting
system that works well for all chapters.

44 | Summer 2020

ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIP SELECTION gested by their campus Panhel-
CHANGES lenic. As an organization, we
The AOII Executive Board made an important step have recommended Zoom to our
to break down barriers within Alpha Omicron Pi members and developed training
by choosing to remove the preferential treatment and best practice materials for
given to legacies during recruitment. The National hosting hybrid and virtual recruit-
Panhellenic Conference (NPC) has encouraged all ment events.
groups to remove barriers to joining our organiza-
tions. Another important layer of sup-
port offered to chapters has
We are hopeful this change will allow for greater been support in regards to creat-
opportunities for membership. Acknowledging ing videos. The Communications
that there are women whose mothers, sisters and Department hosted recruitment
grandmothers did not have the same access to video consultations with Digital
higher education or the ability to join Alpha Omi- Marketing Manager Madison
cron Pi, which would allow them the privilege of Smith and Director of Public Rela-
being a legacy. This change also empowers our tions Courtney West. These ses-
collegians to have additional autonomy to make sions offered chapters support
their own membership selection decisions. with questions, concerns and
best practices for all recruitment
We know that it is a privilege for alumnae mem- videos.
bers to send their daughter to college with the
confidence that she will find her home with Alpha ROLLING OUT RESOURCES
Omicron Pi. We want to continue to celebrate this These are only a few of the
special relationship and recognize that the poten- resources provided to our colle-
tial new members who meet our legacy definition giate chapters over the past few
will still be considered a legacy and celebrated months to help chapters prepare
after a bid is extended, as well as at other impor- for recruitment and their fall
tant AOII milestones. View the new policy here. semester. Additional resources
include a Lead Generation Guide,
Wish List Generation Guide,
Communication Toolkit, Work
Week/Spirit Week Guide, Mock Virtual
Recruitment Party Schedule, Virtual
101 Guide, International Membership
Selection Guide and the Virtual Pref-
erence Party Guide. There are also
many more resources in the works
especially focused on retention and
virtual membership experience best
practices.

All resources can be found on
Fulfilling the Promise.

Lambda Tau (U of Louisiana at Monroe)

45

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find your fit!

46 | Summer 2020

EttaVee The Beauty Crop Cup Of Té
Looking for the perfect bright End the summer with refreshing Cup of Té is a premier online re-
and colorful piece of art in new makeup products and self- tailer of loose leaf organic teas
your home or office? Look no care bundles from The Beauty and teaware. Based in Ontario,
further! EttaVee was founded Crop! Their philosophy is that Canada, they are dedicated
by American-born, Strasbourg, nutrition is as equally essential to enriching lives through the
France-based artist Jessi for your skin as it is for your experience of premium teas
Raulet, who became well body. Inspired by the healthy specially made from organic
known for her hand-painted, recipes cooked in the kitchen, ingredients with each taste
bright and bold designs. In The Beauty Crop is passionate offering unique benefits to tea
2013, Raulet founded EttaVee about creating colourful, fun lovers all over the world and
and today her products can and uber-hydrating cosmetics every drop telling a story. Their
be purchased online and in that include nutrition-rich super- journey began in 2018 when
stores such as Barnes & Noble, food ingredients that promote founder Taylor Lindsay-Noel
Pottery Barn, Target and more! health and wellbeing. View their suffered an accident that left
Shop the EttaVee website now best seller page, build your own her paralyzed from the neck
to purchase a beautiful bright makeup bag or access their full down and wheelchair bound
piece of wall art, new stationery, website here. for life. Because she was deter-
books, cups and mugs and mined to overcome her chal-
more! lenges and transform her situa-
tion into something meaningful
and extremely valuable, she
launched Cup of Té with the
goal of providing the world’s
finest loose-leaf organic teas
and teaware at fair prices. View
her full story here and check
out their website to order your
teas and teaware today! They
ship to Canada and the U.S.

47

AOII Foundation Focus

AOII FOUNDATION 2020-2021 ACADEMIC
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

The AOII Foundation is pleased to award 87 academic scholarships for the 2020-2021
school year. These scholarships total $175,000! Thank you to our many donors who make
these scholarships possible for sisters.
Applications for the 2021-2022 school year will open in November. Follow us on Facebook
and Instagram for details!

Named Scholarship Recipients

Alumnae Chapter Honor Candy Carlisle Derivaux Claranne Marchese
Scholarship Memorial Scholarship Memorial Scholarship
Kayla Collins, Gamma Lauren Davis, Nu Beta Francesca Frazeskos, Phi
Amy Ziegler Bettencourt Lambda
(Theta) Scholarship Carey Griner Memorial Dawn Tron Elliot- Omega
Maddie Matthews, Alpha - Kappa Kappa Chapter Scholarship
Barbara Hiss Bruning Scholarship Lauren Hanny, Omega
Scholarship Stephanie Schlichting,
Tiffany Shouse, Theta Psi Kappa Kappa Delta Rho
Barbara Kohler - Tau Carli E. Sears Memorial Scholarship
Chapter Scholarship Scholarship Libby Brenizer, Delta Rho
Katherine Yao, Tau Caroline Lobrano, Nu
Beta Phi Scholarship Beta Dina D’Gerolamo - Kappa
Lauren Roop, Beta Phi Carole Jurenko Jones Tau Scholarship
- Alpha Delta Scholarship Nicole Redmond, Kappa
Betty Duke Scholarship Abby Feeder, Alpha Delta Tau
Sophie Gore, Delta Nu Dolores Rhodes
Caroline Craig Lazzara Scholarship
Birdie Hanson Nursing Scholarship Emily McCulley, Alpha
Scholarship Echo Dassinger, Beta Delta
Sara Tidrow, Lambda Eta Sigma Gayle Fitzpatrick
Charlene M. Favre Scholarship
Scholarship Kyla Peters, Alpha Rho
Chloe Gardner, Tau Delta
Ginger Banks Scholarship
Peyton McKnight, Nu
Beta

48 | Summer 2020

Hailee Jean Conrad Legacy of Loyalty to Paula Jones Salter
- Kappa Omega Lambda Tau Scholarship Memorial - Nu Beta
Scholarship Kylie Michot, Lambda Tau Chapter Scholarship
Lauren Simon, Iota Sigma Carley Horner, Nu Beta
Helen Haller Scholarship Martha McKinney Peg Crawford - Phi Chi
Savannah Leidholt, Alpha Wilhoite - Theta Chapter Scholarship
Phi Scholarship Hannah Paul, Phi Chi
Tory Ochs, Phi Upsilon
Iota Chapter Scholarship Mary McCammon Phyllis R. Austin
Ashley Hornig, Iota Williams & Robert E. Scholarship
Williams Madison Shepherd, Chi
Iota Sigma Endowed Maddie Gebhard, Xi Psi
Scholarship Omicron Rachel Allen - Alpha Chi
Taylore Imhoff, Iota Sigma Michaella Walsh-Libby Chapter Scholarship
Scholarship Addy McDermott, Alpha
Jasmine Queen - Sigma Talia Hartman, Pi Delta Chi
Tau Scholarship Rho Omicron Chapter
Samantha Snyder, Sigma Muriel T. McKinney Scholarship
Tau Outstanding Samantha Sikes, Rho
Jennifer Combs - Chi Undergraduate Omicron
Lambda Scholarship Scholarship Susan Danko Scholarship
Mattie Franklin, Chi Taylor Anne Beckham, Riley Lautenschlager, Phi
Lambda Delta Epsilon Upsilon
Joleen Heibert Fields - Nancy McCain Memorial Terry Mize Palmer Phi
Delta Omega Chapter Scholarship Alpha Scholarship
Scholarship Julia Bezio, Theta Omega Danielle Dales, Phi Alpha
Jessica Wilcox, Delta
Omega The Nebraska Terry Mize Palmer - Phi
Julie A. Brining Memorial Scholarship Alpha Scholarship
Scholarship Emma Verbrugge, Zeta Laura Watson, Phi Alpha
Jenny Ryan, Gamma Nu Iota Chapter
Omicron Scholarship - In Memory Xi Chapter Scholarship
Kappa Gamma Chapter of Julia V. Nelson & In Emily Black, Xi
Scholarship Honor of Elaine Nelson
Alexa Schummer, Gamma Mackenzie Xi Chapter Scholarship
Omicron Jordan Presley, Chi Theta Bella Ortiz, Xi
Karen Fried Kelone Pat (Hayes) Cutlip &
“Healing Hand” Dotti (Hayes) Cutlip
Scholarship Scholarship
Ansley Terhune, Lambda Ally Roeker, Alpha Theta
Sigma

49

Diamond Jubilee Fund Scholarship Recipients

Grace Albright Rachel Mershon Jessi Stidham
Alpha Delta Chi Psi Chi Theta

Raksha Chatakondi Kamryn Noe Caroline Strauel
Nu Beta Tau Omega Alpha Theta

Maura Connors Rosalie Peng Madison Vance
Phi Chi Kappa Phi Gamma Phi

Lydia Elliott Jheryl Porter Alana Wade
Kappa Kappa Tau Delta Theta Omega

Maddie Elzey Sydney Puda Meaghan Waff
Lambda Chi Beta Gamma Kappa Omicron

Abigail Flores Rocio Rebollar Amanda Walker
Pi Theta Gamma Sigma Xi

Cali Gilmartin Emma Rich Rebecca Warfield
Epsilon Alpha Delta Delta Alpha Phi

Nicole Gingrich Gabby Rivera Hannah Weber
Sigma Beta Upsilon Tau Omega

Victoria Houston Elizabeth Rothrock Emily Wikle
Theta Psi Xi Omicron Nu Beta

Theresa Jacobs Marissa Schultz Emily Wilmsen
Alpha Pi Omega Upsilon Phi Upsilon

Hanna Kadinger Kelcey Sheeley Abby Zila
Kappa Kappa Gamma Phi Kappa Alpha

Alice Keithly Sophia Smith
Omega Sigma Omega Sigma

Katie Kerr Luci Smitherman
Beta Gamma Tau Delta

50 | Summer 2020