Alpha Phi Quarterly Winter 2021

Quarterly A

L P H

A

P H I

WINTER 2021

HEARTSTrINGS Exploring the Research of the Heart to Heart Grant

ALSO INSIDE:

Cardiac Conversations Three members share their insight as heart disease survivors

Engage, Educate, Empower Alpha Phi programs available for collegians, volunteers and staff continue dialogue and encourage connection

Alpha Phi

Quarterly

Inside This Issue 5

From the Crest General Fraternity and Greek-letter news and announcements

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One of Us Profiling an Alpha Phi making an impact in her community and inspiring leaders. This issue: Kativa Strickland, DDS

28 Amongst the Ivy Accomplishments from our undergraduate members and chapters

36 Always Alpha Phi News from our alumnae members and chapters

42 Silent Chapter Honoring our sisters’ passings

43 Alumnae Network Members connect for webinars and mentoring on the new platform

44 Now & Then

A PUBLICATION OF ALPHA PHI INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY SINCE 1888

2020-2022 Alpha Phi Quarterly Editorial Advisory Board Ugwechi Amadi Susan Bevan Sheila Bright Daniela Cardona Caroline Foley Denise Blankenship Joyce Kelsey Klimara Lizzie Hineman Alison Cink Rickels Lauren Schuster Susan Brink Sherratt Madeline Suggs Katy Summerlin L. (Allie) Winkelman Anne McMurray Wolfcale

Alpha Phi Quarterly Staff Gina Henke, Editor-in-Chief quarterly@alphaphi.org Alpha Phi Quarterly Design Tria Designs Inc. www.triadesigns.com

Editorial Policy The purpose of the Alpha Phi Quarterly and its content is to provide information and services to the membership of the Alpha Phi Fraternity, in keeping with the Fraternity’s status as a 501 (c) (7) tax-exempt private membership organization. The magazine is devoted to highlighting its members and matters of fraternal and collegiate interest. The views expressed in the articles published in the Quarterly are those of the authors and their contributors, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Alpha Phi Fraternity, its officers or staff.

Submissions All persons interested in submitting materials for publication in the Alpha Phi Quarterly are encouraged to send them to the editor at the Executive Office. The editor reserves the right to accept, deny or edit any materials submitted.

Unless otherwise requested, all photos sent to the magazine will become the property of Alpha Phi International and will not be returned.

Articles may be sent by email to quarterly@alphaphi.org or by mail to: Alpha Phi Quarterly 1930 Sherman Ave. Evanston, IL 60201.

Submission Deadlines

Spring 2021: Jan. 6, 2021 Summer 2021: March 25, 2021 Fall 2021: June 17, 2021 Winter 2022: Sept. 1, 2021

Questions

Please direct any submission questions or inquiries regarding advertising or reprint permission to the editor at quarterly@alphaphi.org.

Publisher

Alpha Phi Quarterly (USPS Pub # 14680) is published quarterly by Alpha Phi, 1930 Sherman Ave., Evanston IL 60201-3214.

Periodical postage paid at Evanston, IL and at additional mailing offices.

Postmaster

Please send address changes to: Alpha Phi Quarterly 1930 Sherman Ave. Evanston, IL 60201-3214 or quarterly@alphaphi.org.

A look at the evolution of philanthropy events

Alpha Phi Quarterly WINTER 2021

VO L . 13 3 N O. 1 W I NTER 2021

Features

Heartstrings: Exploring the Research of the Heart to Heart Grant

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Researchers at the University of Iowa are focusing on hypertension and maternal cardiac health thanks to the 2020 Heart to Heart Grant received from Alpha Phi Foundation.

Illustration for the Quarterly by Rachel Maves

Engage, Educate, Empower Alpha Phi programs are available for collegians, volunteers and staff to continue dialogue and encourage connection.

8 Cardiac Conversations Alumnae Liz and Breanna, along with collegian Cecilia, share their journeys as heart disease survivors.

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Q

A Message from the International President Dear Sisters,

International Executive Board Jacqueline Schools, President Stacey Thulin Daniel Kathleen (Kate) Boyle Halfon Ruth Gallagher Nelson Lisa Cabaniss Olson Jandy J. Thompson Linda (Allie) Winkelman Ex-officio: Laura Malley-Schmitt, Council of Delegates Ex-officio: Linda Long Boland, Chief Panhellenic Officer Ex-officio: Renee Smith Zimmerman Zainer, Executive Director Ex-officio: Mary Beth C. Tully, Foundation Chair Foundation Directors Mary Beth C. Tully, Chair Rebecca Andrew Zanatta, Vice Chair Claire Costin, Treasurer Coree Smith, Secretary Gretchen Alarcon Janelle Del Carlo Jenny Concepcion Hansen Susan McNeice Shana Smith Ex-officio: Amy Peebles, Executive Director Ex-officio: Jacqueline Schools, International President Executive Office Executive Director: Renee Smith Zimmerman Zainer 1930 Sherman Ave. Evanston, IL 60201 (847) 475-0663 fraternity@alphaphi.org www.alphaphi.org Foundation Office Executive Director: Amy Peebles 1930 Sherman Ave. Evanston, IL 60201 (847) 475-4532 info@alphaphifoundation.org www.alphaphifoundation.org National Panhellenic Conference

Sharing our sisters’ stories of survival and immense courage was inspiring and prompted me to look back on the past year. Despite the challenges — and to be clear, 2020 was definitely a year for our history books — I was continually encouraged by our sisterhood and shared aspiration to always seek forward progress while living true to our high ideals. Inspiration is key to our drive, motivation and commitment to advancing the Alpha Phi experience.

In the fall, we celebrated Alpha Phi’s 148th Founders Day with heartfelt gratitude for our Original Ten, who, in forming Alpha Phi, created opportunities for us to lead. They laid the foundation of the sisterhood that bonds us all. These women boldly joined together to create a safe space for women to motivate, connect, and gain wisdom from one another. During the celebration, we honored their legacy and launched the festivities leading up to our 150th Anniversary celebration in 2022.

From those ten in 1872, we’ve grown to welcome over 270,000 members and now recognize 172 collegiate chapters. The wonderful thing about sisterhood is that it brings more love, more support and more encouragement; woman to woman, sister to sister, hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart. Through World Wars, pandemics, and all kinds of challenges and obstacles, we have adapted and grown, learning along the way and thriving as a sisterhood.

An inspiration to each of us, the generosity of our sisters was on full display during the 2020 Founders Day of Giving. Alpha Phi Foundation raised $301,305 during this remarkable day! Through the philanthropic efforts of Alpha Phi chapters, and each of you, the Alpha Phi Foundation is able to support women’s heart health through the yearly Heart to Heart Grant. In addition to existing leadership, scholarship and history programs, the Foundation’s support to the Fraternity allows for new and innovative programs – League of Coaches, Live Courageously Series, Legacy of Leaders, Generous Hearts, and Stand Together.

Just before Founders Day, I was honored to pay my respects to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) as she laid in repose. Justice Ginsburg was a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority and served as President of the collegiate chapter at Cornell University. I was joined by several other National Panhellenic Conference Presidents as we paid our respects to a fellow NPC sister who shared our passion for women’s advancement. Her life story — a woman who led a lifetime fight for gender equality and women’s rights — is an inspiration to many and helps us remember that the leadership, sisterhood, and values of the sorority experience prepare women for any opportunity.

RBG famously said, “I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability.” Every Alpha Phi has her own unique talent and story. As we look ahead to the next two years celebrating 150 years of Alpha Phi, we will honor our history and the work of each sister while laying plans for the future so we may celebrate and inspire Alpha Phis for many generations to come.

AOE,

Council of Delegates: Laura Malley-Schmitt Chief Panhellenic Officer: Linda Long Boland Alternate Delegate: Laura Lynn Davidson Ellett

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Jacqueline Schools (Eta Lambda-George Mason) International President

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Q

Quotable

“

My Alpha Phi sisters were there for me, no questions asked beyond, ‘What do you need?

How can we help?’

”

Breanna Alosi (Eta Upsilon-Chapman) Learn more about Breanna and her fight to survive for her children on page 19.

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Alpha Phi Quarterly

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From the Crest

t the Check ou of calendar gs at g offerin upcomin

i AlphaPh o .c k m.

Networ

Elevate Your Career Series

PREPARING FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS (PASS) Calling all those in need of the ultimate study buddy — Learning is full of ups and downs, so we want to pass a few tips onto you. We have partnered with experts to help members master the skills they need to achieve their goals. Topics include public speaking, ways to stay engaged while learning online, managing study stress and more. Tune in and take your study session to the next level!

ALPHA PHI EATS Amp up your next meal as you cook along with these virtual cooking demos designed to inspire your next Insta-worthy treat! Chefs share the ingredients, prep tips and walk you through the start to finish of creating memorable meals.

ARTSY PHIS Connect with your sisters and craft! These fun and informative sessions walk you through the creation of a piece of art or the practice of an artistic skill like calligraphy, canvas painting and more.

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Alpha Phi Quarterly WINTER 2021

Fraternity Updates

LEARNING MORE: OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE

Over the last few months, Alpha Phi has launched several virtual programs designed to offer enrichment, education and encouragement for both collegiate and alumnae members. Some of you may have joined one of the digital demos or presentations, and the calendar is full of great things to come.

Here is a reminder of the new offerings available to all members:

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS SERIES Alpha Phi is proud to host incredible speakers delivering inspiring content to our members. Presented virtually and accessible to all members of the Alpha Phi Network, these presentations feature dynamic women who are making a difference in their communities and in the lives of others.

Elevate Your Career Series In collaboration with experts at Sounds Advice Careers, this career programming aims to empower Alpha Phis at all stages of their career to achieve success.

“In August, we focused on mentoring, in September we honed in on resilience and in October we highlighted the importance of leadership,’” recalled Carolyn Gregg (Eta Psi-Eastern Washington), director of alumnae engagement who coordinates the series to highlight leaders in various fields and partners with Sound Advice.

In February, members will have the opportunity to learn the best ways to use resumes, LinkedIn profiles and career fairs to leverage career search opportunities.

In March, Alpha Phis enrolled in college will hear how to maximize internships and learn job search strategies.

Following that, in April, the topic will turn to the ins-and-outs of graduate school.

ELEVATE YOUR CAREER SERIES Together with Sound Advice Careers, Alpha Phi engages recent grads, mid-level professionals and executives in content that will inspire and prepare you for the next step in your career. With topics like mentoring, mindfulness and moving into new roles, speakers share advice that empowers you to put your best foot forward!

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The Elevate Your Career Series and all programs listed are available free to members of Alpha Phi. Simply register at AlphaPhiNetwork.com or search calendar of events and sign up on the event page of AlphaPhi.org.

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CONTINUAL LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT HELP

us uphold the high ideals of Alpha Phi. Over the past several months, our collegians, volunteers and staff have engaged with the new educational programming and resources offered to our members. Learn more about a few of our programs and committee updates below.

BRAVE & BOLD DIALOGUES

Alpha Phi launched an exciting new partnership this summer with The Cross-Cultural Fraternal Advisors Institute Collaborative (CCFAIC), who are experts and leaders in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion, to offer their Brave & Bold Dialogues series to our members. Starting fall 2020, every collegiate member, volunteer and staff member will have access to this foundational training. There will be opportunities to build upon this through continued educational experiences and dialogue that challenge us to explore our identities, biases and positionality. By participating in this four-part online module series, Alpha Phis will (1) increase their knowledge of what it means to own their personal and social identities through a social justice lens, (2) increase understanding

Engage, Educate, Empower

Alpha Phi programming update 6

Alpha Phi Quarterly WINTER 2021

Fraternity Updates and awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion and (3) develop skills to become more personally and professionally inclusive when engaging with others. The curriculum can be found on LEARN Alpha Phi for all members and volunteers and is able to be provided to members through the generous support of Alpha Phi Foundation.

“Zeta Pi is full of women that want to change the world and learning how to properly communicate is the first step.”

— A NNA JASKOVIAK, CHAPTER PRESIDENT OF ZETA PI-CASE WESTERN RESERVE

UNDERSTANDING SELF & OTHERS

In the summer of 2019, Alpha Phi introduced the Understanding Self and Others (USO) training, a curriculum that specifically addresses identity, implicit bias and the impact of language in our everyday lives.

After engaging attendees at this past January’s leadership conference in this curriculum, USO is now available for all members and new members, which began in August of 2020.

Expanding the Understanding of Self and Others curriculum to all members is specifically aimed at influencing and shaping Alpha Phi’s recruitment practices at a macro level and was incorporated into primary recruitment preparation in chapters across the country this fall. This interactive and conversation-based workshop is designed to be peer-facilitated and includes a facilitation guide and presentation for chapters to utilize.

This content is also available on LEARN Alpha Phi for officers and advisors to access throughout the year.

CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTIE

This program empowers Alpha Phis to participate in powerful conversations with one another. Throughout the program, members have discussion WINTER 2021

opportunities about feelings and why feelings play an important part in having powerful conversations and are provided skills that can be utilized during those conversations.

Members can identify and practice the keys to engage in vital conversations with their sisters.

Anna Jaskoviak, chapter president of Zeta PiCase Western Reserve, shared this quote about her experience participating in the program recently.

“Conversations that Mattie is a program that gave both chapter leadership and general members tangible ways to improve our communication skills. Specifically, the interactive nature of the programming with polls, usage of the chat function, and encouraging brave communication helped our chapter open up. Zeta Pi is full of women that want to change the world and learning how to properly communicate is the first step.”

The program is built on engaging with one another and can be facilitated virtually or in-person by a chapter officer or leader. The curriculum can be found on LEARN Alpha Phi for all volunteers and officers, and is able to be provided to members through the generous support of Alpha Phi Foundation.

CROSS-CULTURAL FRATERNAL ADVISING INITIATIVE PARTNERSHIP

Alpha Phi is focused on taking action to address diversity, equity and inclusion in a comprehensive way. Systemic changes needed within Alpha Phi mean that education and resources are necessary at all levels within the organization from staff and high-level volunteers to collegiate members. The Cross-Cultural Fraternal Advising Initiative (CCFAI) Collaborative addresses the user dynamics, challenges and issues that professionals face in addressing diversity, equity and inclusion within the fraternal industry.

Together with Alpha Phi, the CCFAI is going to offer: • IEB Training • Foundation Board Training

• Conference Program Prep • Support for development of Fraternity and Foundation Staff training.

COLLEGIATE COMMITTEE ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

The Collegiate Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has met monthly throughout the fall term, offering valuable insight to the Fraternity in the following areas through their subcommittee groups: • They have developed a chapter discussion guide that can be used to continue the personal exploration and conversation started with the Brave and Bold Dialogues program.

• They have been instrumental in the review and reimagination of our officer structure, specifically offering their voice and the voice of collegiate women across North America in the development of a Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and affiliated department.

• They are reviewing Fraternity policies and procedures, working with the Fraternity to ensure guiding documents are inclusive in language and application.

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From the Crest

ALPHA PHIS ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE

ONE OF US

Dr. Kativa Strickland, DDS (Beta Pi-USC)

Dentist and Orthodontic Resident “SOME OF MY CLOSEST, LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS ORIGINATED when I joined Alpha Phi. I made lasting, impactful bonds with women who strive to be their best,” said Kativa. “When I was elected chapter president of Beta Pi at USC in 2013, I didn’t realize that it would be my most meaningful leadership experience.” She has taken the skills she developed in that role and applies them every day as a clinician. “Alpha Phi allowed me to develop as an influential leader, an effective communicator and an empathetic mentor for others.

These are all the values that have made me the orthodontist that I am today.”

As a healthcare professional, Kativa believes in an educational approach to help her patients feel

and systemic health, with dental disease leading to

equipped and empowered to make healthy decisions.

conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and oral

“Every patient provides a challenge and a meaningful

health complications during pregnancy.”

experience in impacting their lives by instilling confidence through their smiles,” shared Kativa.

“Dentistry allows me to provide for those in need… and promote their oral health, which impacts their overall health and well-being.”

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Upon entering college, Kativa knew she wanted to become a healthcare professional. After shadowing dentists and joining the pre-dental club at USC while studying human biology, she leaned into dentistry before ultimately pursuing specialization in

Kativa cautions that one of the biggest

orthodontia. Kativa applied that knowledge once she

misconceptions with the public is that dental health

was accepted in a dental hygiene program. She applied

is unrelated to your overall health. “It is, in fact, the

to specialty education programs while in dental school

opposite,” she warns, “with oral health as the segue

at USC and was accepted to become an orthodontic

to wellness of the entire body. Studies have shown

resident at Baylor/Texas A&M, where she is now a

there is a strong connection between oral health

second-year resident advancing her skills.

Alpha Phi Quarterly WINTER 2021

Fraternity Updates

“When I was elected chapter president of Beta Pi at USC in 2013, I didn’t realize that it would be my most meaningful leadership experience.”

Best lesson she has learned so far:

Seeing her patients receive quality dental care is the reward for Kativa’s hard work. Some of her defining moments came on mission trips with a humanitarian group to Nicaragua, Belize and Cambodia to provide dental care to those in need. “Providing the locals with necessary dental care, and sometimes being part of a patient’s first time seeing a dentist, allowed me to understand the needs of others and provide care with empathy.”

Throughout her continued education and training, Kativa remains close with her Alpha Phis. “They always push me and inspire me to continue in my academic pursuits after all these years,” reflected Kativa. Whether gathering together at USC Homecoming football games, enjoying weekends traveling to San Francisco or serving as bridesmaids for one another, she and her sisters always look forward to celebrating time together.

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I have learned to always be true to myself and uphold my values and morals…As long as you are true to your values, you will be guided in your decisions, both personally and professionally.

Her advice:

Never give up. Always push forward to attain your goals. Reach out to those who have been in your shoes.

Understanding their journey can be very insightful as you tackle your own pursuits.

Always make sure you have a mentor you trust to provide guidance and advice along the way.

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From the Crest

Announcing the Ivy Wine Club SINCE 1872, SISTERHOOD HAS BEEN SHARED

hand-to-hand, heart-to-heart and Alpha Phi to Alpha Phi. Now, members have a special opportunity to support Alpha Phi by becoming a member of The Ivy Club. Sisters who join The Ivy Club will receive hand-crafted limited production The Ivy Napa Valley wines made for Alpha Phi, while safeguarding Alpha Phi’s heritage and supporting the Alpha Phi member experience. Together, let’s once again make a toast that time can never dim.

The Ivy Wine Club offers subscribers unique wines that share a special link to Alpha Phi traditions. For our members, this is one more opportunity to connect with the women we first met in the springtime of our youth. As alumnae, we know sisterhood is lifelong, and when we reunite, we now have a new way to show our Alpha Phi pride.

Together with Fairwinds Winery in Napa Valley, we are pleased to offer the following wines during the first release in spring 2021.

Lily of the Valley CHARDONNAY

Few Alpha Phi symbols are as iconic as the lily of the valley. Its delicate blossoms, as beautiful as they are fragrant, hold a special place in hearts of all Alpha Phis.

Visit theivynapa.com to learn more about the Ivy Wine Club.

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Alpha Phi Quarterly WINTER 2021

Fraternity Updates

150 SPARKLING

In celebration of all the moments leading up to our 150th anniversary in 2022, we raise a glass to you, our sisters. This dry sparkling wine will have us all ready for a toast to one another and Alpha Phi.

The Original Ten: Rena – Courageous RED BLEND

The first in a series of ten wines that pay tribute to our Founders, this earthy red shines the spotlight on Rena and her courageous work as an advocate for women’s voting rights.

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From the Crest

Delt aTau Chapter Installation, May 1, 1965.

Above: Attendees at the 1900 Convention pose together on the steps of Willard Hall on the campus of Northwestern University.

Below: Six Women at Tea Table During Gamma Sigma Chapter Installation Reception, May 24, 1958. Josephine Hill, Irene Walker LaPointe, Martha Jarvis Sutton, Patricia Christianson, Bette Zander and Nancy Fisher enjoy tea during the Gamma Sigma Chapter installation.

ALPHA PHI

EST.1872

Preserving our History

One story, one picture, one memory at a time with alphaphi.historyit.com

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Alpha Phi Quarterly WINTER 2021

Fraternity Updates

THOSE WHO WATCHED THE VIRTUAL LAUNCH

party of the 150th anniversary celebration got a sneak peek at the way Alpha Phi is ensuring our history remains safe and accessible for years to come. In collaboration with HistoryIT, a transformative technology and services company, Alpha Phi is taking steps to preserve the first 148 years of our history and determine the best ways to protect our historical pieces for the future.

Together, with generous support from Alpha Phi Foundation donors, we have digitized the first 400 pieces of Alpha Phis legacy and are working to preserve issues of the Quarterly, our publication since 1888.

Led by professional historians, archivists and technologists, HistoryIT was founded by Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kristen Gwinn-Becker. Kristen spoke during the launch celebration and shared the importance of creating a shareable historical footprint. Preserved history cannot be just a collection of photographs or newspaper clippings.

It does not fulfill its purpose if it remains locked in a closet.

In order for history to be meaningful, it must be shared.

“Access to history is vital to society,” says Kristen.

Preservation and safekeeping alone are not revolutionary.

People must be able to share this history, to pass the stories down, to be reminded of moments in time, to learn

from what has come before and be inspired Preserve to reach higher.

That is our goal Your Personal in digitizing Alpha Phi Memories pieces of our archives.

In addition, as our two-year celebration Top-level leading up to Alpha Phi’s 150th anniversary archival milestone continues, members will have technology the opportunity to contribute mementos, and careful photos and correspondence to the digital attention preservation led by the Executive Office. to detail are These living history days will be used in the announced in the coming months, digitization of and we cannot wait for you to the historical be part of it all. pieces. The archived history that has been digitized is showcased on alphaphi.org/150. Pieces are tagged so members may search specific chapters, members, eras and more. We want all members to be part of this project because our sisters are integral parts of our legacy.

When history is accessible, we have the chance to connect with moments in time, engage with fellow members and see Alpha Phi’s history from a new perspective.

One of the projects that connects to this digitization of our archives is the 150 Stories of Alpha Phi. The effort launched just after Founder’s Day with story one, and will continue until Founder’s Day 2022 when story 150 is revealed. The project’s anecdotes and moments from our history encourage us to reflect on how our roots have grown stronger, inspiring generations of Alpha Phis and to embrace the ideals we hold dear.

We invite you to keep up with the latest 150th celebration news at alphaphi.org/150.

Preserve Your Chapter’s History In addition to the Fraternity-wide digitization, chapters also have the opportunity to preserve their specific history in this same way. Chapter digital preservation packages are available for those alumnae and collegiate chapters that are interested and able to begin formally safeguarding their history. With everything from composite-only packages to options that include the development of a strategic plan for imaging, tagging, listing and sharing vital parts of a chapter’s archives, there are many ways our members can engage in this historic project. To learn more about chapter digitization packages, chapter leaders may visit historyit.com/chapters.

At Right: Epsilon Upsilon Chapter Members with Homecoming Queen Jae Hong, Fall 1991

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From the Crest

THANK YOU! Last October, more than 1,000 donors came

together on Founders Day of Giving to raise over $300,000 for Alpha Phi Foundation,

making 2020 our greatest day of giving yet!

Your generosity helps us continue to advance

women’s lives by funding innovative leadership opportunities, life-changing scholarships and

assistance grants, important women’s heart health

research and education and heritage initiatives that

keep the memory of those who came before us alive.

Thank you for leading with heart alongside your Alpha Phi sisters on Founders Day of Giving!

Learn more about Founders Day of Giving www.alphaphifoundation.org/founders

O C T. 9 , 2 0 2 0

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Alpha Phi Quarterly WINTER 2021

JOIN US ON

February 25, 2021 let’s celebrate our history and endow our future

Investing in our members, Impacting our communities

Leading With Heart offers each of us a way to sustain the Alpha Phi legacy for years to come. This is your time to lead with your heart to honor the Alpha Phi of yesterday, today and forever.

Learn more at www.alphaphifoundation.org

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Alpha Phi Quarterly WINTER 2021

HEARTSTrINGS Exploring the research of the Heart to Heart Grant Recipient

by Gina Henke

Illustration for the Quarterly by Rachel Maves

F

or years, heart disease and the risk factors that contributed to it were thought of as health issues that primarily impacted men. While there have been fantastic advances in awareness, education and prevention, “Historically, women have not been included well in clinical studies. Even fewer studies have included pregnant women, but the health of society is dependent on the health of the mother in pregnancy,” said research Professor Debra Brandt, Ph.D., RN, MSB and Donna Santillan, Ph.D. “A mom’s health in pregnancy affects both the long- and short-term health of mother and baby.

Last year, Alpha Phi Foundation awarded University of Iowa the annual Heart to Heart Grant that is dedicated to supporting research that shows promise in advancing the cardiac health of women. The focus of the work being led by Dr. Brandt and Dr. Santillan tackles the wide field of women’s heart health by narrowing the focus to study the effects of body positioning on blood pressure measurement for pregnant patients. The study is called Vital Information from Monitoring Blood Pressure in Pregnancy, and the team calls it POSTURE for short because they are examining the effect of patient positioning on blood pressure measurement in pregnancy.

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The leading modifiable risk factor contributing to cardiovascular disease is elevated blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Consider the 1 in 16 women age 20 and older who suffer the impact of heart disease each year, and then compare that to the 44.9 million women living with hypertension each year in this country. In effect, nearly 27 percent of adult women in the U.S. are living with hypertension. That is a staggering challenge for our nation, for our communities and for our sisters in Alpha Phi. Racial disparities make the situation all the more complex.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related concerns than white women. Problems with health care access and poor quality of care contribute to this problem, while racism and bias also put nonwhite patients at a disadvantage.

Black women have a higher risk for hypertension, with over 40 percent living with high blood pressure, and nearly 30 percent of Hispanic women face the same challenges, says the American Heart Association. All this points to the need for more research, increased health education and more knowledge to better protect women everywhere.

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Blood pressure is the focus at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for the Alpha Phi Foundation funded research.

For pregnant women, hypertension can leave both the mother and child at a higher risk of developing hypertension again later in life. This is of particular concern because hypertension causes the heart to work harder, and when women are pregnant their cardiovascular system is also taxed an additional 30 to 50 percent more than it otherwise would be. Over-treatment can be a concern, as can under-treatment of pregnancy-related hypertension.

Risks of either can include preterm birth or stroke. Women with chronic 18

hypertension prior to pregnancy also have an increased risk of stillbirth, intrauterine growths restriction and severe cardiovascular conditions like heart failure. During pregnancy, hypertensive diseases can cause seizures, organ damage and even death.

According to the research team, preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, happens in two to eight percent of pregnancies and results in a greater risk for future cardiovascular disease to the patient than had she been a smoker or obese.

Most cases of preeclampsia occur in healthy pregnant women having their first child and with no obvious risk factors. Even so, preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, with 16 percent of maternal deaths attributed to hypertensive disorders. The need for more knowledge around hypertension and pregnant women is clear, and the position of the patient during the blood pressure screening is the area this study plans to most closely monitor.

There has been a renewed focus on proper positioning and technique for measuring blood pressure in all patients, but pregnant women have been largely omitted from the studies that determined proper technique and placement. Also of note, sometimes blood pressure readings may be higher in a medical environment than they may otherwise be in more relaxed settings. When this kind of erroneous measurement is found, it is called white coat hypertension and it occurs in 31 percent of pregnant women. This is a higher incidence than white coat hypertension occurs in the non-pregnant population.

In the first part of this study, the team measures the blood pressure of pregnant women while they are in different positions that may be encountered in clinical settings. The blood pressure readings are compared to the gold standard method of blood pressure measurement to determine if there is a significant difference in the

Alpha Phi Quarterly WINTER 2021

Right: Research assistant professors Donna Santillan, Ph.D. (left) and Debra Brandt, Ph.D., RN, MSB (right)

blood pressure readings.

For the second part of the study, participants are given a wi-fi-enabled blood pressure monitor to use at home. They are asked to use the monitor for at least one week. The participants are surveyed twice about their use and satisfaction with this approach to monitoring blood pressure at home. In addition to the blood pressure reading taken during appointments related to the study and the measurements from the athome screening, data is also collected through patient surveys and from the patients’ medical records.

The University of Iowa team was nominated for the Heart to Heart Grant by Melinda Flick Alison (Omicron-Missouri). Her sister, Andrea Greiner, MD, MBA, is a highrisk obstetrician at the University of Iowa and so Melinda is a strong advocate for women’s health.

As the principal investigators for this study, Dr. Santillan and Dr. Brandt have nearly 50 years of research experience between the two of them.

Dr. Santillan has served as a nurse at the university since 1982 until she also added faculty member to her credentials in 2015, and Dr. Brandt has been working at the institution in 2006.

Involved in all aspects of this research, they designed the study, obtained approvals, trained their 20-person research team, have helped enroll participants and are analyzing data.

They are also sharing updates from their observations with Alpha Phi at various local, regional and national WINTER 2021

meetings. In March, the team will present preliminary results at the Midwest Nursing Research Society Conference. They have submitted an abstract for a presentation that would take place at a national pregnancy meeting in 2021. At the conclusion of the study, Dr. Santillan and Dr. Brandt will publish at least two manuscripts that review the results. Additionally, they plan to generate an infographic regarding the recommendations.

This two-year project includes experts in transitional medicine, obstetrics, nursing, bioinformatics and statistics. There are also several undergraduate students on the research team so they may gain experience. According to Dr. Brandt and Dr. Santillan, it takes an average of seven years for research findings to impact clinical care; however, this study has the potential to have a more immediate impact on the way patients are positioned when they have their blood pressure screening.

Funding is critical to further the process of discovery and impact the lives of women across the globe.

“Without funding, such as that provided by Alpha Phi Foundation, this research cannot be done.

There are significant imbalances in research funding, and women’s health research is incredibly underfunded — especially any research related to pregnancy,” said Dr. Santillan and Dr. Brandt. “This funding is a critical step to reduce this imbalance…Research provides a critical foundation for generating new knowledge and

improving women’s health care.”

“We hope that our results can positively impact the way women have their blood pressure measured and monitored,” said Dr. Santillan and Dr. Brandt. Findings may also impact the under treatment and over treatment of hypertension. As telehealth becomes more widely offered that the study results might help identify the best means for remote monitoring of women’s blood pressure.

Dr. Santillan and Dr. Brandt hope that Alpha Phis can participate in a couple of different ways. If pregnant alumnae wish to, they may volunteer to participate in the study. The research team also aims to include undergraduate Alpha Phis with relevant fields of study as part of the research team for data collection and analysis. As of publication, six Alpha Phis in Iowa hope to be working with the researchers soon.

“We are very excited and proud to have received this generous award, and we are thankful to Alpha Phi. We are especially grateful for the women who are participating in this study.

These women do not benefit directly [from this study], but are helping future women and their children have healthier lives,” shared Dr. Brandt and Dr. Santillan.

We cannot wait to learn what they discover.

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Liz Bean Crookston

by Gina Henke

When we listen to our bodies, and each other, we can learn how to recognize symptoms of heart disease and advocate for women’s heart health for all.

When you consider the fact that Liz Bean Crookston (XiToronto) has been engaged in adventurous travel across Africa and other parts of the world for the last 17 years, it is easy to assume she is the picture of health. Today, she is the president of her own travel marketing company called the Archer Group, Inc. and enjoys sharing her safari trips with others. All of this makes it easy to forget that for the last seven years she has lived with a pacemaker implanted in her chest.

The desire to travel more extensively began as she was turning 40 and at a crossroads in her life. As she approached her 40th birthday, she decided to take a two-week safari to east Africa. She had heard her grandfather share his stories of being

CaRDIAC CONVER 2 0

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stationed in Africa in WWII and later returning there to go on safaris. “At the same time, my mom was dying of breast cancer, and that trip was the last thing she knew I was planning,” said Liz. Her mom passed away in March of that year and she made that first trip in the next February.

“When I stepped off that plane in Africa, it was like a tuning fork went off,” remembered Liz of how deeply the experience resonated with her. She returned home and took stock of what was making her happy. As the vice president of an advertising agency, she knew the value of storytelling and she wanted to write the next chapter in her own story. “I found myself asking, ‘What do I do next?’ My mom passed away at 66,” said Liz. On the safari, when it was too hot in the afternoon to do much else, she sat at her tent on the Mara River and thought she did not want to be working as hard as she was or be living with the kind of stress that she was. She wanted to be happy, and knew that a change was necessary, so she made the big decision to quit her job. She thought it would be a six-

Liz with a giraffe in Kenya

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Liz and Ian in front of Mt. Kenya

month sabbatical, but it turned into a discovery that changed her life.

While staying at one of several owner-operator camps and lodges during her trip, she connected with the owners who asked her what she planned on exploring when she returned to Canada. When she replied that she was not sure, they offered her the opportunity to manage their marketing. After knowing her just one day, Liz asked why would they ask her to serve in that capacity, and they told her that living there they learned who to trust very quickly because their lives depended on it. When she returned home, she had an email from those owners.

They had eight other camps and lodges who wanted her to lead their marketing as well. She returned to Africa with a business plan and embraced this new opportunity.

“There was no courage because there was no fear,” said Liz. “I knew this is what I was meant to do…. Travel is important because no matter where you go it opens up your mind. We share so much 2 2

“I, like many women, kept thinking of heart disease as a man’s disease. As women, we discount that this can happen to us, too.” more than we are opposites.”

She found that sense of belonging in Alpha Phi as well. She remembers being worried about moving from her small town outside of Toronto and finding her own community in a place as large as the University of Toronto. While her aunt had been a Gamma Phi and her grandmother a Pi Phi, Liz felt most at home when she walked through the door at the Alpha Phi house. “I am eternally grateful for Alpha Phi. The experience

has given me so many friendships and also opportunities. I entered the marketing world because of the work I was able to be part of with Alpha Phi Foundation. That work also gave me perspective and awareness about heart health,” said Liz. Nine years ago, she began having hot flashes, breaking out in sweats and experienced a racing heart rate.

Liz was premenopausal and thought her symptoms were related. A couple of months later, while playing tennis

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with a few Alpha Phi sisters, she fainted. It had never happened before, and they thought the heat of the day may have been to blame. The feeling of being faint continued, although she did not have another serious fainting episode for a year. Doctors originally thought menopause was to blame. Liz had a CAT scan, an MRI and wore a Holter monitor, but the screenings showed nothing that pointed doctors in the right direction.

Eighteen months later, Liz’s husband Ian, was sharing his wife’s symptoms with a cardiologist he knew and the cardiologist, Dr. Jewel Gold, knew immediately what was wrong. “She said to send your wife to my office right now. She is in AFib,” recalled Liz. AFib or atrial fibrillation takes place when the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly. When your heart contracts and relaxes at a normal beat, it effectively moves blood into the lower part of the heart. AFib increases the likelihood for strokes and heart-related deaths. What is terrifying about AFib is that many individuals do not realize they have it until it begins causing more serious problems. If monitored and treated, individuals can live long happy lives with AFib that is controlled.

Liz was started on beta blockers and had a catheter ablation. She was scared when these efforts did not work, and she remained committed to finding a way to improve her health. On Dec. 30, 2013, Liz and her husband were getting ready to travel and she knew something was wrong.

She felt off and called Ian to cancel their plans, and when he arrived home they agreed she needed to go to the emergency room. When she arrived at the hospital, her heart was only beating 26 times per minute and she was in full heart block.

She needed a pacemaker to regulate her hear rhythm, and the doctor told her he had an opportunity and could WINTER 2021

do it right away. She remembers calling her father to tell him she was going into surgery the next day, scared because she did not want him to have face losing a child if the procedure did not go well. Liz’s heart goes both into bradycardia and tachycardia, meaning her heart beats irregularly both too quickly and too slowly. To assist, she received a dualchamber pacemaker. It saved her life.

Along with Ian, Liz’s stepsons, Owen and Daniel, and the rest of her family were there to help her through recovery. One Alpha Phi sister who worked as a nurse at the hospital where Liz was having her surgery came to sit with Ian during the procedure. Other sisters who were in the medical field helped give her perspective as she was recovering, too.

“I see my Xi sisters; we try to get together once a month and lately that has been through Zoom. I am also very close, through my time as an advisor, to a group of Alpha Phis in the States. We try to see each other at least once a year. There is nobody like your Alpha Phi sisters when you are going through something,” said Liz. Over the years, Liz has given back to Alpha Phi in a variety of different ways. She started as her Xi chapter president, worked as an Alpha Phi phonathon volunteer, was a chapter advisor, district governor, served on the board for Alpha Phi Foundation, was a member of the committee on leadership and was a chapter leadership development facilitator.

She cautions all women, “Don’t ignore symptoms. Thanks to Alpha Phi, I knew women may not exhibit

the same [cardiac] symptoms as men.” While her family did have some history of heart disease and she knew it is the number one killer of women, Liz was always more concerned about being diagnosed with breast cancer. “Even though I knew differently, I, like many women, kept thinking of heart disease as a man’s disease. As women, we discount that this can happen to us, too,” said Liz. Liz is a lover of life. She wants to experience it, whether on safari or at home with family. “I was reborn on December 31 when my pacemaker was implanted,” she said. “There are opportunities around us all the time, and I am always looking for them. If you look for these signs and pay attention to them, we can experience wonderful things. Life can be incredibly short, and I don’t want to leave anything on the table.”

Liz with her U.S. Alpha Phi sisters – LuAnn Cowan Robertson (Delta Mu-Purdue), Joan Magnusson (Delta Mu-Purdue) and Liz — in Paris. They have been friends and travelled together extensively for over 25 years.

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Breanna Alosi 2 4

Breanna Alosi (Eta UpsilonChapman) knew the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. She knew to pay attention to what her body was saying, to take note of less classic symptoms like pain or discomfort in her back and to seek immediate help. Thank goodness.

It was a Sunday afternoon two years ago when Breanna, then just 33, was spending time with her family and began to feel pain in her upper back on the left side. “I thought maybe I had pinched my back in lifting up my eight-month-old son Hunter, so I told my husband Jason and he suggested I lie down with our three-year-old daughter Makenna,” said Breanna.

“And then I looked up my symptoms on my phone. I was in disbelief when the words ‘heart attack’ popped up.”

She remembered the lessons she had learned over the years, many of them from her involvement with Alpha Phi: watch out for shortness of breath, dizziness, pain or discomfort in back or arms. Her symptoms were checking all the boxes and she knew she had to get to the hospital.

Breanna’s mom, Laura, came with her to the hospital, where the medical team performed an EKG. Shortly after, Breanna remembers asking her mom if the “Code Cardiac” blaring over the speakers could be meant for her. Her mother had tried to reassure her that she was too young for that emergency alert to be for her. She was wrong. Upwards of a dozen professionals rushed the room and began administering care.

Breanna was having a heart attack and rushed to the catheterization

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lab. “I remember lying on the cold metal table and looking up at the doctor, saying ‘Don’t let anything happen to me. I have two babies at home, and they need their mom.’”

She was shocked this was happening and recalls thinking that she did not have any of the typical risk factors or underlying conditions that would put her at risk for heart disease.

In that first procedure, the doctor placed two stents to open her left anterior descending coronary artery.

This is the area that is commonly referred to as the “widow maker” because of how deadly problems in that area of the heart can be.

She thought she was out of the woods, but later that afternoon she began having pain again. That next morning, the pain was not subsiding, even with morphine, and so they took her back to the cath lab where they placed three more stents.

Doctors then began to wonder if Breanna had suffered a SCAD, or spontaneous coronary artery dissection. The membrane of the coronary artery wall had

Above: Breanna with her children Right: Breanna in the hospital

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spontaneously torn and caused the heart attack. This diagnosis would not be confirmed for several more months after Breanna was seen at the Mayo Clinic, but the experience profoundly changed Breanna. “I was in the hospital only five days, but it was the scariest time of my life.

I still have some lingering distrust of my body. The rug was pulled out from beneath me, and I felt as though I didn’t have any control over what was happening to me,” she said.

After her experience, Breanna found support in her family, her Alpha Phi sisters and in what she now calls her SCAD sisters, women who found one another online and had the same kind of experience Breanna had. She keeps in close contact with five of these women, supporting them as they support her. She found comfort and reassurance from one of the SCAD sisters shortly after her attack, and she is grateful that she can provide that same kind of support for women who have more recently suffered SCAD attacks. These women recommended Mayo Clinic as a next step, as they have done some promising work regarding SCAD.

“It was the scariest time of my life.

I still have some lingering distrust of my body.”

There, she received the diagnosis of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), a rare connective tissue disorder.

Research has shown there may be a link between having FMD, which causes abnormal cell growth in arteries that can narrow, bead or tear the artery walls, and having a SCAD. There is not enough research around SCAD, but women who often exhibit no previous symptoms have frequently been among those who suffer a SCAD. According to the American Heart Association, there may be a hormonal link around incidence, indicating women may be more likely to experience this if they are recently given birth or close to a menstrual cycle.

As terrifying as her experience has been, Breanna found relief in having answers. To protect her heart, she cannot go skydiving, avoids hot tubs, limits caffeine and sees her physicians regularly. She was also diagnosed with an aneurysm in her renal artery, which is something her doctors continue to monitor.

She wears her Apple watch, which alerts her if her resting heart rate rises above 120 beats per minute.

With no significant contributing family history that could have Alpha Phi Quarterly

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predicted this journey, Breanna is passionate about advocating for all women. “I asked myself, ‘Why me?

Who else will be affected? What is my purpose now?’ and I have found comfort in connecting with others to share my story. I hope it might save another person’s life.”

The idea that we, as women, have a lot on our plates resonates with Breanna. In college, we think we can do it all. We feel invincible. Later in life, that feeling can linger. I tried to be the star of the show, to do it all – work late, balance life as a mother and wife, take care of my home and my career – but that constant stimulation is too much,” said Breanna. “Be smart. Be aware. Slow down.”

Her children gave her the strength to fight. Breanna noted, “They would not have remembered much of who I am if I had died then, so now I make changes that put my family first.” She has transitioned to a four-day work week and listens more closely to her body’s need for rest.

“As I was navigating this, my Alpha Phi sisters were there for me, no questions asked, beyond, ‘What do you need? How can we help?’ and that meant the world to me. Alpha Phi goes beyond college,” said Breanna.

As alumnae community president for the Reno chapter and an advertising sales representative in radio, she shared her story last year at the American Heart Association Go Red for Women luncheon in Reno. The women of the alumnae community have been some of Breanna’s closest friends over the last decade.

Life has changed over the last two years for Breanna and her family, but she has found the blessings amidst the struggle. “I walk most days and make time for exercise. It is hard to make excuses to avoid that when you have stared death in the face,” said Breanna. “We have found the silver linings where they exist. We prioritize time together in the here and now.

I no longer feel selfish about taking time for myself, and we try to lower stress in favor of fun and family.”

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Cecilia Walker

Above: : Cecilia in the hospital as a child Top: Cecilia developed a love of cheerleading and dance

Cecilia Walker (Beta Mu-Alabama) found out she had long QT syndrome type one (LQT1) when she was only four years old. “I was at my family’s lake house and was jumping off the dock into the water. I hit the water and basically blacked out,” recalled Cecilia. “My dad jumped in to rescue me while my aunt ran to call 9-1-1.” An ambulance came and rushed her to the hospital.

Doctors originally thought perhaps she had suffered a heat stroke on that hot August day, so they observed her and sent her home. At home the next day, Cecilia experienced the same health scare, and so this time she was transported to Children’s Hospital in Chicago, where she stayed for two months. They scanned her brain and considered seizure disorders as a possible culprit.

Upon reviewing one EKG, doctors noticed the prolonged interval that pointed to the long QT syndrome.

Long QT syndrome is a heart rhythm condition that can cause fast or chaotic heartbeats. These rhythm irregularities might cause a person faint, experience seizures and can, in severe cases result in death. Many who suffer from long QT are born with a genetic mutation that causes the disorder. In LQT1, the type that Cecilia has been diagnosed with, the potassium ion channels in the heart do not function properly, disrupting the electrical activity. Emotional distress and physical exertion can trigger arrhythmias and those with LQT1.

In particular, Cecilia and others with LQT1 must watch for torsades de pointes, which is French for “twisting of the points,” which the most concerning type of tachycardia

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and occurs more often in those who live with LQT1. These individuals also tend to, typically, have more episodes of abnormal rhythms, but these rhythms tend to correct themselves on their own without treatment.

Cecilia is fortunate she has not experienced an LQT1 episode since those early symptoms, although she does live with a few restrictions to keep her safe. “My heart takes too long to get from one beat to the next. I can’t drink too much caffeine, can’t put my head underwater when swimming, can’t ride rollercoasters, can’t go on long runs because it will WINTER 2021

excite my heart to the point where I could flatline,” acknowledges Cecilia. She sees her doctors at the Mayo Clinic where she is treated once a year to make sure her health is steady. So far, her health has been progressing well and managed with minimal interventions.

As a young adult looking back on that period of her childhood, she has now heard the fear her parents lived in as she slept in the hospital night after night without a clear diagnosis.

She knows now how scared her family was, but what she remembers from the incident is waking up, being

under a towel and transported to the hospital, being reassured by her family, being surrounded by love.

When she was in middle school, her limitations with physical activity made her self-conscious. Over time, she realized her limitations were not in her control – just the ways she responds to the challenges.

Recently she has started sharing her condition with others and spoke during the philanthropy round during fall recruitment. She loves Alpha Phis’ commitment to giving back and having fun while supporting philanthropic efforts, so when she felt ready to share her personal story, she knew it would be worthwhile. “I loved speaking about my story because I think it is a health condition that people need to know about and something that impacts more people than we often realize,” said Cecilia. Long QT syndrome affects approximately one in every 2,500 people, impacting millions across the globe.

“I used to hate that I have a heart condition. I felt like it was unfair…

It took time to realize this is not in my control, but I realized there is nothing to be ashamed of, so I started telling people about it,” said Cecilia. “Now, I know this has made me into who I am. I feel strong to have gone through this.”

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Amongst the Ivy

A Song in Her Heart

I

EPSILON UPSILON-CSU NORTHRIDGE IF HER SONGS ARE NOT YET ON YOUR FAVORITE PLAYLIST, IT

might be time to add Stina to your music mix. Her songs have been streamed over 1 million times, with fans from Japan to Morocco, all over North America and beyond. Grateful for the success of her debut single “Uninvited,” penned about feeling uncomfortable at a party, Stina is thrilled her fans have connected with her music. “I think my music speaks to a younger audience because I feel many young women can relate to the feeling of insecurity and not fitting in a particular situation,” said Stina.

She has formed strong bonds with her sisters, whom she knows are always there for her. They have been there to support her through all of the ups-anddowns of college and then some. When her family was displaced for months due to a fire that destroyed her home, Stina and her family applied for and received a Forget-Me-Not Fund grant through Alpha Phi Foundation. In that time when her keyboard and computer were among the few possessions spared by the fire, Stina turned her lifelong love of singing into a career as an artist and a songwriter. Her Alpha Phi little sister, Janet, even starred in Stina’s first music video.

This year, Stina is also performing in her first music festival. “During the pandemic and the social injustices, I thought it would be a great time to raise awareness and funds [through the event] for great organizations fighting for change,” said Stina.

The festival, “The Movement,” is a three-day virtual streaming event featuring acts like Lovelytheband,

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"I feel many young women can relate to the feeling of insecurity and not fitting in a particular situation."

Tank and the Bangas, Maty Noyes, Kimbra, Lauren Daigle and more. The performances will air on YouTube live starting Oct. 23, 2021.

Her newest single, “Summer and the Suburbs,” precedes what will be Stina’s first album, set to be released in early 2021.

Congratulations, Stina! 

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Collegian & Chapter Updates

DELTA THETA-WESTERN MICHIGAN

Poetry from the Heart

Erin Hult, a junior in an accelerated program and pursuing her masters degree in occupational therapy, has recently written and self-published her second book of poetry. When You Need It Most, her debut book, and her latest, With All My Heart, share perspective on mental health, the importance of selfcare and breaking patterns of unhealthy relationships. An advocate for suicide awareness, mental-health-care and overall wellness, Erin hopes that women will find solace and encouragement in the poems. In addition to her studies, Erin is a blogger, sharing encouragement for women on her site. She draws on her own experience in battling mental-healthissues and writes to help herself and as well empower others. Her books are available on Amazon.

BETA MU-ALABAMA

Bama Network Katelyn Heffler and Jayde Saylor are in year two of the Bama Network, a YouTube channel covering topical sports stories from The University of Alabama and the world at large. When they transferred to The University of Alabama in 2019, they had no idea they would meet one another and develop their platform, the first all-female sports show hosted by university students. Katelyn, a California native, and Jayde, from Kentucky, share a major in news media and an emphasis in sports, a connection they discovered they shared after joining Alpha Phi. Their network was born of the desire to create their own footprint in sports media and apply the skills they were learning in classes. They challenge and inspire one another, earning experience and strengthening their bond as they share their love of a great sports story. Way to go, Katelyn and Jayde!

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Amongst the Ivy

IOTA EPSILON-KETTERING

Candy, Sweet Tea and Alpha Phi The women of the Iota Epsilon chapter have a strong connection and understand how vital it is to have strong women leaders and advocates in their fellow Alpha Phis. As they navigated hybrid learning structures and socially distanced events, they were all the more grateful for having a built-in network of sisters.

They hosted a treat themed Bid Day, held at a local park to celebrate new members. There, they all took photos, enjoyed some sweets and held a scavenger hunt. This year, they have also hosted a variety of sisterhood events. Everything from rock painting and pizza making, to Big-Little speed dating mixers, to learning about love languages and important survival skills was part of the fun that members enjoyed. The women also hosted their annual Sweet Tea philanthropy event with refreshing beverages and offered surprise online auctions to benefit Alpha Phi Foundation. Keep up the terrific work, ladies!

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Collegian & Chapter Updates

DELTA RHO-BALL STATE

Alpha Phiver Brings Members Home to Alpha Phi The women of the Delta Rho chapter welcomed 21 new members to Alpha Phi on the Ball State Bid Day this past September. Since then, the women have continued to recruit more members through continuous open bidding. To keep the virtual recruitment engaging, chapter members incorporated upbeat music, welcome and goodbye slides and multiple styles of breakout sessions to ensure that potential new members had multiple ways to interact. Sisters celebrated Bid Day abiding by university guidelines of limiting interactions to very small groups or with their roommates.

While not like Bid Days of recent past, these women and chapters around the globe made sure their celebrations were creative, welcoming and memorable.

Right: Sophia Tully and Maya Beas celebrate Bid Day in style!

IOTA OMEGA-OLE MISS

Active and Artistic Opportunities for Sisterhood The ladies of Iota Omega have found creative ways to celebrate sisterhood and create memories. Their first sisterhood event of the year was a tie-dye gathering to connect the new members. The ladies tie-dyed masks for the chapter. Their bouquet making event was a first-time success! They purchased flowers, paper and ribbon and sisters joined in 30-minute shifts to make their own bouquets.

Also this fall, a group from the chapter decided to get active and take a study break at Shed Fitness, focusing on moving more and staying healthy. The chapter has had so much fun finding new ways to spend time together and make memories.

GAMMA OMEGA-MIDWESTERN STATE

You Say It’s Your Bid Day! The Gamma Omega chapter welcomed 11 new members into Alpha Phi on Bid Day with their Party Like It’s Your Bid Day theme. The chapter connected for video chat to welcome new members and take part in a virtual scavenger hunt for birthday related items found in their rooms. As of the time of print, six more members joined the chapter through continuous open bidding. Beyond Bid Day, the digital connection has been strong with these women. They hosted a speed dating night with only chapter members to help engage as a chapter and learn new things about their sisters. They were grateful that their new member pinning was able to take place distanced and in-person. Well done, ladies!

Left: New members after new member pinning.

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DELTA DELTA-OKLAHOMA CITY

Party Like it’s Your Bid Day

Megan Huang

Anna Schmidt

For their “Party Like it’s Your Bid Day” special event on Aug. 15, the Delta Delta chapter headed to Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City in two large groups. Masks were worn while one group played games like corn hole, while the other group was at the Alpha Phi house playing ice breaker games.

A couple of weeks later, the women gathered for a sisterhood retreat at the Wheeler District. Again, they split the women in two groups to allow for distancing, held a relay race and played kickball to have fun and get active.

Above: Top row left to right: Maya Momon, Kendall Dorrough, Olivia Tardibono, Abbey Machnik. Bottom row: Kirsten Carle, Alleia Attaguile, Marlee Bell

Above: Dara Brown, Emily Schmukal

DELTA GAMMA-NORTHERN COLORADO

A Future with Alpha Phi

The women of the Delta Gamma chapter welcomed 22 new members this year.

Their Bid Day theme, “I See Alpha Phi in your Future” was a success, despite the snow that made an appearance. Their VP of new member education Kendall Moede and assistant Evelyn Rosendahl, planned a scavenger hunt where new members in groups of three, wearing masks, searched out three different clues that eventually led them “home.” Immediately after, all new members were paired with a Bid Day buddy and enjoyed dinner in small groups.

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Collegian & Chapter Updates

DELTA BETA-TEXAS A&M COMMERCE

Honors and Advocacy

For the second year in a row, in recognition of their involvement, Delta Beta was selected by the university as the 2019-2020 student organization of the year. In June, the chapter members were part of a peaceful protest in support of the Black community. Later that month, sister Karlee Nichols was one of three Texas A&M UniversityCommerce women’s golfers named as an AllAmerican Scholar by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association. A member of the Dean’s list and the athletic director’s list for scholastic achievement, it is her first time to earn this golf recognition.

Right: Haley Bambico, Maeve Rogers, Joelie Williams, Nicole Findley, Jaidse Robertson, Rilee Purriance and Tapuwa Luphala; Far Right: Madison Simmons and Madison Smith

EPSILON XI-SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

All Around Alpha Phi Fun The members of the Epsilon Xi chapter are doing all they can to stay connected and have fun. During formal recruitment and through continuous open bidding, they welcomed home 54 amazing new members, filling their roster! Virtual was the name of the game, and these women were creative their approach. Their Big / Little reveal was hosted through Zoom, giving members the opportunity to share in the excitement together. Virtual sisterhood events included a Halloween themed gingerbread competition and a speed-dating event to help new members

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connect with active members. They also held a fall recipe virtual exchange with alumnae. Also virtual, their Move Your Phi’t virtual philanthropy event encouraged support of Alpha Phi Foundation while empowering one another to participate in heart healthy activities like running, walking and biking. For every $20 raised, members completed one mile of physical activity. The chapter raised $10,720 and, together, completed 536 miles of activity.

This was double their original goal and all we can say is, congratulations to all the sisters of Epsilon Xi!

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ETA GAMMA-AKRON

Spirit of a Leader

EPSILON THETA-NORTHERN IOWA

Heart Health Week

The women of the Epsilon Theta chapter celebrated women’s cardiac health at the end of September.

Following all university guidelines, the sisters teamed up with local restaurants and organizations to raise money for women’s heart health, as well as raise awareness about the importance of wellness. On one day, they offered an incentive with Joywheel, a local cycling studio. An Alpha Phi ran the cycling class and they raised money for Alpha Phi Foundation. Racquel Zehr, vice president of community relations, helped coordinate the week and the sisters worked hard to create a memorable experience. Thank you, Epsilon Theta!

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Kristina Aiad-Toss, a law student at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, has been active in politics, human rights and supporting communities across the globe. Last summer, she spent two months in El Salvador interning for the International Partners in Mission, a non-profit engaging in community development projects abroad to help women and children in 66 countries.

This experience, her second internship abroad, was a defining time in her life.

Her first such internship was with The U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Rome to advance UN work around food security, emergency food aid, food safety standards, agriculture, fisheries, forests and rural development financing. That first internship helped inspire in her the kind of lawyer she wants to be. In El Salvador, she and other interns visited rural communities and interviewed civilians who escaped massacres in the country. From her work in El Salvador, she has recently co-authored a white paper around her findings. In her spare time, Kristina is also an avid photographer.

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Collegian & Chapter Updates

ETA LAMBDA-GEORGE MASON

The Virtual Run Home for Alpha Phi Angels New members celebrated Bid Day with a virtual “Alpha Phi Angels” party. Instead of running home to Alpha Phi in person, the women gathered where they could adhere to guidelines and keep safety a priority. No matter where they physically were, these members got involved in the festivities. Sisters decorated their homes, wore angel wings and halos, crafted banners and covered themselves in glitter to welcome their newest members. Online, they hosted smaller breakout rooms to engage the women in smaller group discussions. Fun was a priority when they played the “Who is the Sister?” style Kahoot game and recognized each new member on

their chapter social media accounts. Thirteen sisters were welcomed home on Bid Day, and, as of the time of print, five more women had joined through continuous open bidding. The newest sisters received Bid Day baskets delivered to their homes and dorms. The excitement continues as the new members begin to join their ivy linking circles and form bonds throughout the chapter. Welcome home, ladies!

Above: Simone Ghobadi, chapter president, and Amanda Stoltz, VP of member education, celebrate Bid Day.

KAPPA DELTA-STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Face Time

Any time these sisters are able to connect and spend time together is a good time. The women of Kappa Delta bonded and enjoyed a beautiful day in Elysian Park in Hoboken. They are already looking forward to the next opportunity to gather and have fun! 

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Always Alpha Phi

ALPHA-SYRACUSE

Moms and Daughters Embrace Sisterhood in Virtual Initiations

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TWO WOMEN FROM THE ALPHA CHAPTER NEW MEMBER CLASS

2020 recently had the opportunity to celebrate the

bonds of sisterhood with women they have known their whole lives. A pair of mothers and daughters became sisters in Alpha Phi during the daughters’ recent virtual initiation over the summer when many students were home and remaining socially distant.

Jennifer Fattoruso Caridi (Gamma KappaCSU Long Beach) and daughter Sophia, as well as Gigi Abao Collatos (Zeta Beta-Loyola Marymount) and daughter Maeva took part in the sacred tradition of initiation for Sophia, Maeva and their Alpha chapter sisters.

“It had been almost 30 years since I was initiated.

Although this ceremony was virtual, it was still wonderful,” recalled Gigi. “… [I hope Maeva] finds those special sisters that will be by her side into the future, beyond college. The most rewarding parts of my Alpha Phi experience were the friendships….

Although it has been years since we were in college, we love to keep in touch, hear about careers and our families while supporting each other.”

Maeva understands now how much Alpha Phi means to her mom. “Since being in Alpha Phi, I get to experience the same bond my mom has for years.

Alpha Phi has brought my mom and I closer. Now we get to share similar experiences, alumnae events in

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Alpha Phi Quarterly

the future and a new sense of the of sisterhood together.”

While she could not be there in person due to an unexpected health issue, Jennifer joined through video chat to be part of the virtual event, and it was emotional for Jennifer when her husband gave Sophia the badge she had worn during college.

“My hope for Sophia is that she forms bonds and a sisterhood with other young women that are there for her during her lifetime,” said Jennifer.

Sophia is looking forward to her own Alpha Phi journey. “I am most excited to make lifelong friendships and connections in Alpha Phi,” said Sophia. “My mom is still friends with her sorority sisters, and seeing them so close makes me want the same thing.”

Thanks to Alpha Phi, these women are now connected by another layer of commitment, of support and of love. Congratulations, ladies!  Above: Gigi Abao Collatos (right ) and daughter Maeva Left: Jennifer Fattoruso Caridi (left) and daughter Sophia

WINTER 2021

Alumnae Photos & Updates

ETA ALPHA-NEW HAMPSHIRE

Phi-tured Author Maureen Tacito, civil engineer, has always had a fascination with ocean sediment like seashells, seaweed and certain forms of marine life. Having grown up on the coast and in pursuit of the perfect seashell, Maureen was thrilled the year she found a perfect Junonia or “Juno” seashell. It is one of the rarest shells to find and that shell, combined with her love of the beach, inspired Maureen and her sister Marianne Pasqual to pen a series of Juno books. Available for purchase on Amazon, Juno’s Island Adventure and Juno’s Day at Home – Special Coronavirus Edition follow Juno, the rare seashell. From Sanibel and Captiva Islands in sunny Florida, to the importance of the three “W”s of wearing a mask, washing hands and watching your distance, Juno helps teach children there is fun to be at home and while adventuring.

OMEGA-TEXAS

Generous Spirit

Mandy Stein has a passion for Tanzania that began in high school and was strengthened through volunteer work. She volunteered there while earning her degree in social work.

After college, Mandy moved to Tanzania and worked with a local woman to establish an orphanage and create a nonprofit, Neema International. The organization educates and supports children in the area. Through her efforts, many children have had the opportunity to receive an education, learn in a school, live in safe dormitories and receive care. Along the way, she adopted her son, Baraka, and moved back to Boston for a time to study at Harvard to advance her studies in education. Now, she has returned to Tanzania and is continuing to help all she can. She coordinated the creation of masks made by local women, and is helping sell them online to earn funds that can be invested back into the Tanzanian community. Through her passion and generosity, Mandy is making a huge impact on the lives of others. To learn more about Mandy’s work, visit neemainternational.org.

GAMMA RHO-PENN STATE

Friendship Nearly 30 Years in the Making Penn State sisters who joined in the fall of 1992 have made their friendship a priority as alumnae. Amy Feronti Hansel, Susan Korb Bernstein, Angela DelBeato Carney, Jennifer Steen Phillips and Beth Walsh Bullock have been gathering at least once a year since their 1996 graduation. It was Alpha Phi that brought them into each other’s lives, but it is the care they have put into their relationship that has kept them connected all these years. In 2019, Susan’s daughter’s Bat Mitzvah brought the women together in New York.

Whether travelling for an event or just spending time together, these sisters share joy and challenges — grateful that Alpha Phi brought them together.

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Alpha Phi Quarterly

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Always Alpha Phi

THETA MU-HOFSTRA

The Gift of Life, The Gift of Connection Traci Ackerman is mentoring collegian Alpha Phis and giving them the opportunity to give back through service. Traci is the recruitment manager at Gift of Life Marrow Registry, an international blood, stem cell and marrow registry that matches patients battling diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell disease and genetic disorders with donors. There, she helps grow the company’s public donor registry through relationships with colleges and universities and their campus ambassador internship program.

registry. According to Gift of Life, transplant centers frequently request donated material from individuals who are 18 to 35 years old because this can improve patient outcomes.

To keep up with the demand, Gift of Life is constantly seeking donors who will step up when called upon to help save a life. Throughout the year, the interns receive training on hosting recruitment drives and guidance on how to engage multicultural donors to help diversify the registry so that more patients battling life threatening diseases have the hope of a cure.

Through the program, she has the pleasure of working alongside senior interns Alexis Puritz (IotaWisconsin), and Sailor Brukart (Iota-Wisconsin), at Gift of Life Marrow Registry. These women are among the 360 interns from 131 colleges that were represented in the fall 2020 internship program.

As part of the program, the interns are equipped with skills and tools to help recruit new stem cell and bone marrow donors to be added to the

“Alexis and Sailor have made a tremendous impact in this world through their work with Gift of Life and I could not be prouder as their mentor and as their sister .... They have dedicated countless hours to help people whom they have never met, which speaks to their character,” said Traci.

Alexis Puritz and Sailor Brukart

Congratulations, Traci, Alexis and Sailor for the commitment

to serving others!

BETA PI-USC

Women of Impact Honoree Catherine Anaya, journalist, host and media personality, was recently selected as one of 23 Women of Impact honorees by the Phoenix Alumnae Panhellenic Association. Recognized at their virtual centennial celebration, Catherine was selected because of her work as a leader who empowers and inspires women. She embodies the panhellenic spirit and was chosen as the Alpha Phi honoree. The Phoenix Alumnae Panhellenic Association funds scholarships, hosts annual educational events for potential new members and organizes philanthropic efforts. Congratulations, Catherine!

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WINTER 2021

Alumnae Photos & Updates

DUPAGE VALLEY ALUMNAE COMMUNITY

Member Milestones

Sisters of the DuPage Valley Alumnae community of Alpha Phi celebrated friendship in September in the beautiful yard at the home of Sally Hass Wood (Epsilon Delta/Northern Illinois). Together, the women recognized Sally Hanson Wallin (Iota-Wisconsin) as a 50-year member of Alpha Phi! In October, the ladies hosted their Founders’ Day event and also recognized Tippi Turner Friedrich (Beta Mu-Alabama) for her 65-year anniversary of membership.

Jan Infantino Kaskovich (Beta-Northwestern), alumnae community president, presented Tippi with her anniversary pin.

Also in October, the women met with Alpha Phi author Traci Langston (Gamma Phi-Arizona State) to discuss her book Ballroom to Breadlines.

Below, left: Sally Hanson Wallin and Jan Infantino Kaskovich Below, right: Tippi Turner Friedrich and Jan Infantino Kaskovich

WINTER 2021

Congressman Schiff and Victoria

GAMMA ALPHA-SAN DIEGO STATE

28th Congressional District Woman of the Year Award Victoria Marie Dasalla Malone, Executive Director of the MontroseVerdugo City Chamber of Commerce, was recently honored by Congressman Adam Schiff with the 28th Congressional District Woman of the Year Award. Given each March during Women’s History Month, Congressman Schiff honors outstanding women from the community for their work and volunteerism. The original plan was to honor the women selected at a luncheon, and that plan has been postponed until it is safe to gather as a group. In the meantime, honorees were recognized through social media and the local newspaper.

Victoria’s passion for volunteerism was fostered during her time as a collegian Alpha Phi. From gardening of public areas and hosting children’s booths at local events, to helping pay off student lunch meal expenses at area schools and working the annual Christmas festivities, Victoria’s heart is with her community. Congratulations, Victoria!

Alpha Phi Quarterly

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Always Alpha Phi

Wedding Bells DELTA BETATEXAS A&M COMMERCE

Brooke Baker tied the knot with Austin Byers on Jul. 18,2020. Surrounded by family, friends and her Alpha Phi sisters, the couple had a wonderful day in celebration of their love. Congratulations, Brooke and Austin!

THETA PSI-SUNY PLATTSBURGH

Melissa Kennison Willman wed Michael Willman just over a year ago in Oct. of 2019. Standing by her side was her Alpha Phi Little Erin Martin Napoleoni, and Melissa had the honor of wearing Erin’s Alpha Phi badge as a “something borrowed” on her wedding day. Congratulations, Melissa and Michael!

IOTA GAMMA-UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC

Jessica Safir was supposed to be married to her love, Sam Stockwell, this past August in California, but the couple altered their plans when the pandemic created travel restrictions. Instead of simply wishing their wedding would go on as previously planned, Jessica and Sam decided love would not be put on hold. They married on Aug. 29 at Chelsea Town Hall in London with two friends as witnesses. After the ceremony, the couple video chatted with her family in California, including her mom Carole Safir (Beta Psi-San Jose State) and sister Sarah Safir (Zeta Gamma-Santa Clara), both of whom are Alpha Phis. It was only 8am for them, but they were all dressed up in formal attire and drinking champagne. Congratulations, Jessica & Sam!

DELTA BETA-TEXAS A&M COMMERCE

On Jul. 25, Konner Kohler married Quentin Thomas, a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. The ceremony took place in Dallas and the happy couple was surrounded in love from their family, Alpha Phi sisters and fraternity brothers.

Congratulations, Konner and Quentin!

JACKSONVILLE FIRST COAST ALUMNAE COMMUNITY

Walking a Mile in Another’s Shoes

On Sept. 12, the women of the Jacksonville First Coast Alumnae Community came together with members of the local Iota Psi-North Florida collegiate chapter to walk a mile on the beach in honor of heart health. The team raised $875 for the First Coast Heart Walk virtual event. Donning their masks and carrying signs of support, the sisters took pride in promoting heart health awareness while taking steps to improve their own wellness. Well done!

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WINTER 2021

Alumnae Photos & Updates

THETA KAPPA-ROCHESTER

International Film Focus Valery Perry recently directed and produced a documentary on the Dayton Peace Agreement that ended war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995. The film, Looking for Dayton, premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival in August this year.

Valery put an emphasis on the people affected by the agreement, rather than the politicians who negotiated it. The 25th anniversary of the end of the war took place in November of 2020, and this film approaches the transformational moment from a new perspective. Born in Buffalo, Valery has lived in Sarajevo since 1999. Her PhD focused on post-war political reconstruction and she has a long history of working on democracy and human rights initiatives in the country. Valery also works as a researcher and senior consultant at the Democratization Policy Council in Sarajevo. Well done, Valery!

DELTA BETA-TEXAS A&M COMMERCE

A Nice Ring To It!

Jazmin Vazquez said “YES!” to her love Robert Roberge while on a trip to Telluride, Colorado. Robert knew he wanted to marry Jazmin from the first moment he saw her back in high school. They are planning their nuptials. Wishing the happy couple a beautiful marriage ahead!

WINTER 2021

THETA PHI-CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT

Alumna Selected for Virtual Student Health Policy Fellowship Isabel Contreras began her graduate studies at Shenandoah University as a physician assistant student and was recently selected as one of only 20 students to participate in a virtual intensive workshop for her Physician Assistant Educations Association Student Health Policy Fellowship. Isabel is looking forward to advocating for those in her profession and for public health initiatives that she believes will make a difference.

As part of her work, she will complete a project of her choosing to put the skills she has learned to use. 

Alpha Phi Quarterly

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Silent Chapter

“ This is goodnight, but not goodbye.”

— “Linger” We honor our sisters whose notification of passing we receive. Silent chapter notes may be submitted via alphaphi.org (keyword: silent chapter) or to quarterly@alphaphi.org. Please note: year in parenthesis is year of initiation.

British Columbia (Beta Theta) Marion Christie McIntyre (‘58)

Kent State (Beta Omega) Patricia Maglione Reppa (‘50)

Colorado (Beta Gamma) Deanna King (‘63)

Miami University (Gamma Nu) Evalou Stauffer Middaugh (‘57)**

Denison (Beta Kappa) Jean MacDonell Weis (‘59)

US Santa Barbara (Gamma Beta) Heather Shute Hubanks (‘88) UCLA (Beta Delta) Elizabeth Schmidt Brill (‘42)

Oregon (Tau) Sally Blair (‘65)

USC (Beta Pi) Carol Bollenbacher Berge (‘58)

DePauw (Gamma) Karel Kelsik Barney (‘67)

Michigan (Theta) Helen Luth Mannion (‘54) Virginia Butler Rowley (‘72) Laura Portz Norberry (‘54)

Oregon State (Beta Upsilon) Harriet Burger Marchildon (‘48)

West Virginia (Beta Iota) Wilma Castrup Volkmer (‘50)

Drury (Gamma Gamma) Judith Finley Franklin (‘65)

Minnesota (Epsilon) Marian DeLander Henderson (‘43)

San Francisco State (Eta Theta) Staci Smith Ingram (‘96)

Idaho (Beta Zeta) Mary Snook Scott (‘61)

Missouri (Omicron) Jillian Andrew (‘88) Mary Roberts Cole (‘63) Mary Jane Robinson Moorman (‘68)

South Dakota (Psi) Sally Nichols Fulweiler (‘53)

Wichita State (Gamma Xi) Dorothy Ricketts Cowgill (‘64) Doris Kissire Forwalder (‘58)**

Illinois (Beta Alpha) Jill Stockbarger Forland (‘75) Indiana (Beta Tau) Beverly Buckingham Chambers (‘52) Polly Palmer Sippy (‘62)

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Oklahoma (Phi) Janette Saunders Eichling (‘43) Virginia Johnson Kanaly (‘50) Barbara Marrs Millspaugh (‘71) Lynda Mosley Krivanek (‘58)

Nebraska (Nu) Lynn Lueders Lightner (‘57) Northwestern (Beta) Barbara Koch Fox (‘52)

Alpha Phi Quarterly

** M ember is also Alpha Lambda-Alumna Initiate

Texas (Omega) Amelia Stewart Lummis (‘86) UC Berkeley (Lambda) Jacqueline Thomas Law (‘38)

WINTER 2021

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Explore job opportunities Join the mentoring network Discover sisters with shared interests Make connections and more! 

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Check out the new

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ALPHA PHI NETWORK

 Thank you to the generosity of Alpha Phi Foundation donors for making the Alpha Phi Network possible.

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Register for the Alpha Phi Network and join your sisters!

Engage in programming that makes a difference:

PASS Tune into the Pursuing academic Success Series to learn how to set SMART goals, gain best practices for group projects, manage stress and text anxiety, get tips to boost confidence in public speaking and use exercise as a learning strategy! Dates: Jan. 19, Feb. 9, Feb. 23, Mar. 2 & Mar. 30. Details available at alphaphi.org.

Artsy Phis

Join today at AlphaPhiNetwork.com WINTER 2021

Join with your sisters to create a project that will brighten up your day and give your creative side time to shine! Projects coming up include building a vision board, Galentine’s crafts, mortar board decorating and recruitment crafts. Dates: Jan. 25, Feb. 10, Apr. 9 and May 3. Details available at alphaphi.org.

Alpha Phi Quarterly

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Spotlight on Alpha Phis

Now & Then

The Evolution of Philanthropy

Caroline Sherratt, alumna past Red Dress chair of the Tau-Oregon chapter, and Sophia Hall, current director of philanthropy for the Tau-Oregon chapter, share their perspective on the importance and evolution of philanthropy events!

Sophia Hall

(TAU-OREGON) Director of Philanthropy

Caroline Sherratt (TAU-OREGON) Past Red Dress Chair

We host quite a few philanthropy events, including Alpha Phifa and our Red Dress gala.

What philanthropy events does/did your chapter hold?

Red Dress Gala, Phi-esta, Phifa

It’s Alpha Phifa because we all get involved! We usually bring food trucks and host a massive soccer tournament, but having Phifa online this year it was really interesting to watch us all get involved even from home as we pivoted to an online video game tournament.

What philanthropy event is/was your favorite?

Red Dress Gala

Because we were quarantined away from one another at the time, we had to be very flexible to stay focused and accomplish our goals.

What’s the biggest challenge in preparing for philanthropy events?

Reaching out to local businesses for donation items for the auction.

We promote with the help of our amazing marketing team who create fun promos that reach people on and off campus.

How do/did you promote your philanthropy events?

We shared news about the event through email to parents and alumnae.

These events teach us how to work together even when times are tough.

Teamwork and sisterhood are still present even when we are apart.

How do the chapter philanthropy events bond sisters together?

Philanthropy events encouraged sisters to collaborate, have fun, and work together towards a common goal.

At right: like many events, 2020's Phifa event was held virtually — a major shift from the traditionally in person event pictured here from 2019.

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Left: Caroline Sherratt (right) participated in the Tau's Red Dress Galas with her fellow Alpha Phi sister and mother Susan in 2016.

WINTER 2021

Photos from our past

Flight of Life

Q

Iconic

Members of the Denver alumnae community gathered in July of 1974 to take a peek inside a “Flight of Life� helicopter. The alumnae group had donated $1,500 to St. Anthony Hospital to equip the helicopter with a defibrillator and a heart monitor. Having access to these tools while transporting a critical cardiac patient would help save lives. Pictured left to right are Annalaura Williamson (Beta-Northwestern), Jane Ruth Linn Temple (Nu-Nebraska), Carolyn Metzger Carder (Beta Gamma-Colorado), Amaretta Dildine Barnhill (Beta Gamma-Colorado), Ann Freeman Emrich (Beta Gamma-Colorado) and Sarah Bailey Wallace (Beta Iota-West Virginia).

Save this portion of your Quarterly! You will need your membership number (first seven numbers found at right) to help identify yourself if you contact the Executive Office.

POSTMASTER: Please send changes to Alpha Phi, 1930 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201