Alpha Phi Quarterly Winter 2023

A Conversation with Kate Halfon, Alpha Phi International President, (Eta DeltaCSU East Bay)

Kate Halfon was recently elected to the prestigious position of Alpha Phi International President. Get to know her better in this Q&A and learn about her ambitions for the Fraternity.

What does a typical day in your life look like as a wife, mother and real estate broker?

I start my day every morning with yoga before doing anything else. It allows me to clear my head and be ready to focus on the tasks of the day. Then, I get ready for my day and make smoothies for my two high schoolers on school days before they head out the door. I try and start my workday by checking email, checking in with my staff and determining the most important priorities for the day. We have a hybrid work model with biweekly in-person meetings and lots of time spent in the field. My husband, Mark, and I share a large home office, so we juggle scheduling calls at noncompeting times. During the week, dinners are quick and easy and not always together, but Sunday dinners are a big deal in my family. Everyone knows to not make other plans. My mother, sister and mother-in-law come over, as well as other aunts, uncles and cousins, occasionally.

Tell us about your Alpha Phi volunteer and leadership journey.

My journey began as a volunteer just after traveling as a consultant for Alpha Phi from 1994 to 1995. Mark was in graduate school at NYU, so I moved back there and was the recruitment advisor at Columbia University. We moved back to California the following year, and I became the chapter advisor at UC Berkely. I served in that role for four years and overlapped as the Collegiate Membership Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Region part of that time and then became the Regional Manager.

Over the last 30 years, I served on a variety of committees including the Committee on Leadership, Strategic Planning, Extension, Membership, Housing, Volunteer Structure and ED Search. I also had the opportunity to chair some of these committees. I enjoyed the committee work because it allowed me to meet and engage with other Alpha Phi’s in other parts of the world. I love extension and the excitement and creativity you can have with a new chapter. I served on the extension teams for Alabama and Stanford, and I was the Team Lead for UC San Diego. Later, I was appointed to the IEB to fill a vacancy in 2011-2012, which was a great opportunity, but my kids were young, so I did not continue in the role at that time. But I knew I wanted to make my way back to the board table eventually. Throughout my Alpha Phi journey, I have had great leaders and mentors supporting me and encouraging me to try new things.

What is it like serving with your International Executive Board, and how do you all work together to champion the Alpha Phi experience?

My board is fantastic and brings a lot of different experiences to the table. We started out by doing some teambuilding and learning about each other’s leadership styles so we could learn how to work together. Each member serves on at least two other committees, takes her roles seriously and comes to the table prepared. We have lively discussions and make sound decisions because everyone

has the same goal of doing what is best for the organization. We work hard, but we also try and make time to have a little fun together as well. I look forward to what we will accomplish together for the rest of the biennium.

Kate Halfon stands proudly with her husband, Mark, and their three children at the 2022 biennial Alpha Phi Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Which experiences as an Alpha Phi stand out most as ones that deeply impacted you or helped shape who you are today?

It really started back in college when I filled a Panhellenic role as a freshman. The Greek advisor encouraged me to run for Panhellenic president and really believed in my capabilities. It was my first experience having someone believe in my leadership abilities. I was a shy, quiet kid and the youngest of four, so I kind of flew under the radar. This was my first time starting to soar above. When I became chapter president, I was confident in my abilities to lead and motivate others to be leaders. The ELC experience was certainly the most life changing of them all. We put a lot of time and effort into training the consultants and I soaked up every minute of it. Those experiences laid the foundation for me to continue to grow as a leader. I loved being a chapter advisor, extension team lead and regional manager. In each of those roles I led a team of volunteers and worked to build connections and mentor other leaders the way I was mentored.

What do you believe you are bringing to the Fraternity in this role as the new International President?

I bring a wealth of Alpha Phi knowledge and experience to the role. As the owner of a property management company, I am good at managing people, conflict resolution, time management and organization. I have strong decision-making skills and am a creative thinker. The landscape of Greek life is changing, and we need to be ahead of the curve in this area and creative solutions are needed. I think I am well-suited for that. I am also an inclusive leader and believe everyone has a role to play.

What are you most looking forward to in this new position?

I look forward to reevaluating our strategic plan and vision to position the organization for success for the next 150 years.