F O U N D AT I O N
Empowering Pi Phi Leaders Leadership development is at the core of what Pi Beta Phi does every day in chapters across North America. When young women become members of Pi Beta Phi, they are encouraged and empowered to lead within their chapter, campus and greater community. Throughout the years, many Pi Phi leadership initiatives have been created with the goal of developing and supporting confident leaders. In 1968, Pi Beta Phi launched a consultant program as a way to make an impact at the chapter level. From 1968-1969 Kansas Beta MARTY REYNOLDS WHITE served as the first Traveling Graduate Counselor (TGC), now known as Leadership Development Consultant (LDC). As the first Pi Phi consultant, Marty played a critical role in the development of one of Pi Phi’s first leadership development opportunities. “I looked at it as a real opportunity to learn more about myself and Pi Phi and to encourage others to have an experience similar to mine,” Marty said on pioneering the consultant program. While Marty hoped for members to share aspects of her experience, she understood that the 60s were a time of great change. She recognized the significance of supporting her sisters while they created their own experiences. “Understanding where other people were coming from was important, because what we had in central Kansas was much different than what was going on in Berkeley or at Cornell,” she said. Marty spent her year as a consultant visiting chapters who faced challenges and assisting with chapter operations. Her enthusiasm for Pi Phi led her to empower chapter members and emphasize the importance of sisterhood and sorority. The opportunity to guide our collegiate members has always required a great deal of support from Fraternity leadership. “To know that somebody had trust and faith in me to go out and do this — you’re empowered by that,” Marty explained. “You gain confidence and realize that there’s work to be done and you can do it.” Not only did Marty feel empowered to lead, but she was the first in a long line of young alumnae who worked to support the next class of Pi Phi leaders.
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From Kanas Beta MARTY REYNOLDS WHITE (above) to Mississippi Gamma CAITLIN GARDNER (below), Pi Beta Phi's Leadership Development Consultant program has proven itself a valuable asset both to the Fraternity and to the individuals themselves.
