KAPPA ALPHA THETA Magazine
Ask the Archivist
All About Alumnae PAGE 6
The Theta Brand in 2023
Refined, Sophisticated, Polished PAGE 10
Theta Foundation
Ensuring the Theta Experience PAGE 12
Ask the Archivist
All About Alumnae PAGE 6
The Theta Brand in 2023
Refined, Sophisticated, Polished PAGE 10
Theta Foundation
Ensuring the Theta Experience PAGE 12
Springtime is synonymous with things like flowers blooming, spring cleaning, fresh air, and preparing for summer break. I think obtaining a fresh, new perspective around this time of year is restoring. Blooming flowers reflect the time of year changing, signaling a change in the air and a change in the way the season affects us. Spring cleaning is directly associated with one’s instinct to clean out, reorganize, and reassess the area, belongings, or situation they are considering. Preparing for summer break requires students to study hard for upcoming finals and finish the semester strong. All these things—and more I haven’t mentioned here—arguably demand a fresh perspective in preparation for change, be it big or small.
This Spring 2023 issue of the Theta Magazine is a fresh perspective in and of itself. First, it looks different! The last time the magazine experienced any sort of design refresh was spring 2018, and professionals recommend that any branding should be reviewed every 2-3 years. So, here we are with a new-ish look
and a fresh perspective on the Theta Magazine. Be sure to read more about the enhancements on pages 10-11.
Theta Foundation’s feature on pages 12-16 showcases the various perspectives of members who have benefitted from Foundation funding. These members offer their own unique experiences in using Theta Foundation funding to advance their personal and professional goals, achieve more academically, and, in turn, gain fresh perspectives on their various fields of study, areas of expertise, and personal joys.
This issue’s Ask the Archivist on pages 6-7 is All About Alumnae. In this feature, you’ll learn much about the history, contributions, and importance of alumnae to the Theta experience. (Yes, even for collegians and college chapters!) Glean a fresh perspective on alumnae involvement and impact.
Oh! And get ready for Grand Convention 2024, which you can read a little more about on page 5.
With a drastic change in the seasons, springtime is an optimal time to look at something differently. Zoom out, reconsider, and move forward equipped with a fresh perspective.
FRATERNITY PRESIDENT
Erica D’Angelo Ochs, Eta Nu/Lake Forest
CEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jennifer Broughton Schmaltz, Gamma/Butler
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER & EDITOR
Isabella Markovski-Dickey, Alpha/DePauw
LEAD CREATIVE
Claire Bowles White
PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR
Lorie Larson Land, Alpha Chi/Purdue
THETA HEADQUARTERS
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Website: www.kappaalphatheta.org
SEND COPY & CORRESPONDENCE TO:
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Kappa Alpha Theta Headquarters, 317.876.8593 or 888.526.1870, ext. 106
Email: imarkovski@kappaalphatheta.org
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© 2023 Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from Kappa Alpha Theta.
NOTICES:
• Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity, founded at Indiana Asbury College (DePauw University), Greencastle, Indiana, on January 27, 1870, is the first Greek-letter fraternity for women.
• “Kappa Alpha Theta,” “Theta,” its coat of arms, its badges, and the Leading Women logo are registered trademarks of Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity.
• Because Kappa Alpha Theta is not an officially recognized student organization at Duke, Santa Clara, Georgetown, and Harvard, these schools prohibit using their names in any published reference to our Beta Rho, Eta Lambda, Theta Iota, or Zeta Xi Chapters. We designate those chapters with a tilde (~).
• While some terms used in telling members’ stories and personal experience are not currently in use, they were accurate at the time of these members’ college experiences.
• In our Autumn 2022 issue, we listed the college and alumnae chapters that won awards at Grand Convention 2022. The Baton Rouge Alumnae Chapter was listed as winning a Silver Kite Award but was updated to a Golden Kite Award as of fall 2022.
The Kappa Alpha Theta Magazine (ISSN 0746-3529) is published quarterly by Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity for Women, 8740 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Postmaster: Send all UAA to CFS. Nonpostal and Military Facilities: Send address changes to the Kappa Alpha Theta Magazine, 8740 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268.Periodical-class postage paid at Indianapolis, IN, and additional mailing offices. Yearly subscription $1. Printed in the United States.On Sept. 11, 2022, our Zeta Xi Chapter was officially reinstalled in Cambridge, Mass. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jenni Schmaltz, Fraternity President Erica Ochs, Director of Collegiate Services Katharine Murphy, and Zeta Xi members and volunteers were all in attendance to celebrate the momentous occasion. As you may recall, Zeta Xi Chapter was closed for four years due to the various sanctions Harvard’s administration placed on members of single-gendered organizations. We’re thrilled to have you back, Zeta Xi!
Zeta Xi/~Each college chapter (active and inactive) has an alumnae contact officer (ACO). It is this volunteer’s responsibility to ensure that all the women from her chapter remain connected to Theta. She does this by finding lost Thetas: women for whom we no longer have a current address.
Technology has made the duties of this volunteer position easy to do from anywhere in the world. In fact, we have ACOs living in El Salvador and Germany! You can also be an ACO for a chapter other than your chapter of initiation. If you think this might be the volunteer role for you, check out the vacancies below and email volunteerengagement@kappaalphatheta.org.
Zeta Rho/UC San Diego
Eta Lambda/~
Theta Lambda/Rochester
Theta Mu/Mines
On June 12, 2023, the National CASA/GAL Association for Children will host its third annual Walk Run Thrive event in person in St. Louis, Mo. The walk will take place starting at the St. Louis Arch and end at Busch Stadium, in advance of an evening St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Francisco Giants baseball game. To join the event in person and find more information, visit give.nationalcasagal.org/walkrunthrivestlouis.
If you can’t be in St. Louis to join the event in person, you can still join the event from home! Please visit give.nationalcasagal.org/walkrunthrive2023 for more information about participating virtually.
No matter how you choose to participate, you will be part of a nationwide effort to support children and families. You can make a difference in the lives of children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
If you have any questions about the event, please email events@nationalcasagal.org
We are thrilled to announce that Grand Convention 2024 will be open to all members! It’s been a long time coming, but we will finally have the opportunity to gather together to conduct important Fraternity business and celebrate all things Kappa Alpha Theta.
We are pleased to share that we’ll be meeting at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. Located on the banks of the Potomac River and minutes from Washington, D.C., this beautiful resort is the perfect location to renew Theta friendships, host reunions, or enjoy an extended family vacation. More information will be shared soon, but be sure to mark your calendars for July 11-13, 2024.
We can’t wait to see you in National Harbor!
Reading Women is halfway through its 11th year of reading together! Established in 2013, Reading Women is an online community of sisters united around their shared love of reading. In January, the group celebrated an incredible milestone: 100 books read together!
The group’s most recent read was Everything Beautiful in Its Time: Seasons of Love and Loss by Jenna Bush Hager, Alpha Theta/Texas. There are two additional Theta authors in this year’s selections: Twice A Daughter: A Search for Identity and Belonging by Julie Ryan McGue, Beta/Indiana, and Breaking Wild by Diane Les Becquets, Gamma Omega/Auburn.
Book selections are nominated and voted on by group members to build each year’s dynamic reading list. All book discussions take place in the Reading Women Facebook group on the second Wednesday of each month at 8:30 p.m. Eastern. Check out the Facebook group for the full list of this year’s selections and each book’s discussion date.
Alumnae are an important part of the Theta experience. Once a collegian graduates, she becomes an alumna— not only of her college or university, but also of the Fraternity. The connections made during a member’s undergraduate years continue throughout her life.
The role of an alumna has included both support for the college chapter as well as an opportunity to socialize with fellow Thetas, either from her chapter of initiation/affiliation or within her community. Early on, it was alumnae who often helped establish chapters on various campuses around the U.S. and Canada.
As the number of alumnae grew, Theta began looking at ways to organize and tap into the assistance of this valuable group. In the early years, as permitted by Kappa Alpha Theta’s Constitution at that time, alumnae could continue to vote in their college chapter if they paid dues and attended meetings. With its first issue in June 1885, the Theta Magazine included information about what
alumnae were doing in their lives and careers: Alumnae in Topeka, Kans. formed an alumnae group in 1889; Alumnae living in Greencastle and Bloomington, Ind., and Chicago, Ill., formed alumnae groups. In as early as 1890, an editorial in the Magazine offered, “Why can’t they revive their old-time enthusiasm for Theta by organizing alumnae chapters?”
The 1891 Grand Convention body established alumnae chapters when a “sufficient number” of Thetas desired to organize. Then, the new alumnae chapter could receive a charter and solicit dues from chapter members (very similar to a college chapter). Programming at Grand Conventions and other meetings was then expanded to more specifically include alumnae groups.
Alumnae chapters organized around the U.S. and Canada. Beyond the social opportunities offered to their members, the groups supported their local Theta college chapters and began to provide philanthropic support to Theta projects and their local communities. In 1922, alumnae clubs were established: These were groups that operated with fewer
Why Alumnae and not Alumni?
Alumnae (pronounced uh-lum-nee) is the feminine version of alumni; similarly, alumna is the feminine version of alumnus.
As an organization defined as women members, Theta utilizes the feminine versions of this verbiage pertaining to college graduates.
requirements and a looser structure to serve the needs of what were typically smaller groups of alumnae. (Many of these clubs would later go on to become alumnae chapters!) In 2008, alumnae groups were redefined to be chapters only, but alumnae circles were introduced in 2011 to provide flexible gathering opportunities once again for alumnae.
From the very beginning, the Fraternity recognized that individuals may not have had the opportunity to participate in recruitment during college for any number of reasons. In Theta’s early years, qualifications for membership were somewhat flexible. Not all members at the time were undergraduate students. It was not unusual for chapters to initiate women who were taking graduate studies. It was decided in 1876 to allow consideration of membership for others beyond each campus’s current college student body, provided that such potential members had been enrolled in a college or university for at least six months. It is unclear if that meant just the college or university where the chapter was located or proven enrollment at another school was sufficient. In 1885, female professors at the chapter’s college were allowed to become members, and that evolved in 1887 to include alumnae of the college, specifying in 1889 that
any “former student resident in the city where a chapter is located” could become a member. In 1895, wording was expanded to include “women who are members of the instructing body of the institution in which the chapter is located,” most likely to recognize that not all female instructors were given professorship status.
As new chapters were added to Theta’s roster, a need to address alumnae of the applying local sororities became apparent. In 1903, these alumnae were allowed to become Theta members, but only if they had received a college degree. Through the years, the Fraternity adjusted the requirements for alumnae initiates from the local groups becoming Theta chapters, eventually limiting to those who requested membership within a year of the chapter’s establishment. Come 1962, Grand Council could approve an individual “in exceptional cases,” including local townswomen who were college women where there was inadequate alumnae support for a college chapter. In 1990, the Kappa Alpha Theta Constitution and Bylaws was amended to require the unanimous vote of Grand Council (of those present and voting) to approve an alumna initiate, and Grand Council still approves all alumnae initiates to this day. Alumnae initiates participate in member education, pay fees, and are initiated just like college initiates.
The Fraternity’s alumna initiate program offers membership to exceptional women who, for various reasons, were not a part of Greek life as college women. Our laws state that an alumna initiate candidate must be a woman who attended college and for whom a reference has been received (from a current member in good standing), in accordance with the laws of the Fraternity and is approved by Grand Council.
There are six steps in the alumnae initiate process:
1. Have a reference completed and have a sponsor.
2. Meet with Theta’s director of alumnae engagement.
3. Receive approval from Grand Council.
4. Complete the member education curriculum.
5. Fulfill financial obligations.
6. Experience initiation at a local college chapter.
Just like any member who was initiated in college, the hope is that the alumna initiate becomes an active member of an alumnae group, volunteers for a college chapter, gives time and leadership skills as part of the Fraternity's workforce, becomes a Theta Foundation donor, and/or engages in some way that is meaningful to the member with Theta.
Learn more about the alumna initiate program on the Theta website: www.kappaalphatheta.org/members/alumnae/alumna-initiate-process, and if you know a woman who would make an incredible Theta, submit the Alumna Initiate Form in Theta Portal > Forms.
* Merchandise sales, jewelry commission, affinity, etc.
Having a mentor is beneficial for many reasons. Through a mentor, you gain a dedicated confidant who can offer inspiration and advice; provide direct, honest, and constructive feedback; open doors for possible employment opportunities; and/or develop your skills and interests.
ThetaConnect, our members-only platform, provides members with the opportunity to find a mentor in many ways.
• Members can search the Directory and include specifics in the search filters, such as Education, Company, Industry, and more.
• Members can visit the Mentoring area where suggested mentors are listed. Alumnae who have indicated in their profile they are “Willing to Mentor” appear here and potential mentees can search through multiple lists to find the right mentor.
• Throughout the year, Kappa Alpha Theta provides career-based mentoring programs. More mentor programs are being planned for 2023, so be on the lookout for future announcements.
We are grateful to alumnae who are willing to help; actually, more than 60% of alumnae in ThetaConnect have indicated they are willing to support other Thetas in providing career advice, résumé reviews, introduction to connections, and service as part of an official mentor relationship. In 2022, ThetaConnect hosted more than 50 mentoring relationships!
How can Theta help you with your professional goals? What type of mentoring program would benefit you the most? How has ThetaConnect helped you in your career or educational goals? Do you have mentoring experience and want to help with developing future mentoring programs, particularly in certain career fields? Let us know! Contact us at thetaconnect@kappaalphatheta.org.
Join ThetaConnect today at thetaconnect.org!
“I have had many thoughtful and inspiring mentors throughout my life, many of them Thetas! Their encouragement supported my professional growth, provided a sounding board, and showed me different approaches and perspectives. Mentorship is so important to me because I believe in developing young professionals and supporting them as they grow in their careers and in their lives.”
-Michelle Mouton Geiger, Delta Kappa/LSU“In my time as a mentor and advisor to members of Kappa Alpha Theta, I have gotten to know some of the most incredible and thoughtful members who are truly living out the legacy of Theta. They push me to reflect on the importance of this organization in my own life and allow me to support them in all the ways they are impacting the world around them.”
-Kylie Sturgis Massman, Delta Eta/Kansas State“Plain and simple - mentors and mentoring relationships have the power to change lives. In my opinion, mentoring is one of the truest forms of Women Supporting Women. Especially in organizations like Kappa Alpha Theta, our members have such a range of passions, experiences, and areas of expertise, and I’ve been humbled by the willingness of fellow Thetas to support the collective professional developments of sisters. Throughout my career, I’ve been lucky to benefit from female mentors, who not only helped me grow as a professional but went out of their way to actively champion my success.”
-Marybeth Lilly, Zeta Tau/Delaware
To stay relevant and competitive with our peer Greek organizations, Theta’s brand must, at any given time, be considered modern, dynamic, and representative of Theta’s rich history, diverse membership, and longstanding tradition. The Theta brand describes not only the impact Theta has on college and alumnae members, but also on campuses and communities across North America.
In the latter half of 2022, Theta’s marketing and communications department enacted an organization-wide evaluation of Theta’s brand. The title of this piece is intentional: “Refined, Sophisticated, Polished.” These were the descriptive words that emerged in our research and preparation for the updates. While much of Theta’s identity has not changed in the course of these updates, there were a few updates that needed to be made. The biggest changes you’ll notice are updates to Theta’s visual brand, specifically the supporting elements that complement the Theta brand you already know and love.
First, you’ll notice that this issue does look a little different than issues over the past few years! This issue is a direct reflection of the organizational brand updates that have gone into effect this year. In the past, the Theta Magazine has been a product of its own brand identity, totally separate from the organization’s brand. Now, the Theta Magazine is a branded medium within the organization’s brand, complete with its own section in the organization’s Brand Guide. All that means is that the Magazine will now more closely resemble the visual brand of the other communication elements that come from Theta.
A massive source of inspiration for the magazine’s new look was the Theta archives. Not only does the archives contain every published issue (ever!) of the Theta Magazine, but it is also a treasure trove of timeless, classic design inspiration for a longstanding publication like the Theta Magazine. For
example, our new cover template closely resembles the covers of issues of the Theta Magazine circa 1970.
Newness can be a little unnerving because there’s an unknown aspect involved. That said, rest assured that lots of love and careful thought have been poured into this new brand, and Theta is set to stay current and relevant for years to come.
Notably, any wording that may have appeared in Theta’s iconic gold color has been changed to black or an equally easily readable color. This was an easy decision to enhance readability.
The new Theta Foundation and Fraternity Housing Corporation (FHC) logos, as well as the new program logos like the Friendship Fund and Life Loyal, are prime examples of this.
Similarly, the brand fonts were also updated for readability, but also to reflect a simpler and more mature typography.
Theta’s black and gold is here to stay, but the supporting color palette has been updated to better complement our heritage colors, as well as to reflect a more contemporary image.
Theta’s purpose, principles, and tone are still the same Theta you know. Kappa Alpha Theta still exists to nurture each member throughout her lifetime, offering opportunities for intellectual and personal growth. Theta boasts an incredible 153+ year history that is a source of deep pride and engaging stories to tell. Theta continues to value scholarship, leadership, service, personal excellence, and sisterhood, and the lifetime of joy, achievement, and community that comes with them.
“Words cannot explain how grateful and honored I am to receive this award. I am a first-generation and selfsupporting student; this gift will impact my life greatly by giving me access to higher education. It feels so special to know that not only am I supported by Theta at my university in my chapter, but I am supported at an international level as well. That kind of love is very unique.” -Symphony Simmons, Alpha Omicron/Oklahoma
Theta Foundation’s scholarship program is made possible by the generosity and loyalty of donors. In 2022, Theta Foundation awarded more than $880,000 in scholarships to 329 recipients. These awards represent the largest amount of scholarship funding in our history. We are incredibly proud that these scholarships enable members to pursue their academic dreams and goals.
Symphony’s childhood was very different from most of her peers. She was raised by a single mother in Tulsa, Okla. Her mother struggled with mental health, and as a result, Symphony’s two older siblings had previously been removed from her care. Because of her mental health struggles, her mother couldn’t keep a job and they were constantly losing their home. Symphony was in second grade when she was placed in the foster care system.
Symphony says, “The foster care system greatly impacted my selfconfidence. I didn’t have a voice. I had to move schools three different times growing up and I severely lacked stability.” Looking back, she understands why she needed to be removed from her mother’s care, but the concept was difficult to grasp at such a young age.
Despite her tumultuous childhood, Symphony knew that college would be her next step after high school. “I felt like if I wanted to be different from my family and the other circumstances in my life, I had to get a degree.” However, navigating the college application process was challenging as a first-generation college student. She relied on her teachers and her friends’ parents who believed in her to help. She worked hard to balance school and work in order to save money for college.
She pursued the University of Oklahoma for several reasons, one being that they worked with her to make financing an education possible. She participated in fall recruitment and chose Theta because she felt like she had finally found a home. “None of the girls knew my backstory or made me feel like a burden. They just saw me for who I was.” On bid day, she knew she was in the right place.
During her time as a collegian, Symphony has been more motivated to succeed than ever before because of the women in her chapter. Living and working alongside other highachieving women has also helped her gain life skills that were not modeled for her growing up. Symphony says, “The environment that Theta has fostered for me has been so supportive, understanding, and fun: everything I could have hoped for from a group of college women.”
Symphony applied for a Theta Foundation scholarship to help support her studies as a communication major. After graduation, she wants to have a career in public health communication to rewrite the narrative; her goal is to ensure that no one suffers unnecessarily because of lack of or poor communication with their healthcare providers. When she learned that she received a Theta Foundation scholarship, she was thrilled. It helped boost her confidence and made her feel heard and seen on a larger scale.
Symphony shared that she has been able to live in the chapter facility because this funding helped cover her tuition and fees. She noted, “It has given me so much peace of mind.” It is our hope that Theta Foundation scholarships bring a sense of peace to donors and recipients alike, knowing that their dollars are benefitting women who truly need the support, just like Symphony.
Theta Foundation grants are available to individual college and alumnae members, as well as college and alumnae chapters, for non-degree educational opportunities. These grants help Thetas supplement their conventional education and training with experiential learning opportunities, setting them apart as leaders on their campuses and in their communities. In 2022, Theta Foundation awarded more than $36,000 to 34 recipients.
As a doctoral candidate in biomedical engineering, my research focuses on the development of low-cost ablative therapies for cancer treatment. I submitted a scientific abstract that was accepted for an oral presentation at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston, Mass. The SIR Annual Scientific Meeting brings together physicians, scientists, allied health professionals, and engineers working on interventional radiology innovations for discussion, education, and collaboration. Grant funding from Theta Foundation helped support the financial costs of attending the SIR meeting, which presented an incredible opportunity to share my doctoral research, receive expert feedback, and learn about innovations in interventional radiology.
My scientific abstract oral presentation detailed my research investigating a novel low-cost ablative therapy for drug delivery. I was also invited to give a second presentation as part of a doctoral student and allied scientist five-minute research pitch and competition. For the competition, I presented the main focuses of my doctoral research work. The opportunity to engage with conference attendees through two talks allowed me to connect with others to form research collaborations. I am applying what I learned to my experimental plans for the final year of my doctoral research.
The SIR Meeting was not only an amazing experience to expand my research interests in development of low-cost, minimally invasive cancer therapies, but also an excellent opportunity for networking and professional development. I was able to engage in scientific discussion with my peers, attend panels for career development and female and minority experiences in STEM and medicine, and participate in workshops on scientific writing and publication. I spoke with several scientists, clinicians, and engineers about their careers and gained insights from their experiences and advice. I left the conference with a more focused plan of my post-graduation career goals.
Receiving financial support from Theta Foundation for this experience showed me that Theta truly values the academic, personal, and professional development of its members. The conference experience was instrumental in guiding my doctoral research work, informing my future career plans, and furthering my education about techniques and innovations in interventional radiology. I am so thankful for the financial support from Theta Foundation and its donors for making this experience possible.
Michaela received a Theta Foundation grant to present her research on ways to better diagnose cancer and determine optimal treatment regimens at the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Ultrasonics Symposium in Venice, Italy.
“I previously knew that the Theta Foundation supported Thetas, but it was more of an abstract concept. This experience made me really feel that Kappa Alpha Theta lives up to its values, not just in college, but in life. This grant supported our values, and it made me really appreciate my Kappa Alpha Theta membership.”
Amelia received a Theta Foundation grant to participate in a medical internship in Mombasa, Kenya.
“This grant and experience have heightened my value of Theta Foundation’s support of Thetas. This grant has lifted a financial burden off me and allowed me to go through this experience without that burden on my shoulders. Theta Foundation really cares about its members and has brought me closer to Theta as an organization.”
“As a first-generation college student, I have not always had the resources to navigate educational and university life. When I joined Kappa Alpha Theta, I received knowledge and resources that I would not have found otherwise. In the future, I hope to be able to give back to the community of women that gave me so much.”
“When I went through recruitment, [Theta] Foundation was one of my favorite parts about Theta because this organization believes in its members and their ability to be leading women who love others well. This scholarship means so much to me financially and will be a great help, but even more than that it means the world knowing I have the support of the organization that I’ve poured into and that has poured into me.”
“Being a part of Kappa Alpha Theta has changed my life. I would not have the support system I do without it. My sisters are encouraging, honest, and loyal. They are women I look up to and can only hope to become more like. This scholarship helps me continue to be a part of this community and grow relationally and academically.”
“There is no greater reward for our wonderful gift of Theta friendship for a lifetime than saying ‘thank you’ with a gift of time or money to support and carry on the legacy that we have been privileged to be a part of and enjoy.”
Betty Baur Lambert, Alpha Chi/Purdue“Kappa Alpha Theta has been a significant part of my adult life. I reflected on the opportunities I received from Theta and the women who are my sisters, friends, and mentors with great appreciation. A planned gift is one way I could ensure other women could benefit from the same experiences I had.”
Katie Busby, Epsilon Zeta/MississippiWhen Kappa Alpha Theta was founded more than 150 years ago, so began a tradition of academic excellence, widest influence for good, and love. That tradition continues when Thetas make a commitment to ensure the Theta experience exists for future members. In planning your future, both during your lifetime and after, we hope you will remember Kappa Alpha Theta.
The Lambert Legacy Society is Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation’s planned giving society, named for Betty Baur Lambert, Alpha Chi/ Purdue, and her husband, James. It recognizes members and friends who have thoughtfully included gifts to Theta Foundation in their estate plans. Their generous bequest became a leading source for Kappa Alpha Theta’s graduate scholarship program.
To become a member of the Lambert Legacy Society, or to learn more about leaving your legacy with Kappa Alpha Theta, please visit kappaalphatheta.planmylegacy.org or submit a Contact Us form on the Theta website with “Foundation” and “Planned Giving” in the respective subject drop-down menus.
Kappa Alpha Theta’s philosophy on mental health is that we aim to increase the dialogue around and support for all aspects of mental health. As an organization, our goals include creating a safe environment for members to discuss mental health issues, encouraging members to recognize when someone might benefit from mental health support, and supporting members facing mental health challenges and conditions.
Mental health concerns often first appear between ages 18 and 25. Theta’s focus on the development and support of college women underscores our responsibility to commit to the overall wellbeing of our members. In February 2023, Theta partnered with MindWise Innovations to launch MindWise on Campus: Suicide Prevention for Students, a new suicide prevention training that is provided at no cost to members. The training uses video and interactive learning to teach college students how to ACT (acknowledge, care, tell) if they are worried about themselves or a friend.
While MindWise on Campus was developed with students in mind, this evidence-based program shares best practices in suicide prevention that are applicable to anyone. We encourage any member of Theta to complete the training.
You can access the MindWise on Campus training by scanning this QR code and entering kappaalphatheta in the Redemption Code field.
MindWise on Campus is made available to members at no cost thanks to the generous support of Theta Foundation.
Maddie McMillian Green, Alpha Mu/Missouri, was announced as Deputy Attorney General for Policy in January by the Missouri Attorney General. Maddie will handle policy, legislation, and stakeholder outreach in her new role. She also volunteers in several capacities, two of which are on the Missouri CASA Association Board of Directors and as an advisor for Alpha Mu Chapter.
Alison Chace, Beta Xi/UCLA, volunteered on the UCLA Triage Assessment crisis hotline during her time at UCLA. After graduating from UCLA, Alison became a documentary filmmaker. Her latest film, Under the Same Sky, tells the inspiring stories of women around the globe who are overcoming self-doubt and breaking barriers. She founded Pink Wisdom, a female empowerment company that works to help women reach their full potential. Alison also aims to empower women with the launch of her new app, Pink Kisses. The app provides a safe and empowering platform for women to take control of their love lives and make meaningful connections through daily text affirmations.
Members of the Circle joined to celebrate Founders Day. Shanna Cody Aderhold, Gamma Delta/Georgia, reported that the gathering included new member classes ranging from 1993 to 2002.
Beta Xi/UCLA alumnae from the “Super 1970’s” gathered in September 2022 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., for a multi-class reunion. Sisters came from all parts of California, and from as far away as Florida, to reconnect and enjoy each other’s company.
Williams, Linda Goodson Steward, Lynn Wysocki Lemon, and Claudia Clinton Jones.
The Baton Rouge Alumnae Chapter held a successful CASA Christmas Holiday Mixer & Fundraiser last year. Their goal of collecting $870 in gift cards for the Capital Area CASA teens was exceeded as their amazing alumnae came through. $1,400 in gift cards was collected, and Aveda Perkins Rowe Salon graciously donated twenty bags, each containing $20 of hair and skin care products. This increased their total CASA donation for the holiday season to $1,800.
Dani Cordara, Epsilon Sigma/UC Irvine, shared her story of annual trips with 12 of her Epsilon Sigma sisters. The trips began in 2011 and are planned by only two or three people— it is a secret until the last minute for everyone else! Dani said, “There has never been a year when we have all been able to make it. We have enjoyed long hikes, concerts, open water rendezvous, baseball games, cooking classes, hot springs, wine tasting, late night hot tub chats, meals upon meals in the kitchen together, and some of the most vulnerable and honest conversations I have had in my life.”
Sherilyn Lundt Lewis, Delta Kappa/LSU, shared a picture of her 1978 new member class at their 44-year reunion in Galveston, Texas.
The Sarasota Alumnae Chapter gathered to celebrate Founders Day.
Members of the Omaha Alumnae Chapter met for a chapter meeting, dinner, and holiday celebration (including a fun ornament exchange).
Pictured is a 2013 trip to Seattle.The Fort Collins Alumnae Chapter hosted a holiday lunch bunch gathering. Chapter President Kathy McHugh Bauer, Beta Gamma/Colorado State, said, “The north winds howled and a blizzard was raging east of us, but the ladies made it and we had a lovely time at a favorite local restaurant which provided a private room with an outstanding server.”
Sophie Thibault, Eta Omega/Saint Louis, shared a picture of the Eta Omega senior members at their Founders Day event.
The Grand Rapids Alumnae Chapter celebrated Founders Day and 10 50-year members!
The Westchester, NY Alumnae Chapter held its annual holiday party in December. Pictured are Sue Kloap Wahrhaftig, Beta Pi/Michigan State; Karen Wicke Boyle, Epsilon Kappa/Dartmouth; Carolyn Combs Gallaher, Beta Rho/~; Lisa Davis Olney, Delta Epsilon/Arizona State; Mary Ann Cate, Gamma Iota /Kentucky; Lisa Nussbaum, Upsilon /Minnesota; Margaret Leverich Blum, Beta Pi/Michigan State; and Diana Steen Jaeger, Delta Kappa/LSU.
The Naples-Marco Island-Bonita Springs Alumnae Chapter gathered to celebrate the holidays in December.
Jane Pinch Acton, Eta/Michigan, wrote in about a lunch with other Eta sisters where Jane Bowman, president of the Birmingham, MI Alumnae Chapter who attended Grand Convention 2022, shared her experience attending Convention. Pictured are Kim Rabidoux McInerney, Jane Pinch Acton, Stathy Natsis Madias, and Jane Bowman.
Alumnae from Gamma Sigma/San Diego State gathered for fun and fellowship in Del Mar, Calif. Vall Schofield-Light reported that they “had a blast.”
Columbus, OH Alumnae Chapter Thetas enjoyed Founders Day together: Pictured are Jessica Sladek Troike, Zeta Sigma/Ohio Northern; Lisa Delacruz Combs, Alpha Gamma/Ohio State; and Jen Bossard Pelletier, Delta Iota/Puget Sound. Jen was honored as a 25-year member this Founders Day.
Meghan Quinn, Beta Phi/Penn State, and Julia Kiehn, Rho/Nebraska, met at AFLV Central 2023. About the conference, Meghan said, “[W]e had the opportunity to sit with our affiliated chapters at a luncheon, and we had three large tables of Thetas! [I] definitely felt the Theta love during the session and it was great to connect with so many amazing and inspiring women.”
The Omaha Alumnae Chapter celebrated Founders Day in late January. They celebrated three 75-year members: Joanne Noble Berkshire, Nancy Miller Darst, and Nancy Porter Long, all Rho/Nebraska. Joanne recounted, “I have great memories. Being [a] Theta has given me life-long friends. Theta has had such a positive impact on my life.” Susie Brown Ferrarini, Rho/Nebraska, enjoyed the time with them and said, “It was so inspirational to have them join us. What great gals they are. So full of life.”
The Fresno Alumnae Chapter joined Gamma Chi Chapter at Fresno State University to celebrate Founders Day and Gamma Chi Chapter’s 70-year anniversary. Pictured are Gamma Chi 50-year members with their pledge trainer.
Emilie Brace, Gamma Zeta/Connecticut, president of the Providence Alumnae Chapter, submitted this photo of their Founders Day celebration.
Sally Chambliss Turner, Tau/Northwestern; Kathy Bennett Tonkel, Eta/Michigan; and Megan Porter, Beta Beta/Randolph-Macon, enjoyed lunch together in Vero Beach, Fla.
Alexa (Lexi) Haddock, Zeta Kappa/South Carolina, launched her new book with Theta sisters at a party in December. 4 Days in Paris is a nonfiction book reflecting on Alexa’s time as an exchange student in college.
Leah Jean Di Lullo Cohn, Epsilon Sigma/UC Irvine, wrote Big Ol’ Lemonades: Breast Cancer at 30 after not finding the book she needed when she was diagnosed. She shares her journey through the experience with truth and humor.
Martha Smith Tate, Alpha Eta/Vanderbilt, wrote The Last Ride: Murder, Money, and the Sensational Trial that Captivated Nashville to explain the mystery of Haynie Gourley’s murder in 1968. The murder resulted in one of the biggest criminal trials in Tennessee history where each day’s entire trial transcripts were published in two local newspapers.
We’d love to hear from you, and we’d love to share what fun you’re up to with your Theta sisters. We invite you to just take a moment to submit a “Snapshot” for an upcoming issue of the Theta Magazine. Send us a photo with personal or professional news, of past travels, virtual or in-person reunions, or a photo depicting a cherished Theta experience or memory. There’s no news too small, and we think everything Thetas do is newsworthy!
Help us visually portray Theta authentically and inclusively. Representation matters, and it is important to us that Theta’s materials reflect the diverse identities of our members. The activities below are just some that we’d love to receive more photos of:
• Virtual events, including reunions, group events, and get-togethers;
• CASA/GAL, philanthropy, and service involvement; and
• Candid (unposed!) sisterhood photos.
• Online via the Theta website: www.kappaalphatheta.org/contact
• Email marketing@kappaalphatheta.org
• Snail mail to Theta headquarters: Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity
attn: Theta Magazine 8740 Founders Road Indianapolis, IN 46268
Digital photos must be shot at the highest quality possible and submitted at the largest size possible. Please don’t crop, retouch, filter, or edit in any way.
Kappa Alpha Theta mourns the loss of these members who passed away during 2022. Dates indicate the year of initiation.
Martha Morgan Bull, 1955
Karen Schulze Craig, 1961
Mae Denbo Hillman, 1952
Donna Dahlen Kerr, 1947
Sara Seger Parente, 1952
Cynthia Allen Ricketts, 1950
Swifty Swift Wilcox, 1943
Patty Wilson Barrett, 1951
Kay Hoopingarner Combs, 1967
Peggy MacNary Rapp, 1953
Mary Ann Compton Teetor, 1947
Carol Collins Templeton, 1956
Mary Miller Blickenstaff, 1949
Kathleen Ryan Comerford, 1950
Helen Middleton Dickinson, 1952
Dorothy Masters Haskins, 1943
Sue Faulkner Sheridan, 1958
Diney Downs Wharry, 1955
Sheila Johnson Cottle, 1957
Julie Dunn Johnson, 1964
Linda Rice McLargin, 1964
Judy Mette Pember, 1956
Joan Ely Carpenter, 1948
Jane Leader Cooper, 1963
Betty Fariss Curran, 1939
Mary Lou Ewing Herrold, 1948
Carolyn-Kay Miller Lundy, 1957
Diane Harris Oldfather, 1950
Nancy Washburne Ruiz, 1950
Sallie Steketee Warner, 1956
Carol Rittershausen Byron, 1952
Polly Wallworth Riggs, 1946
Grace Tanaka, 1985
Ann Whittier Closser, 1952
Joann Bowman Duncan, 1954
Susan Ebel, 1962
Nancy Anderson Matthews, 1950
Carol Ketcham Rogers, 1952
Susan Frederick Schrepel, 1956
Darlene Hunsaker Spellings, 1954
Dorothy McGill Webb, 1944
Joan Moore Welfelt, 1944
Linda Conner Young, 1953
Barbara Connell Zimmermann, 1948
Lynn Johanson Langdon, 1984
Gloria Peck MacDonald, 1949
Harriet Bristol Saville, 1943
Sandra Norman Champion, 1968
Sandy Smith Farber, 1955
Patti Hays Kelly, 1950
Katherine Kreyling, 1970
Carol Brandau McIntyre, 1963
Martha Koch Winget, 1955
MU/ALLEGHENY
Marjorie Beck Ritchie, 1947
Jinney Hawkey Sceiford, 1948
NU/HANOVER
Susan Martin Studds, 1973
OMICRON/USC
Sally Howard Brant, 1951
Judith Johnson Burns, 1962
Audrey Dahlinger Fimpler, 1950
Bette Northrop Johansing, 1940
Marilyn Hazeltine Jones, 1952
Natalee Watson Marchetti, 1996
Carol Thomas Pantages, 1956
Thea Sadowski Samples, 1960
Joan Winter Schneider, 1951
Linda Murray Stewart, 1957
RHO/NEBRASKA
Jeanne Branch Boman, 1946
Lesley Grainger Browne, 1949
Sandy Kadlecek Howerter, 1955
Betsy Cronin King, 1969
Kathryn Haskell Smith, 1951
Dianne Thomas Ware, 1949
TAU/NORTHWESTERN
Gloria Sollitt Carroll, 1948
Sterling Cole, 1960
Mary Howard Faulkner, 1959
Kevin Keys Gushman, 1966
Carolyn Mould Keck, 1956
Nancy Hogue Williamson, 1952
UPSILON/MINNESOTA
Jean Kelly Albrecht, 1954
Nancy Almquist, 1958
Nancy Berens Phillips, 1950
PHI/PACIFIC
Vicki Merritt Howell, 1968
CHI/SYRACUSE
Agnes Mellon Chase, 1956
Barbara Cooper Fowler, 1953
Mimi Johnson Labs, 1949
Virginia McMacKin McGirr, 1965
PSI/WISCONSIN
Ronnye Smith Koss, 1954
Sandy Smith, 1956
Jean Kelzenberg Stoll, 1961
OMEGA/UC BERKELEY
Elizabeth Lawler Ashley, 1943
Marge Hauck Sproul, 1943
Sally Stankard Watts, 1948
Mary Walters Weyrick, 1959
ALPHA GAMMA/OHIO STATE
Sue Lowry Bell, 1954
Helen Hoyer Brown, 1943
Roberta Stilwell Ferguson, 1948
Dolores Smith Lease, 1953
Donna Meyer Masheter, 1947
Melany Stinson Newby, 1968
Tito Black Rader, 1958
Linda Hall Rankin, 1955
Susan Riley Scherer, 1956
Jane Loren Sedgwick, 1945
ALPHA DELTA/GOUCHER
Renee Crothers Budke, 1941
Marydel Miller Burton, 1944
ALPHA ETA/VANDERBILT
Marianna Brown Barber, 1951
Nancy Garrison Bates, 1948
Lou Condrey Douglas, 1977
Nancy Anderson Landstreet, 1944
Anne Caldwell Parsons, 1951
ALPHA THETA/TEXAS
Betty Conrad Adam, 1959
Carol Cullum Allred, 1950
Olwyn Davies Anderson, 1948
Priscilla Mullins Braun, 1952
Pat McLain Carlson, 1951
Beverly Barclay Collie, 1949
Donna Norquist Dickson, 1963
Lou Dunn Diekemper, 1949
Shelly Smith Harrell, 1954
Ruth Berry Makins, 1946
Elaine Folley Notestine, 1950
Linda Falvey Rowland, 1955
Melissa Strock Thurmond, 1954
Janelle Bowen Tye, 1946
ALPHA IOTA/WASHINGTONST. LOUIS
Lynn Hopewell Bitting, 1963
Jane Bridges Evans, 1953
Lynn Weissenburger Gast, 1953
Ellen Feagin Hyndman, 1948
Sally Pierce Langan, 1948
Vivienne Smart Mozley, 1946
Dian Keller Rekart, 1953
ALPHA LAMBDA/WASHINGTON
Ginger Wolf Appelo, 1948
Barbara Bolinger Crabtree, 1945
Marilee Watts McCorriston, 1963
Jolly Sachs Seyster, 1957
ALPHA MU/MISSOURI
Beth Kateman Blumhorst, 1985
Ann Covington Byers, 1942
Judith Ayers Lay, 1963
Katie Huhn Nicks, 1966
Maryann Floss Schumacher, 1950
Barbara St. Clair Stevenson, 1948
Nancy Pippin Vostal, 1947
Marilyn Miller Young, 1951
ALPHA NU/MONTANA
Marva Kirby Christian, 1959
Nancy Taylor Farel, 1964
Janice Alkire Gilder, 1954
Barbara Jenkins Jaraczeski, 1951
Kay Baldwin Larson, 1963
ALPHA XI/OREGON
Sue Brent, 1974
Janet Trask Cox, 1960
Elizabeth Krier Curtin, 1961
Mary Gerlinger, 1954
Marilyn Power Lee, 1951
Nicole Lindeman, 2021
ALPHA OMICRON/OKLAHOMA
Patricia Knapp Armstrong, 1949
Ellen Basore Cantrell, 1947
Megan Fuzzell, 2009
Ann Blanks Grilliot, 1954
Carolyn Jones Heinzelmann, 1952
Meg Niemeyer Newville, 1977
Suzanne Eagleton Nicholson, 1957
Jill Dunn Parker, 1955
Betty Boyle Replogle, 1942
Ginny Huston Rhodes, 1972
Sally Herrmann Schweinle, 1957
Marcia Cleary Sparks, 1960
Karen Alford Wines, 1961
ALPHA PI/NORTH DAKOTA
Sandra Dolmseth Aker, 1957
Frances Melland Anderson, 1971
Elizabeth Johnson Corr, 1968
Joan Hruby, 1986
Lisa Jager, 1981
Jennifer Sette Rova, 1964
ALPHA RHO/SOUTH DAKOTA
Beverly Newcomb Hunter, 1942
Jo Gullickson Jason, 1966
Kathy LaGrave Klipfel, 1968
Stephanie Orr, 1972
Arlene Zimmer Thompson, 1942
ALPHA SIGMA/WASHINGTON STATE
Maris DiGiovanni, 2010
Kimberly Kellogg Franck, 1975
Nancy Mason Paris, 1946
Virginia Allen Pickering, 1951
Katie Monroe Proteau, 1956
Nancy Corcoran Uht, 1957
ALPHA TAU/CINCINNATI
Beverly White Hanselman, 1953
Peg Benjamin Heyman, 1949
Bobbie Miller McCreary, 1950
Shirley Ries Poyer, 1976
Cathleen Goebel Welsh, 1956
ALPHA PSI/LAWRENCE
Midge Lott Abrams, 1944
Barbara Harkins Belle, 1944
Kay Milnamow Guerin, 1950
ALPHA OMEGA/PITTSBURGH
Janet Fiorucci Buzbee, 1952
Annabel Montgomery Clinton, 1945
Ruth Holbrook Graeff, 1941
Nancy Malcolm Newman, 1948
Jan Descalzi Rupp, 1961
Bernadette Balobeck Smith, 1955
Gloria Stephens Williams, 1954
BETA BETA/RANDOLPH-MACON
Marie Robert Fisher, 1944
Helen Hester, 1947
Donna Kennedy Vogel, 1947
Dorothy Harris Zehmer, 1955
BETA DELTA/ARIZONA
Jane Williamson Bailey, 1941
Nancy Mumper Brown, 1964
Anne Miller Verfurth, 1955
BETA EPSILON/OREGON STATE
Mary Ellen Dearborn Bollen, 1948
Margaret Trouton Rasnick, 1943
Jane Gill Stephenson, 1953
Diana Doyle Tolpegin, 1955
BETA ZETA/OKLAHOMA STATE
Becky McMahon Cardwell, 1980
Suzanne Fenton Carpenter, 1957
Sara Lawyer Danke, 1959
Mary Marshall Dillingham, 1959
Linda Taylor Gray, 1966
Joan Sandidge Hill, 1944
Patricia Antrim Hill, 1948
Judy DeLozier Williams, 1962
ALPHA UPSILON/WASHBURN
Jean Rudrauff Barter, 1953
Ginna Mitchell Harbison, 1964
Rosemary Luthi Kirkpatrick, 1968
Karen Toedter Lewis, 1963
Lori Otis Spurgeon, 1985
ALPHA PHI/TULANE
Rose Fraser Jacobson, 1953
Charlene Podas Levy, 1957
Jean Felder Shelton, 1948
ALPHA CHI/PURDUE
Janet Beckstrand Akers, 1963
Crystal Ruskin Benbow, 1958
Barbara Bradley, 1957
Carol Newhard Cain, 1962
Jane Gorham Clark, 1956
Sally Bowes Holmes, 1948
Jane Somers Lamm, 1950
Jeanne Tyler Larson, 1942
Shirley Rogers O’Brien, 1951
Margaret Bowman Ricks, 1959
Pamela Habicht Rudy, 1964
Marilyn Beal Sanders, 1944
Barbara Dye Thayer, 1949
BETA THETA/IDAHO
Zeola Shaffer David, 1948
Joan Brown Irons, 1948
Jane Johnson Luke, 1958
Patricia Harris Miller, 1950
Jean Seitz Skinner, 1944
Penny Pennington Telgener, 1951
BETA IOTA/COLORADO
Nancy Chase, 1948
Margaret Shaw Gallup, 1946
Helen Fedde House, 1954
Barbara Beuttas Leverenz, 1948
Mary Ward Metzger, 1962
Bonnie Black Robb, 1958
Carol Mason Sharpe, 1948
Barbara Schlutius Shell, 1948
Diana McMillan Sherry, 1976
“You should live every moment as fully as you can.”
Jane Bennett Connell, Omega/UC Berkeley
BETA KAPPA/DRAKE
Barbara White Giddings, 1949
Ruth Fredericks Hannah, 1948
Marcia Oliver Koehler, 1958
Glenda Rossiter Murray, 1953
Martha Backman Nyemaster, 1938
Betsy Scudder Penzo, 1964
Marty Spotts Watson, 1945
BETA LAMBDA/WILLIAM & MARY
Betty Mitchell, 1948
Jo Day Pescosolido, 1957
BETA MU/NEVADA
Mary Micheo Abbott, 1948
Charlott Ferrari Herrin, 1966
Diane Kane Kinney, 1956
Judith Morrison Nash, 1962
Charlene Debolt Reid, 1954
BETA NU/FLORIDA STATE
Nancy Lynn Agnew, 1970
June Roberts Bell, 1958
Verlene Emanuel Benzing, 1962
Jean Morgan Gilliland, 1955
Beverly Sauls Melvin, 1957
Melissa Ellison Quesenberry, 1971
Janet Stark Ranney, 1952
Julie Ingram Snydacker, 1957
Donna Criswell Van Hyning, 1963
Norma Marshall Wallace, 1954
BETA XI/UCLA
Ann Avery Andres, 1961
Jean Monroe Laidlaw, 1949
Jacqueline Block Leisure, 1944
Marcy Magee Valdovinos, 1959
Sheryl Watts Zigmond, 1964
BETA OMICRON/IOWA
Barbara Meyer Amend, 1952
Joyce Boehmler Blum, 1946
BETA PI/MICHIGAN STATE
Marilyn Bintz Bergers, 1951
Carole Campbell Hilzinger, 1951
Mary Park Jackson, 1950
Barbara Allen Jacoby, 1944
Adelaide Brown Luplow, 1954
Martha Hoffman Marland, 1970
Linda Nugent Pentecost, 1957
Elizabeth Byerrum Seaman, 1965
Ann MacMeekin Wedemeyer, 1952
BETA RHO/DUKE
Emily Boone Ruch, 1948
Jeanne White Whatley, 1946
BETA SIGMA/SMU
Patricia Yost Alexander, 1949
Beverly Robertson Allen, 1957
Nell Phillips Allison, 1964
Carolyn Hayes Ball, 1958
Morgan Boston, 2012
Martha Potwin Bryan, 1948
Kitty Canfield Holleman, 1943
Nancy Nickel Howell, 1977
Carla Stone Lee, 1955
Caroline Canfield Lupton, 1946
Gwen Lee Prichard, 1955
Lisa Lyle Vimmerstedt, 1971
BETA TAU/DENISON
Kirsten Edwards, 1974
Cathy Berry Layne, 1958
Lynda Smythe Sciortino, 1952
GAMMA DELTA/GEORGIA
Mary Cronk Bartlett, 1944
Peggy Delamater Eades, 1953
Linda Dew Garrou, 1963
Debbie McKelvey Henry, 1973
Margaret Linch Jordan, 1952
Nancy Marshall Reu, 1954
Marian Chambless Sherman, 1965
GAMMA EPSILON/WESTERN
Joan Valley Ban, 1954
Donna Michael Hammar, 1957
Audrey Martin Petts, 1948
Jean McLean Townsend, 1945
GAMMA ZETA/CONNECTICUT
Ann Muus Ashworth, 1950
Cynthia Bone Goldrick, 1954
Marge Schmidt Hols, 1954
Kathleen Martino Megin, 1964
Janet Myder, 1964
Ruth Gracy Schooler, 1956
GAMMA ETA/MASSACHUSETTS
Alison Trombla Bernard, 1946
Evelyn Caron Emmonds Cote, 1953
Jane MacBrien Gadaire, 1949
Nan Bartlett Mascho, 1946
Robin Rothenburg Wilby, 1966
GAMMA THETA/CARNEGIE MELLON
Ruthie Means Langstaff, 1944
Grace MacDermott Mason, 1947
Barbara Hudacek McSheffery, 1953
GAMMA IOTA/KENTUCKY
Mary Evelyn Bell Ensslin, 1959
Gloria Malden Everett, 1959
Weedie Cox Hocker, 1953
BETA UPSILON/BRITISH COLUMBIA
Patricia Hethrington, 1974
Carole Jones MacDonald, 1960
BETA PHI/PENN STATE
Kipp Taylor Gutshall, 1958
Barbara Watchorn Stross, 1960
BETA CHI/ALBERTA
June Fraser Cook, 1948
Dorothy Griffiths Crowle, 1948
Jeanne Racette Dawson, 1952
Donna Brown Kauffmann, 1950
Doreen Bradley Lougheed, 1947
BETA PSI/MCGILL
Doris Steeves Layton, 1944
BETA OMEGA/COLORADO COLLEGE
Carol Orvis Olsen, 1956
Susan Chesnut Sturm, 1967
GAMMA KAPPA/GEORGE WASHINGTON
Vera Allen Keller, 1954
GAMMA LAMBDA/BELOIT
Georganne Arnold Chalmers, 1951
Patricia Bannen Nelson, 1947
GAMMA MU/MARYLAND
Mary Kerr Decarlo, 1953
Yolanda Schwarting Dudley, 1964
Mary Ann Allison Elliott, 1954
Sue Koch Reedy, 1986
Nancy Herring Rodgers, 1951
GAMMA NU/NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Joan Watt Burke, 1956
Carolyn Pierce Jolstad, 1955
Renee Baker Sandy, 1953
“I try to uphold the standards that Theta taught: be kind to others and be the best you can be.”
Peggy Grayson Post, Delta Kappa/LSU
GAMMA XI/SAN JOSE STATE
Alice Daley Dwyer, 1948
Ruth Long Mobley, 1960
GAMMA OMICRON/NEW MEXICO
Helen Halvorson Broaddus, 1948
Emily Pineda Ederer, 1956
Teddy Theodore Foley, 1949
GAMMA PI/IOWA STATE
Mary Lou Pierce Goodrich, 1957
Kathryn Gustafson Merrifield, 1961
Nancy Dinges Powers, 1948
GAMMA PHI/TEXAS TECH
Ludonna Berry Burnham, 1953
Tamsen Duke, 1977
Lynn Eldridge Gill, 1969
Peggy Gray Marks, 1965
Gloria Livingston Selman, 1953
Libby Balzer Slavin, 1956
Nan Todd Wagoner, 1965
GAMMA PSI/TCU
Peggy Leach Pearson, 1962
Catherine Denton Taylor, 1973
DELTA DELTA/WHITMAN
Kathryn Jones Hogue, 1961
DELTA EPSILON/ARIZONA STATE
Barbara Lyding McLoone, 1965
DELTA ETA/KANSAS STATE
Terrie Tyler Gettino, 1970
Lynn Rexroad Grabner, 1972
DELTA KAPPA/LSU
Jaynie Reed Brown, 1975
DELTA NU/ARKANSAS
Sally Trammell Burnett, 1966
Elna Weatherbee Lewis, 1973
Lynda Hamilton Verdonik, 1976
DELTA CHI/VIRGINIA
Ann Thomasson Hutchinson, 1982
Katherine Harris McCart, 1994
DELTA PSI/UC RIVERSIDE
Samara Naime Fatone, 1992
DELTA OMEGA/TEXAS A&M
Julie Beard Goodman, 1986
EPSILON EPSILON/BAYLOR
Jackie Hudson Cate, 1977
Norma Schnell Jackson, 1976
Christine McCorkle, 1978
EPSILON ZETA/MISSISSIPPI
Anne Everett Barton, 1981
Rachel Sirman, 2012
Ann Smith Wilson, 1992
EPSILON ETA/CENTRE
Janelle Hogg Dishman, 1980
EPSILON THETA/STETSON
Maria Figueiras Ford, 1983
EPSILON LAMBDA/DICKINSON
Cynthia Mather Pratt, 1988
EPSILON PI/BUCKNELL
Tamara Lapman Colbert, 2002
EPSILON RHO/LEHIGH
GAMMA RHO/UC SANTA BARBARA
Susanne House McEwen, 1957
GAMMA SIGMA/SAN DIEGO STATE
Julia McNall Branan, 1982
GAMMA TAU/TULSA
Sallie Entriken Asplund, 1967
Donna Phelps Redyke, 1965
GAMMA UPSILON/MIAMI
Beverley Brafford Roes, 1954
Jeri Donaldson Winfrey, 1971
DELTA XI/NORTH CAROLINA
Daphne White Urquhart, 1980
DELTA OMICRON/ALABAMA
Kelly Wellman, 1981
DELTA TAU/MONTANA STATE
Jolene Roth Bonander, 1971
DELTA UPSILON/EASTERN
KENTUCKY
Anne Frymire Daugherty, 1981
DELTA PHI/CLEMSON
Danielle Freeman Jordan, 2008
Kim Angell Thorstenson, 1984
EPSILON UPSILON/COLUMBIA
Jacie Goudy, 2014
ZETA LAMBDA/CHARLESTON
Elizabeth Fruit Johnson, 1992
ZETA PHI/PEPPERDINE
Autumn Tennison, 2020
ZETA PSI/SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Jara Naquin Bode, 2000
An In Memoriam listing of Thetas who passed away during the previous calendar year is published in each spring issue of the Kappa Alpha Theta Magazine. The spring issues are mailed to all members for whom we have a current address, so this practice means as many sisters as possible are notified.
You may mail notices of deaths to Kappa Alpha Theta, 8740 Founders Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46268; email them to Executive Assistant Angela Merk, amerk@kappaalphatheta.org; or, complete an online contact form: www.kappaalphatheta.org/contact.
“Don’t belittle what you have done.”Rhoda Kaufman, Alpha Eta/Vanderbilt
When you become a Life Loyal member, you help fund educational, communications, and personal development programs for all Thetas.
• A lifetime subscription to the Kappa Alpha Theta Magazine,
• Fraternity dues payments for life*,
• A handcrafted lapel pin,
• A personalized wallet card,
• Special leadership and educational opportunities available only to Life Loyal members, and more!
*Not including alumnae chapter dues.
Online Simply go to thetalifeloyal.org to join and pay online.
Phone Call Theta headquarters, 800-526-1870 ext. 140, to provide your contact and payment information over the phone.
Mail Print the enrollment form available at thetalifeloyal.org and mail the completed form with your check or credit card information to:
Kappa Alpha Theta attn: Angela Merk 8740 Founders Road Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
These women enrolled between August 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023.
Alpha/DePauw
Kelly Naylor
Martha Shedd
Iota/Cornell
Linda Chase Jenkins
Kappa/Kansas
Hailey Stelle
Mu/Allegheny
Ashlie Louie Sochor
Nu/Hanover
Toni Poole
Omicron/USC
Olivia Matthes
Lauren Shepherd
Pi/Albion
Lisa Moore Smith
Rho/Nebraska
Stephanie Davis Wallace
Betsy Jackson Klemme
Upsilon/Minnesota
Moira Southern
Phi/Pacific
Monica Kott
Chi/Syracuse
Emily Stoker Matz
Omega/UC Berkeley
Mina Han
Alpha Gamma/Ohio State
Mary Cesarz Bellisari
Alpha Eta/Vanderbilt
Heather Johnson
Kim Cordes Smith
Alpha Theta/Texas
Katie Mraz Isbell
Alpha Lambda/Washington
Katherine Hansen Fleming
Alpha Nu/Montana
Tara Al-Haj
Alpha Xi/Oregon
Angelika Tsymbler
Alpha Rho/South Dakota
Kailee Duncanson
Paula Graves Keller
Alpha Sigma/Washington State
Jessica Stafford Harper
Alpha Psi/Lawrence
Lizzy Gaston
Alpha Omega/Pittsburgh
Pattie McCafferty Bajuszik
Beta Delta/Arizona
Lara Zaharchuk Grossman
Beta Kappa/Drake
Emily Wirkus
Beta Lambda/William & Mary
Susie Wagstaff Cahoon
Jennifer Lindars Wimsatt
Kimberly Renner
Beta Nu/Florida State
Joanna Queen Stachura
Beta Xi/UCLA
Natasha Anders
Laura Hollis Barnett
Beta Omicron/Iowa
Rebecca Brandes O’Brien
Beta Sigma/SMU
Sara Abston
Noelle Ansolabehere Schilling
Beta Chi/Alberta
Jackie Kalmakoff Fetter
Kirsten Webster
Beta Omega/Colorado College
Antonette DeLauro Smith
Gamma Iota/Kentucky
Eileen Corrigan Jones
Nancy Nesbit McMahon
Gamma Pi/Iowa State
Lauren Banwart
Gamma Sigma/San Diego State
Andrea Clapp
Gamma Phi/Texas Tech
Taylor White Fox
Lesley Jarrett Hagan
Tami Herring-Sahni
Kathryn Olsen Street
Gamma Chi/Fresno State
Suzanne Shafer Newby
Gamma Psi/TCU
Izzy Gregoire
Katy Mott Redwine
Delta Epsilon/Arizona State
Darcy Blaine Lightfoot
Delta Zeta/Emory
Emily Smith Wright
Delta Eta/Kansas State
Laura Hancock
Delta Theta/Florida
Elizabeth Fleet Hyman
Delta Kappa/LSU
Sarah Borgognoni Buzhardt
Emily Smith
Delta Omicron/Alabama
Catherine Christopher
Kailey Dow
Shanna Jarvis Green
Tricia Hood Thomas
Delta Rho/South Florida
Domenica (Minnie) Marchese
Delta Upsilon/Eastern Kentucky
Vicki Brake Cantrell
Delta Phi/Clemson
Kelly Skinner Shuffield
Delta Psi/UC Riverside
Carrie Naylor Bialous
Delta Omega/Texas A&M
Suzanne Fitzgerrell Caram
Epsilon Epsilon/Baylor
Robin Pittman Howard
Elissa Fink Lindsey
Megan Milburn McAlister
Epsilon Mu/Princeton
Natascha Ovando-Karadsheh
Epsilon Nu/Virginia Tech
Julia Mariano
Epsilon Phi/Chicago
Jennifer Kim
Zeta Lambda/Charleston
Morgan Robinson
Zeta Nu/UC Davis
Jensen Brinker
Eta Mu/Occidental
Divya Moolamalla
Eta Xi/Quinnipiac
Alexandra Capotorto
Eta Sigma/Chapman
Ella Parlor
Eta Upsilon/San Francisco
Fallon Bottone
To stay relevant and competitive with our peer Greek organizations, Theta’s brand must, at any given time, be considered modern, dynamic, and representative of Theta’s rich history, diverse membership, and longstanding tradition.
“Refined, Sophisticated, Polished”
(See page 10.)
In my time as a mentor and advisor to members of Kappa Alpha Theta, I have gotten to know some of the most incredible and thoughtful members who are truly living out the legacy of Theta. They push me to reflect on the importance of this organization in my own life and allow me to support them in all the ways they are impacting the world around them.
Kylie Sturgis MassmanDelta Eta/Kansas State
(See page 9.)
Being a part of Kappa Alpha Theta has changed my life. I would not have the support system I do without it. My sisters are encouraging, honest, and loyal. They are women I look up to and can only hope to become more like.
Janae Karr
Gamma Psi/TCU
(See page 15.)
Alumnae are an important part of the Theta experience. Once a collegian graduates, she becomes an alumna— not only of her college or university, but also of the Fraternity. The connections made during a member’s undergraduate years continue throughout her life.
“All About Alumnae”
(See page 6.)
As an organization, our goals include creating a safe environment for members to discuss mental health issues, encouraging members to recognize when someone might benefit from mental health support, and supporting members facing mental health challenges and conditions.
“Kappa Alpha Theta & MindWise Innovations”
(See page 17.)