Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Alpha Epsilon Phi

To celebrate Women’s History Month, the NPC blog will spotlight Panhellenic women who are “Working to Form a More Perfect Union.” Along with the theme of Women’s History Month, we recognize women from public service and government. The fourth featured Panhellenic woman is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Alpha Epsilon Phi. 

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. She attended Cornell University and received a bachelor’s degree in government. She later went to law school – balancing roles as a mother, wife and student – at Harvard University and then graduated from Columbia Law School after her husband Martin got a job in Manhattan. She began paving the way for women in law at Harvard by becoming the first female member of the “Harvard Law Review.” She continued taking steps for women when in 1963 Ginsburg began serving as only the second woman faculty member at Rutgers Law School and then became the first female tenured professor at Columbia Law School where she taught from 1972-80.

In 1971 Ginsburg was a major part of the creation of the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union. She also served the ACLU as its general counsel from 1973-80 and on its national board from 1974-80. In her work for the ACLU she went before the U.S. Supreme Court with six landmark cases on gender discrimination.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter appointed Ginsburg to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. She served in this position until 1993 when President Bill Clinton appointed her to the U.S. Supreme Court. She is the first Jewish woman to serve as a justice and only the second woman, following Sandra Day O’Connor. She lives by three main rules as a judge: caution, moderation and restraint.

Ginsburg truly has helped shape the history of women, and has been recognized for her efforts. In 1999, she received the American Bar Association’s Thurgood Marshall Award for her contributions to gender equality and civil rights.

"My mother told me two things constantly. One was to be a lady, and the other was to be independent.” - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Sources:

• http://www.biography.com/people/ruth-bader-ginsburg-9312041
• http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx
• https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Ginsburg.html

Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Alpha Chi Omega

To celebrate Women’s History Month, the NPC blog will spotlight Panhellenic women who are “Working to Form a More Perfect Union.” Along with the theme of Women’s History Month, we recognize women in public service and government. The third featured Panhellenic woman is former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Alpha Chi Omega.

Dr. Rice was born in Birmingham, Ala., and attended the University of Denver where she

received a bachelor’s degree in political science. She went on to receive a master’s from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of International Studies. She served Stanford University as its first woman provost from 1993-99.

She was appointed national security adviser by President George W. Bush in 2001, becoming the first black woman and the second woman ever to hold the position. She was later the first black woman to serve as the U.S. Secretary of State. Rice dedicated her position to “transformational diplomacy” with the goal of creating and maintaining well-governed states around the world. She sent American diplomats to troubled locations such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Angola and required them to become fluent in two foreign languages.

She has written several books: “Germany Unified and Europe Transformed” (1995) with Philip Zelikow, “The Gorbachev Era” (1986) with Alexander Dallin and “Uncertain Allegiance: The Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak Army” (1984). She has also received several awards such as the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work with Youth/Teens and the NAACP Image Award – President’s Award.

In 2009, Rice became a founding partner of RiceHadleyGates LLC, which focuses on providing strategic counsel to major corporations. She also sits on the board of Dropbox, the George W. Bush Institute and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, to name just a few.

Rice currently works as a professor of political science at Stanford University. She is also the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution and the Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

“Differences can be a strength rather than a handicap.” —Condoleezza Rice

Sources:  

• http://www.biography.com/people/condoleezza-rice-9456857
• http://www.hoover.org/profiles/condoleezza-rice

Barbara Levy Boxer, Delta Phi Epsilon

To celebrate Women’s History Month, the NPC blog will spotlight Panhellenic women who are “Working to Form a More Perfect Union.” Along with the theme of Women’s History Month, we recognize women from public service and government. This week's featured Panhellenic woman is Senator Barbara Levy Boxer a member of Delta Phi Epsilon.

Barbara Levy Boxer was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Brooklyn College where she received a bachelor’s degree in economics. Following college, she went to work as a secretary and then as a stockbroker to support her husband Stewart while he attended Fordham Law School. The Boxers moved to California and had two children.

After running for office and losing in 1972, Barbara worked as a journalist and then an aide for Congressman John Burton. She ran for office again and was elected Marin County supervisor where she served for six years and became the first woman president of the Marin County Board of Supervisors.

In 1982, she successfully ran for retiring Congressman John Burton’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and won. She served in this role for 10 years. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee she worked to reveal incidents of overspending by the Pentagon. In 1991, during the confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas for Supreme Court justice, she led a march of women in support of Anita Hill, who had accused Thomas of harassment. 

In 1992, California Senator Alan Cranston retired and Barbara was elected to his seat. In 2004, when she ran for her third term as senator, Barbara received nearly 7 million votes, the most votes for a Senate seat in U.S. history. She is currently serving her fourth term as senator and announced that she will retire at the end of this term. Following the 2004 election, she took a position in the Democratic Party's senate leadership as Chief Deputy Whip.  She currently serves as the chair of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee.

Barbara has said, “More than anything, I think as our country matures, we recognize that women deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.”

Sources:

• http://www.biography.com/people/barbara-boxer-597336
• https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Boxer.html
• http://history.house.gov/People/Detail?id=9704

Message From the Chairman: NPC Women Make History

March ushers in National Women's History Month, and the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) celebrated International Badge Day on March 7. Both salute and honor the contributions women have made to country, public service and community. Many of those same women honored for service to our country during National Women's History Month also share the commonality of wearing the membership badge of an NPC organization.

The 2016 National Women's History Month theme is "Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government." Women have served their country and exercised their civic duty for decades. Consider Air Force Brigadier General Terri Gabreski, Delta Delta Delta, Rear Admiral of the Navy Marianne Blackburn Drew, Alpha Xi Delta, and Georgia Nesse Gray, Alpha Phi, the first woman appointed treasurer of the United States. There is also Margaret Chase Smith, Sigma Kappa, first female U.S. senator; Condoleezza Rice, Alpha Chi Omega, U.S. secretary of state; and Ruth Bader Gingsburg, Alpha Epsilon Phi, U.S. Supreme Court justice. These women and their selfless acts of courage and conviction -- woven together with honor, loyalty and love of country -- are defining moments in history and the current world we live in today. 

Over the course of the month of March, NPC will salute sorority women in public service and government leadership through blogs and social media. Visit Pinterest to learn more about contemporary women who daily are making a difference, impacting public policy and creating a more democratic society.

Reflecting on National Women's History month and notable sorority women honored for their contributions, I cannot help but draw parallels between those called to leadership and public service today and the brave and courageous women who founded the 26 inter/national NPC organizations over a century ago. I salute those women who founded our organizations. Their vision for offering a membership experience that affords women an opportunity to lead, succeed and serve is timeless.

Thank you for celebrating with us -- and all women -- the tremendous contributions made by those women who inspire and serve as role models from the past and those who serve among us today.

Interfraternally,

Donna C. King

Chairman 2015-17

Laura Bush, Kappa Alpha Theta

Laura Bush at Butler University in 2014.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, the NPC blog will spotlight Panhellenic women who are “Working to Form a More Perfect Union.” Along with the theme of Women’s History Month, we recognize women from public service and government. The first featured Panhellenic woman is Former First Lady Laura Bush, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta.

Laura Bush was born in Midland, Texas and attended Southern Methodist University where she received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Laura attended the University of Texas at Austin for graduate school where she earned a master’s in library science. She married George W. Bush Nov. 7, 1977.

Laura has always focused on education. As First Lady of Texas, she successfully lobbied for state funding of early reading, literacy and early childhood development programs. She also began an annual Texas Book Festival that successfully raises funds for the purchase of books through the state public library system.

In 2001 when she became First Lady of the United States, Laura supported various government efforts to promote reading and education. She served as a spokesperson for three programs: The New Teacher Project, Troops to Teachers and Transition to Teaching. She created a national initiative, "Ready to Read, Ready to Learn," to inform parents and policy makers about early childhood education and the importance of reading aloud to children.

Laura has received many awards and honors in her lifetime. She accepted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) honorary ambassadorship for its Decade of Literacy. Congress named a librarian program at the Institute of Museum and Library Services in her honor. Also, funded through the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, the "Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program" became public law.

“The power of a book lies in its power to turn a solitary act into a shared vision. As long as we have books, we are not alone.” – Laura Bush

You can read about more notable members of Kappa Alpha Theta on its Heritage homepage.

Source:
http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=44

Message From the Chairman: NPC is Focused on Educational Support

Educational support is a strategic objective of the National Panhellenic Conference. NPC is focused on education, support and development of best practices for College and Alumnae Panhellenics, advisors and the professionals who partner with us. A major part of that strategy is College Panhellenic Academy and the fraternity/sorority advisor (FSA) track offered in collaboration with the North-American Interfraternity Conference.

Jan. 22-23, 229 College Panhellenic officers gathered in Indianapolis to explore the personal journey to becoming a leader who leaves a legacy and ways to lead within a College Panhellenic and the broader fraternal community.

College Panhellenic officers began by exploring the NPC purpose, mission, vision and values. The leaders challenged themselves to make a connection between personal values and the collective values of NPC and their Panhellenic communities. Understanding the nuts and bolts of College Panhellenic operations included exploring best practices for officers, realizing the importance of well-written governing documents and diving into Panhellenic policies and procedures.

Learning from others is central to the academy experience. Attendees benefitted from the engaging, humorous and heartwarming tales shared during "The Talks: Learning Through the Stories of Others." Speakers were Krystal Clark, Josh Driver, Karen Katz, Darren Pierre and Josh Orendi. Even I shared my story with the women at breakfast, challenging each to frame her leadership with courage, conviction and purpose.

Coming together with the Interfraternity Council officers and FSAs at the end of the academy to set goals allowed the College Panhellenic leaders to reflect on what they had learned. Attendees also brainstormed ways to improve their own positions, their College Panhellenics and their overall communities.

The academy also afforded NPC the opportunity to create e-learning modules for College Panhellenic leaders. Modules are now available on the NPC website for these officers: president, recruitment, judicial and communications/public relations.

In addition, NPC is continuing its partnership with the regional fraternal leadership conferences by offering educational sessions at these events on a variety of topics.

Educational support is our focus, because lifelong learning is a cornerstone of membership in an NPC sorority. I am proud of the work we will all do together to continue our advocacy for the sorority experience through learning opportunities for our College Panhellenics and partners.

Thank you to all who have worked to move this strategy forward.

Interfraternally,

Donna C. King
Chairman 2015-17

Telling Our Story: Meet the #Academy16 Talks Speakers

The second annual Panhellenic Academy kicks off in just a week, and one of the first exciting experiences awaiting attendees is "The Talks." Six men and women from a wide range of personal experiences will come to Indianapolis to demonstrate the power of a story. Each presenter has a personal story that shaped their lives and taught them a lesson, and their lessons can apply to all types of leaders. Read about our speakers and learn a little about their background before meeting them in person next week.

Krystal Clark

"The Best I Can With What I Have"

Krystal lives in Nashville, Tn. She’s from Portsmouth, Va. and made her way to Tennessee after time in Maryland and North Carolina. After spending eight years working with fraternities and sororities, she now gets to live her dream of being a leadership educator. She started her blog, Peculiar Pearl in 2008 and at the same time began using Facebook as a motivational and inspirational tool. She speaks. She facilitates. She writes. She creates.  She believes wholeheartedly in side hustles. When she is not working, she serves as an active member of the Nashville community. Her biggest role is in Junior League of Nashville of which she will serve as president in 2017.

Krystal says "Lose Yourself" by Eminem is her fight song, red is her power color and the one adjective she would use to describe herself is ambitious. "I have big dreams and they mean nothing if I'm not determined to get them accomplished." Some of her beliefs include: living and leading from your strengths, being a little bit better than she was yesterday, Brene Brown, Oprah, desk dancing, fresh notebooks, biscuits, leopard print as a neutral, belly laughs, reading, not going out on Friday nights, her family, unicorns, live music, the power of women, blackgirlmagic, it’s not the hand you’re dealt but how you play your cards, sitting in the front row at your life and - unless you show her otherwise - she also believes in you.

Joshua Driver

"Doing Things the Hard Way - and Worth Every Minute"

Josh has served on several local non-profit boards and as a lead advisor for national campaigns focused on equality. A lifelong Hoosier, Josh attended Purdue University to pursue a career in medicine. After a chance encounter to help a local healthcare non-profit seek a better return on fundraising efforts, Josh developed several technologies that focus on achieving success without the need to spend extra resources. He continues to be very active in the non-profit industry, raising over $42,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in just 10 weeks, and $30,000 for SCORE.org – a national non-profit that provides free consulting for startup businesses.

Josh resides in Indianapolis with his partner Jeff and their two rescued English Bulldogs – Maggie and Mr. Humphries. Josh draws his inspiration from people who do things for others without incentive. He thinks our world would be so much better off if we made selflessness a priority. He is the founder of Open for Service, and also works as a technology and small business startup consultant.

Karen Katz

"March Madness"

Karen Katz is the chief executive officer of Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity and an initiate of Chi Omega from the University of Evansville. She volunteers for Chi Omega on the national recruitment team and serves as a recruitment advisor the chapter at the University of Miami. Karen lives in Chi Omega alumnae chapter president in Miami, Fla. She served as the fraternity/sorority advisor at Florida International University (FIU) for four years where she started volunteering for numerous national fraternities. She advises the Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter at FIU. Currently, Karen lives in Hollywood, Fla. with her husband and loves to travel.

Karen's favorite quote is “We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams" from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. She feels it characterizes her philosophy on life because she believes we can create our own journey. Karen's favorite thing about her career is that she is constantly inspired and challenged by her students. She feels proud of their accomplishments, learning moments and capabilities. Outside of being with her family, when she leaves chapter meetings, recruitment workshops or five days of non-stop formal recruitment, she feels blissful.

Darren Pierre

"Joy in a New Beginning"

Darren Pierre, Ph.D., serves as the Assistant Director of Student Involvement at the University of Chicago, and a part-time faculty member at Loyola University Chicago. Darren recently published a book entitled The Invitation to Love: Recognizing the Gift Despite Pain, Fear and Resistance. His book chronicles one man's spiritual journey in practicing forgiveness and recognizing love despite various barriers. Darren's research largely centers on understanding the transformative power that derives from people having the courage to live out their truth. He has spoken across the United States on the ideals of integrity, authenticity, and living a life of purpose. 

Darren says he is inspired by people who move beyond fear to make great things possible for themselves and others. His favorite quote is "The ache for home lives in all of us the safe space where we can come as we are and not be questioned," spoken by Dr. Maya Angelou. He loves this quote because he feels it is what we are all looking for, and that it is what men and women who join our chapters are looking for - the space where they can come as they are and not be questioned.

Stephannie Bailey

"Under the Influence"

People are Stephannie’s passion. She built her career around strengthening and leading high performance teams while fostering a collaborative culture of innovation and continuous development. She has worked in wide range of sectors from automotive to healthcare to membership association management, and she has an extensive background in training and development, which stretches across these sectors. For the past 10 years, Stephannie has been focused in non-profit management, strategically building organizations from the ground up while also re-energizing historic organizations. This past year she worked for a boutique, corporate consulting firm focused on driving success for Fortune 500 sales teams. In January she returned to the fraternal world as she assumed the position of Senior Director of Philanthropy at Delta Upsilon Educational Foundation.

Stephannie has served on the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors Board of Directors, co-chaired the Professional Development committee for the Fraternity Executives Association and has received the Delta Upsilon Interfraternalism Award for her work on the President’s Task Force. Stephannie and her husband, Cliff live in Fishers, Ind. and know their most important work is raising their daughter, Emma.

Josh Orendi

"No Passion? No Problem. Just Get Pissed Off!"

Since joining Alpha Sigma Phi at Bethany College in 1996, Josh Orendi has been focused on one goal: helping fraternities and sororities grow with a higher quantity of higher quality members. Josh is the co-founder of Phired Up Productions and TechniPhi (the technology company that runs CampusDirector, ChapterBuilder and MyVote). He is the owner of Innova Greek Marketing company, the author of Good Guys, a best-selling book on fraternity recruitment and the industry expert on fraternity recruitment and expansion. Josh lives in Carmel, Ind. with his wife Denise, daughters Autumn Grey and Athena Mae, and their big drooling English Mastiff named Rogue.

Josh's favorite thing about his career is Innovation. When people he cares about are dealing with a big problem, he says the wheels in his head start to turn. He loves creating business solutions that help solve real problems - especially when they help better the fraternity/sorority community.