Industry Update Provided by NPC
News outlets the Daily Mail and the Daily Caller report that a student from the University of Texas at San Antonio and former member of Zeta Tau Alpha alleges that she was removed from the sorority after posting pro-Trump content on her TikTok account.
#GivingTuesday2020
Today is Theta Foundation’s 8th Annual Giving Tuesday! We are excited to celebrate the conclusion of Theta’s sesquicentennial year on this special day. All donations made today will benefit the Theta Forever Fund. This fund supports our educational, leadership, and philanthropic programs to ensure the Theta experience is here for generations to come. In this way, gifts to the Theta Forever Fund bridge the gap between the experiences made possible from membership dues and the realities of educational and leadership expenses. A gift on #GivingTuesday is ensuring the future of Theta!
You can follow Theta Foundation’s progress and make a gift at givetotheta.org. Thank you for your support!
Government Relations
- Congratulations to Mary Jane Beach, Beta Nu/Florida State, who will become a member of the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee (FSPAC) on Jan. 1, 2021. She will be one of four volunteers who represent Theta and work to defend and preserve the fraternity and sorority community. Mary Jane will replace Betsy Corridan in this group, and she will serve with continuing Theta FSPAC members Laurie Connor, Laura Doerre, and Cindy Stellhorn.
- On Wednesday, Dec. 9, the FSPAC is hosting a Zoom event with two of our champions, Sigma Chi member Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Harvard graduate Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY). They co-sponsored the Collegiate Freedom of Association Act (HR 3128/6236) which addressed the Harvard sanctions. This is a great opportunity to hear firsthand from legislators who advance the issues that matter to students and particularly to fraternities and sororities. In the aftermath of a historic and riveting November election and with a pandemic that still has a grip on our nation, we’ll assess the election results, examine the composition of the 117th Congress, and look ahead to the major policy issues impacting our students that are likely to be taken up in 2021. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions. The donation to attend is $100. Register to attend by Monday, Dec. 7; a link to the Zoom session will be sent Tuesday, Dec. 8.
Workforce Updates
- Grand Council has appointed Mandy Womack, Gamma Sigma/San Diego State, as the new college committee chairman/director of college chapters replacing Laura Locke who has reached the term limit in the role. Mandy is the assistant dean of students at the University of San Diego. In that role, she manages student conduct and Student Affairs Restorative Practices. Her areas of study and interest include student development, identity development, male engagement, and mindfulness. The focus of her work is in helping students answer the “big questions” such as who are you? and who are you becoming? She works daily to help students identify how they can realize their potential as changemakers.
- Grand Council has appointed Dr. Christina (Tina) V. Tran, Zeta Nu/UC Davis, as the new director of diversity, equity, & inclusion (DEI). Tina is a first-generation Filipino-American raised outside of Chicago. After completing her undergraduate degree at University of California, Davis, Tina received her veterinary degree from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She has spent the majority of her professional career in small animal private practice. In addition, she has worked in shelter medicine, veterinary telehealth, and academia. She served on the veterinary technology faculty at Portland Community College and as veterinary technology program director at Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Currently, Tina is on faculty at University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine as associate professor and Clinical Relations Lead Veterinarian. She serves as the current president and founding board member for the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association. Tina's DEI effort experience includes opening up the veterinary pipeline to underrepresented minorities; providing remote outreach, ongoing support and mentorship to K-12 and undergraduate students; working with veterinary organizations and academic institutions to identify and remove barriers to entering veterinary school and becoming leaders within the profession; collaborating on DEI-focused research projects; and serving on multiple DEI commissions and panel discussions.
- Betsy Harootyan, college district director (CDD) in College District XI, is stepping down after her term ends this month but has agreed to transition her successor. If you are interested in this role, or you know of someone who would be a good fit, please submit/encourage them to submit the Workforce Volunteer Interest Indicator in Theta Portal under Forms. Questions about the role and responsibilities can be forwarded to Director of Collegiate Services Katharine Murphy. The College District IV CDD role is also still open.
Workforce Monthly Educational Programming
Our program for the Theta workforce on the Plan of Aspirations is tonight and you can still sign up. We are looking forward to talking with you about the Plan tonight at 8:30 p.m. EST. A recording of the session will be available in Igloo later.
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