Industry Update Provided by NPC

This week

USA Today, ABC News and other national news outlets offered coverage of the indictment of eight current/former Bowling Green State University (BGSU) students in the death of fellow BGSU student and fraternity brother Stone Foltz. Charges range from involuntary manslaughter to hazing. The attorney for the Foltz family said the charges are one step in the right direction, but government and university leaders must do more to end hazing.

Last week

In a lengthy piece citing student concerns about classism and racism, Vox Media talks to three students about why they think Greek life is “losing members.” “The cliquishness, classism, and racial insensitivities of Greek life have never exactly been hidden,” writes reporter Maryan Gamar. “So it’s no surprise that the racial justice protests in summer 2020 combined with a pandemic affecting all college students has sparked a new wave of anti-Greek sentiment over the past year.”

Workforce Updates and Opportunities

Please join College Committee Chairman Mandy Womack in welcoming Kristin Daggett Williams, Epsilon Epsilon/Baylor, and Rachelle Douglas Collins, Gamma Phi/Texas Tech, to the college committee. Kristin has been appointed as the college district director (CDD) for College District VI and Rachelle has been appointed as CDD in College District IX. 

The following opportunities for budget district directors (BDDs) have opened up. If you are interested in this role, please submit the Workforce Volunteer Interest Indicator. Questions about the role and responsibilities can be forwarded to Assistant Director of College Services Kourtnee Vickrey.

• College District I - Marcia Wolff Thompson is resigning from the committee after 25 years of service. She will remain in office until a replacement is appointed. 
• College District XIII - Fallon Smith Flichtbeil has resigned. 
• College District XIV - Kristin Robinson Tracey is resigning and will remain in office until a replacement is appointed.
• College District XV - Amanda Anthony Carson has resigned.

2021 Theta Foundation Scholarship Award Acceptance Deadline 

All recipients preliminarily selected for a 2021 Theta Foundation scholarship must complete the acceptance process by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 31. Recipients who do not submit required documentation by the deadline will forfeit their awards. Alternate recipients selected for forfeited scholarships will be notified on Thursday, June 3, via the email address on their Fraternity records. Please direct any questions to Theta Foundation Programs Manager Mary Kate Smith.

Advisor and Officer Training

Several leadership training programs are coming up. Thank you to Theta Foundation and its donors for helping us make these programs possible.

StrengthsQuest

We are hosting several StrengthsQuest sessions for advisors this month, approximately two sessions a week at different days and times. Links for sign up were emailed to advisors. We look forward to having as many advisors participate with us as possible.

Emerging Leaders Workshop

Many of you may remember our Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) which took place in-person over the course of a few days. Given the pandemic, we will not host the in-person institute. Instead, a new virtual program will be hosted for emerging leaders. One session will take place in May and a second session will be hosted in June. The workshop is approximately four hours, and the May session will be hosted this Friday and facilitated by Assistant Director of Collegiate Services Madison Cannon and Sydney Montgomery (Epsilon Mu/Princeton).

Officer Leadership Summit

Similar to the emerging leaders workshop, we are not hosting our Leadership Academy in person. Instead, we are hosting officer leadership summits open to any officer. We utilize similar activities as the in-person institute that were modified for a virtual experience. Our first session was in March and facilitated by Melissa Rocco and Lisa Combs (both Alpha Gamma/Ohio State). Our May session (May 21) will be facilitated by Lisa Combs and Director of Education and Leadership Melissa Shaub. A final session is scheduled for June. 

2021 Capitol Hill Visits

During the week of April 12, Kappa Alpha Theta participated in the Fraternal Government Relations Coalition (FGRC) Virtual Hill Visits. Even without in-person meetings the fraternity and sorority community were represented by 50 teams, 245 participants, and 250 appointments. Kappa Alpha Theta participants included:

• Kylee Arndt, Gamma Nu/North Dakota State, collegian 
• Lily Murphy, Epsilon Eta/Centre, collegian
• Laurie McGregor Connor, Gamma deuteron/Ohio Wesleyan, alumna
• Rainey Sewell, Alpha Omicron/Oklahoma, alumna
• Cindy Heine Stellhorn, Beta/Indiana, alumna
• Kristin Anderson Warner, Eta Tau/Tampa, alumna

Special sessions with Rep. Stephanie Murphy, FL-7, member of Chi Omega; Rep. Brad Wenstrup OH-2, member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon; Rep. Ruben Gallego AZ-7, member of Sigma Chi; and Rep. Josh Gottheimer NJ-5, member of Alpha Epsilon Pi; were offered to all participants throughout the three-day experience. To review the issues discussed with elected officials please review  this year’s FGRC One-Pager.

Theta Blogs

• By the Numbers: A Message from Theta’s CFO
• Theta Receives Two Awards at the FCA Annual Conference 2021 

Helpful Links

• Upcoming Important Dates and Visits
• Workforce Contact Information
• New Volunteers
• Previous Updates
• Coronavirus Update
• Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion 
• ThetaConnect