Maureen Bowie is back in the game, returning to Delta Phi Epsilon as a chapter advisor for the Zeta Lambda chapter at Farmingdale State College. After graduation, Maureen took time to focus on her personal and professional life. She was later on inspired to reconnect to the organization as a volunteer. She shared, “More than anything, I decided to volunteer for DPhiE because of my fond memories from my time in college. I missed that connection. Plus, I am always looking for a way to be involved in my community.”
As a chapter advisor she empowers the members to be leaders by utilizing her past experiences. Maureen shared, “There’s a lot of life experiences that older sisters can bring to a chapter; especially with sharing our traditions and the importance of our values for a lifetime.” She always encourages the members to create their own experiences but provides valuable insight as a guide post – often reflecting on what worked or didn’t for her chapter.
Maureen’s favorite part of returning to DPhiE as a volunteer has been getting back to our rituals. “Ritual is the most unifying thing in our sorority as a whole. It’s special to get to experience that again and showcase how important it is to the younger sisters.”
In her professional life, Maureen is a teacher. The flexible time commitment that advising provides fits perfectly into her lifestyle. She works together with other members of the chapter advisory board to share the time commitment. “By creating a network of other sisters, you can work together and divide and conquer tasks so it’s manageable.” Maureen’s professional experience benefits her as an advisor; utilizing her conflict management skills and flexibility.
She finds community in the connections she’s created with chapter leaders and other members of the chapter advisory board. “You get to connect with sisters from different backgrounds. Sisters I advised that have since graduated I still maintain a connection with.”
If you’re considering advising but feel disconnected to DPhiE, she encourages you to just try it! You’ll get to reconnect to the organization all over again and realize that some things never change.
