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After a difficult 2020, Heather P. Kahn (Omega Chapter) is heading into 2021 with hope. 

Working at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans, Heather spent most of this past year having difficult conversations. As COVID patients entered the emergency room, Heather admitted them and laid out any risk factors. She was the one to share with patients and families that if they were put on a ventilator, it was not likely that they would survive. While the end was near for too many, her job was to make her patients comfortable and support them throughout the process. To say this year was difficult would be an understatement. 

In March, her hospital’s staffing was cut thin. They did not have enough personal protective equipment to protect themselves or their patients. Calling in staff from other departments, they worked tirelessly to keep their community safe. Heather’s advice to sisters would be to “Listen to the social distancing guidelines, wear a mask and wash your hands. Take your symptoms seriously, just because you receive a negative test does not mean you do not have COVID. If you come in contact with the virus, take the full 14 days to quarantine.”

2020 was tough but she is feeling optimistic about 2021 with vaccine distribution in full swing. The moment she received her vaccination, she felt hope. Heather shared, “Everyone has to be open to the vaccine – we wish we could provide it to everyone right now. The more people get involved the brighter the future will be. Things will get better.” Heather did not experience any adverse side effects more than the normal soreness at the point of injection. She encourages all sisters of DPhiE to stay hopeful and do your research! With a high effective rate for the vaccine, we can help each other stay safe. She shared, “It’s going to take some time, but it is the best option we have for fighting the virus.” Stay alert and see when you’re eligible to receive the vaccine in your state. By receiving the vaccine, you are taking a stance and advocating for a more hopeful 2021.

The 2020 presidential election was historic. With a record number of first time voters, it will be remembered for a lifetime. One of those first time voters was our very own, Natalie Vang Jensen (Alpha Chapter).

Born in Japan and raised in Bangkok, Natalie made the move to attend New York University in 2011 on a student visa. The summer of her Junior year, she was accepted for her green card. Five years later, she was eligible to apply for United States citizenship. She relied heavily on the support from her DPhiE sisters and friends to learn all about American history. “New York University is known for having lots of international students so it was great to see so much diversity and have the support of my sisters.” In a courthouse in New York City on December 13, 2019 Natalie took her citizenship test.

With the 2020 presidential election just around the corner, Natalie could not wait to use her voice. The importance of having a vote and using your voice is something that should never be taken for granted. Natalie shared, “You’ve got to dig deep, educate yourself on what matters to you from the bottom of the ballot to the top. Not just in the presidential elections but all elections.” Natalie even brought her fan base of family and friends to cheer her on after she cast her vote!

“As someone that was not able to vote, it is so important to realize that voting is a privilege, right and duty.” It is a chance to speak up for your community and others who may not be able to do so.

This year showed us that nothing can stop us from casting our vote and using our voices. Stay up to date on your states local elections to ensure you don’t miss your opportunity to take a stance.

Natalie Vang Jensen is an alumna from the Alpha chapter at New York University. She currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. If you are looking for a new book to read, in her spare time Natalie runs a bookstagram, follow her at @nataliesbookclub on Instagram.

Sister Abby Dobrinick (Gamma Alpha, Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville) has spent this year working as a nurse on the frontlines of the pandemic. Prior to COVID -19, Abby would move around to different areas of focus at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. She would find out day by day which area needed her support the most. Since March, Abby has spent the majority of her time working in the COVID unit.

When asked what her high point of the year was, Abby shared “It would be the small moments. The extra Facetimes with my family, the excessive takeout and movie watching with my fiance and the happy you feel when you finally see your family.” As someone that prides herself on being a homebody, she realized even more so the importance of family. Her low point of the year was the unthinkable amount of death. She shared, “It’s the most I’ve ever seen in my entire career. With patients’ families unable to hold their hand or give them one last hug, we are the ones Facetiming those families and hearing their last words. Our hearts are breaking and we are holding back so many tears behind those masks and face shields.”

Abby has relied on her DPhiE sisters as a strong support system this year. She shared, “DPhiE gave me lifelong friends. Many of them are the ones I call and text after a long day.” She also has enjoyed following along with her chapter, Gamma Alpha, this year. Seeing how they adapted and made the best of the situation this year. “I love to see that they are still recruiting, raising money for our philanthropies and loving each other in sisterhood despite the challenges.”

For any sisters considering to go into the healthcare field, Abby encourages you to DO IT! “This job might be stressful, but it is so rewarding! Find your support system, hospital you love and a great team and you won’t regret it. This year has been hard but with the right people by your side, it makes everything ok.”

Abby received the COVID vaccine this week and is feeling well. She urges sisters to trust the hospitals and doctors, “We have to continue to persevere through this together. The vaccine is a turning point but it’s going to take time to get back to normal. It is a light in a very dark world. I encourage everyone to do their research, stay informed, get the vaccine, wear a mask, wash your hands and be kind to one another.” Keep our healthcare workers in your thoughts and do your part! We are so thankful for the work Abby is doing to serve her community.

Abby Dobrinick is an alumna member of the Gamma Alpha chapter at Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville. She is currently a nurse working at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Holidays this year may look and feel different. We wanted to take a step back and reflect on the different traditions that make your celebrations unique. If you are interested in sharing your stories, please email communications@dphie.org. We want to highlight cultures, religions and backgrounds throughout the year to show that everyone has a place to belong in Delta Phi Epsilon. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Rose Chaikin, Delta Iota
Channukah

There are always three menorah lit every Channukah in my household. My father, brother, and I all light our own each night of the holiday, reciting the brachos (blessings) on the candles in song. My mother is there as well, of course. In past years we have had group family celebrations where we get together with our grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and their families, lighting all together and playing family games. But this year, it’s just the four of us, plus my kitten. On the first night, we exchanged gifts and ate potato latkes (pancakes). Although some of the traditions are cheesy, like having dreidel (spinning tops) competitions for jelly beans or eating donuts, the fact that we are doing it as a family makes it extremely special.

Molly McCabe, Alpha Rho
Christmas

Christmas traditions are what make the holiday season special to my family and I. One activity in particular that I find most magical is the annual holiday theater performance my grandparents take all the cousins to. We all dress up nice and enjoy a Christmas themed musical or play such as The Nutcracker or A Christmas Story at the local theater in my hometown. One year we actually went into the city to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular! This time spent with my family is so important to me. To get to experience this treat each year with the ones I love makes me extremely grateful to have such an amazing family. The music and laughs we all get to share make the holidays special and it’s something we all look forward to! This year we may not be able to get together and enjoy a show due to Covid-19 but hopefully the tradition can continue with time.

Michelle Hartz, Gamma Psi
Queen City Alumnae Association
Yule & Christmas

Reclaiming my ancestral Germanic/Anglo-Saxon Pagan traditions is easy in December.  Almost all American Christmas traditions have Pagan origins.  I begin right after Thanksgiving, gathering a fresh Yule tree & wreath, a couple new ornaments, candles, and other indoor/outdoor decor.  After the initial decorating, I continue to add natural elements to my Yule alter and tree, until Winter Solstice.  For 3 days, starting on the 21st this year, I light red, yellow, and green candles, on my Yule log, to welcome the changing of the season, with the return of the sun.  On the 24th, I celebrate Mōdraniht (Night of the Mothers) and Christmas Eve with food, drink, gifts, and tributes to the mothers in my life.  Christmas Day is celebrated with the completion of the Advent calendar, giving presents, eating, drinking, and family time.  I like to make desserts for special occasions, so I will be attempting to make a Yule log cake this year.  Wish me luck!

Lori Allen, Epsilon Xi
Christmas

Christmas starts with all the prep. Normally, my family goes to fun events leading up the big day. The tree and decorations start going up on Thanksgiving night! Our tree is filled with ornaments, mostly glass and some that are 50 plus years old. We have 25 years of ornaments from the Milwaukee Athletes against Childhood Cancer charity, those are some of my favorites. The Christmas Mart was the special trip last year to make the season happy and bright. Hot Chocolate, shopping and loved ones – what could be better? Christmas Eve is dinner and Church at 10PM. Silent Night, which is always a tear jerker, has special meaning. We come home and open gifts with our immediate family in front of our tree. Christmas morning we are off to “Gma and Gpa’s” for coffee cake and polish sausage for breakfast. We hang out until dinner that is always kicked off with Christmas Crackers. What a Bang! Next is a show stopping dessert. Last year, my youngest daughter and I made a cake that exploded with sprinkles when you cut it. (This year is going to be homemade chocolate bombs filled with homemade vanilla ice cream. They will be opened by pouring lit-rum on to the top of then so the top melts. Please don’t tell!)  Once everything is cleaned up it will be present time. We go around in circles to open presents so everyone can see what was given. What a fun filled season filled with the light of Christ and a heart overflowing with love. So excited to have our daughters home with their men! Wishing you a joyful holiday no matter what you celebrate!

Jane Rosen, an alumna from the Delta Xi chapter at The University of Maryland, published a new book this year! Eliza Starts a Rumor is a story centered around sisterhood. Jane attributes a great deal of what she learned about sisterhood from her undergraduate experience in Delta Phi Epsilon. Reflecting on her experience, she stated “Being in a house with so many different women from all of the country was eye opening -our similarities always far outweighed the differences.” To this day, Jane feels a special bond with her chapter sisters and knows she can depend on them to have her back.

Eliza Starts a Rumor is a fast-paced story of four women coming together to face their pasts and forge their futures. Through sharing their secrets, betrayals and triumphs, they emerge renewed in this joyful celebration of female friendship. Eliza Hunt has a big problem—since her twins left for college she has barely been able to leave her Hudson Valley home. Desperate for connection, she invents a salacious post on a local bulletin board. But is there more truth to it than she knows? Olivia York, a young mom across town, thinks the scandalous story is about her marriage. Alison Le, a single mother navigating life with a newborn in a new town, finds helping Olivia easier than facing her own relationship problems. Amanda Cole, Eliza’s childhood friend, returns from LA amidst her husband’s #MeToo scandal. She may just hold the key to why Eliza can’t leave the house.  All it takes is one rumor, and four lives will never be the same.

The four main characters each bring a different set of life experiences to the book. Jane gained inspiration for the characters from her friends and DPhiE sisters. She stated that she “tapped into aspects of the characters of the women in my own sisterhood. I thought about how they dealt with the ups and downs of their lives, and how much better they handled things when they were able to depend on one another.”

Her inspiration for the begin by wanting to tell a story that dove into the shared female experience. Like many women, Jane spent too much time scrolling through online groups just as in the novel. She stated, “Sometimes I jump on and just get lost in them, sometimes I comment, sometimes I get caught up in an intense back and forth between members, and sometimes I seek out other women’s advice on a topic I need help with.” After connecting with other women in this department, she realized she wasn’t alone. The quick reply and interest in online women’s groups inspired her to write Eliza Starts a Rumor.

The novel is centered around sisterhood, so we asked Jane to share her favorite DPhiE memory:

“ It was the 80’s so we did everything big—big hair, big homecoming floats, big football games, big theme parties and crush parties and formals. It all began with a big pledge night where the pledge class was sent on a massive scavenger hunt in the DC area while the sisters prepared the house. I was part of the group sent to Georgetown where we were instructed, amongst other things, to get our hair sprayed purple and our make-up done at a famous punk rock store, Commander Salamander. On our way home our car died right in front of the White House. With nowhere else to go we went to the gate and asked for help. At this point we were late and as you can imagine, that was our biggest concern. We forgot all about our punk rock hair and make-up. The Marines that stood guard were quick to remind us and even called up the then Vice-president George Bush to take a look at the crazy co-ed’s with purple hair. They put our car in press parking, got us a cab and even wrote us a note on White House stationary for our pledge captain explaining why we were late. If I remember correctly, they weren’t impressed!”

For sisters who dream of writing their own book, Jane encourages you to “write your first draft like no one is reading it and don’t stop until you are done.Then rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. And then show it to one of your sisters for an honest opinion!”

Jane’s novel can be purchased anywhere books are sold, but she has partnered with her local bookstore, McNally Jackson, which can be purchased here. Any purchases made from McNally Jackson will receive a signed copy of the book along with a special Join The Sisterhood pin while supplies last!

Join us in January for The Eliza Starts a Rumor Book chat with DPhiE alumnae and author, Jane L Rosen.

Sorority sisters are like family. This is especially true for the Neuburger family! Ann Neuburger, is an alumna of the Epsilon Iota chapter at The State University of New York College of Geneseo, initiated both of her daughters through the alumnae initiate program. Daughter, Erica, was initiated at the 2018 International Leadership Forum in Buffalo NY. Ann’s second daughter, Melissa, was initiated virtually this Fall virtually!

The alumnae initiate program is an opportunity for sisters to share the gift of sisterhood with a daughter, mother, sister, cousin or friend that did not have the opportunity to join DPhiE through traditional collegiate recruitment. These members embody the values and ideals of DPhiE  and have all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of alumnae members. Members can choose to sponsor someone who embodies these values and ideals, they serve as a mentor throughout the training process. 

Melissa participated in the Spring 2020 training program which was modified to accommodate a completely virtual program. Each week, the alumnae initiate class received a podcast episode focused on the areas of sisterhood, scholarship, social, service and self. They connected each week to go over the training and participate in an activity to reinforce the training process.

While the plan was for Melissa to be initiated at the International Leadership Forum in Disney world, with ILF canceled we opted for a virtual initiation ceremony! To make the ceremony special, Ann invited her chapter sisters to attend. While she did not know how many would be able to attend, she was blown away by the support her chapter sisters showed. 43 members attended Melissa’s virtual initiation ceremony to welcome her with open arms into Delta Phi Epsilon.

Now more than ever we see that sisterhood is for a lifetime and that DPhiE sisters will always come together to spread Justice, Sisterhood and Love. Congratulations on your initiation Melissa!

At Delta Phi Epsilon we have an outstanding group of eight women who are described as, “The feet on the ground”. These eight women are a part of the International Leadership Consultant Program and they spend their working days assisting all 109 chapters with their daily operations. With the new virtual operation that the ILC Program has taken, these eight women could now be described as, “The hands on the mouse”. I am honored to be one of the eight. My experience as an ILC has brought me highs, lows, lessons learned, and opportunities for growth along the way, in just my first 90 days.

One constant that helps me feel accomplished each day is goal setting. The point of setting these goals is to ensure I do not lose motivation throughout the work day. When I write out these daily goals, it encourages me to continue working throughout the day until my goals are accomplished. Likewise, when working directly with collegiate members, it is important to acknowledge when they accomplish their goals. Directly helping collegiate members reach their goals, becoming their support system at a professional level, and encouraging them to strive for excellence has been a very rewarding part of my ILC journey thus far.

Being an ILC, comes with some struggles to overcome. Self-doubt is one obstacle I am working on and the program is helping me to overcome. Of course with any job, or day for that matter, you have bad experiences. I have been very pleased however, that none of my bad experiences have come from any of my colleagues or any collegiate members. My bad experiences have come from two different things; wifi troubles and self-doubt. First let’s talk about the wifi troubles. Unfortunately, where I live does not have good service or a reliable wifi connection. The issue hasn’t affected my ability to get my work done, but it has been an added stressor into my work day.

Secondly, I think I speak for many people when I say that self-doubt is a common struggle. My doubts stem from feeling like I do not know enough on certain topics. Many chapters come to me with the different challenges they are facing and sometimes, I am unsure of how to help them. When I am unsure, I go to a supervisor for advice. I have been working on becoming more comfortable with slowing down my response times to find the most helpful and accurate information to send back to my chapters. This is something that I will have to continue to work on and not let my lack of knowledge in some areas determine how I feel.  No one can know every nuance of sisterhood readily.  I am starting to understand that the support system is there to lift me up and move me forward.

Even though I have only been an ILC for just over a month, I have already learned many lessons that I will be able to carry with me. The first lesson that comes to mind is setting boundaries. My work day is typically 9:00-5:00 during the weekdays. Of course recruitment workshops, LT meetings, and one-on-one with chapter officers can create the need to be flexible with my schedule. But, by setting these boundaries it gives me time to do things that I need to do for myself, things like go to the store, go on a run, or just relax in front of the TV. Almost every day that I have been an ILC, I have learned something new about myself, about the operations of Delta Phi Epsilon, and about a collegiate member with whom I am working. Learning is growing and I am sure having quite a bit of personal development in this program!

The last thing I will touch on is the opportunity for personal and professional growth that I have begun to embrace through my experience. We were able to attend a wide range of workshops during our month of training. These workshops gave me information and a perspective that I would not have received without this program. The workshop range varied from a two part Mental Health First Aid training, to a Hazing Prevention Webinar, to a workshop about Expanding Beyond the NPC Worldview. All of those listed workshops, and many others, have helped me grow professionally, but also personally.

All things considered, I would say that throughout this next year I am in for a treat. From working and guiding collegiate members, to working on my confidence, remembering to set boundaries, and to appreciating all of the opportunities for growth that I will encounter, I am excited for this opportunity that I have been given. Throughout this next year, I hope to make a positive impact on the hundreds of sisters I will meet. I hope to improve  their collegiate experience. Lastly, I hope that by giving my all to this position I will be able to grow and develop daily, professionally and personal, and as a sister in Delta Phi Epsilon.

Madison Pecht is an alumna member of the Alpha Epsilon chapter at Kennesaw State University and a current International Leadership Consultant. Madi currently lives in Georgia. 

Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 – 2022 International Leadership Consultant Program. You can learn more information and apply, by clicking here. Interested in learning more about the program and have questions answered? Join us on November 12 for an interactive webinar, “Want to be an ILC?” You can register for that here.

When I entered college my freshman year, I knew I wanted to attend law school. I spent my senior year focused on applying, studying, gathering recommendations and finalizing my resume. My goal became a reality when I was accepted into the St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. After my acceptance, I realized that it made sense for me to defer my acceptance until the Fall of 2021 due to financial reasons. I took the opportunity to work for a year as an International Leadership Consultant for Delta Phi Epsilon to spend the year preparing for my next step, law school. For this year, I set out to gain real world experience and build a network of professionals.

As an International Leadership Consultant, I gained professional skills that directly translate to my future career as a lawyer. I treat each chapter I work with as my clients and have learned to serve them in a timely manner while providing them the tools they need to be successful. I work directly with the millennial and gen z generations and have learned the impact the present day climate has on each demographic. As a lawyer, it is imperative to have commercial awareness and know what affects current affairs will have on a client. I have learned to gauge my communication style between generations and better understand where a client is coming from.

Each meeting as an ILC requires research and project management skills. By researching prior to each meeting, I am prepared to have a productive appointment and can anticipate my clients needs. Individual meetings and group projects taught me excellent project management skills. The experience of taking a project from conception to execution is a skill that will be helpful throughout my entire professional career. I must also ensure the wording, layout, and presentation is thorough and conveys the correct message when creating resources. My experience as an ILC has shaped me for the next steps in my future by giving me practical professional skills.

Delta Phi Epsilon provided me a wide network of professionals and mentors. The support from my bosses, my fellow consultants, and my mentor Linsay Wolf have all empowered me to continue to reach for my goal. My experience as an ILC has made me feel capable and confident for the next step in my career. Joining Delta Phi Epsilon my freshman year was by far the best decision I made. I took every opportunity the organization offered me and it has given me back more than I could have imagined.

Jessie Leal is an alumna member of the Gamma Gamma chapter at Schreiner University and a current International Leadership Consultant. Jessie lives in Texas and has plans to attend Law School next year. 

Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 – 2022 International Leadership Consultant Program. You can learn more information and apply, by clicking here. Interested in learning more about the program and have questions answered? Join us on November 12 for an interactive webinar, “Want to be an ILC?” You can register for that here.

As a younger generation Mexican American, I have struggled in different ways than most. In the movie Selena, which tells the life story of Mexican American music artist Selena Quintanilla, her father says it best. He said “Being Mexican American is tough. And we gotta prove to the Mexicans how Mexican we are, and we gotta prove to the Americans how American we are. We gotta be more Mexican than the Mexicans, and more American than the Americans; both at the same time. It’s exhausting! Man nobody knows how tough it is to be Mexican American.”

Growing up it was not advantageous to be diverse. I grew up not fully immersed in my Mexican culture. People looked down on you if you spoke Spanish, had an accent, dressed a certain way, or were Mexican. As we head into a more diverse world, this has been a struggle for me. Though there has been progress, there is still not enough representation of Latinx in politics and in various industries across the board.

As a young Mexican American, I want to be an example to young hispanic women. I also know that I am not an expert or the most accurate representation of my culture. I continue to learn about, experience, and lean into my heritage to grow. If you want to learn more, or are curious, I created this resource document. 

Delta Phi Epsilon’s mission of diversity and inclusion encourages me to further my purpose in this area. Being a first generation college student and Mexican, my family and I had absolutely no clue what a sorority was when I first joined DPhiE.

How can we take all of our cultural core values and translate them into DPHIE? How can we all educate PNMs on what a sorority actually is, instead of just assuming it is common knowledge? Acknowledging, talking, and creating small change is an incredible way to start educating our members on all of our different cultural experiences.

Jessie Leal is an alumna member of the Gamma Gamma chapter at Schreiner University and a current International Leadership Consultant. Jessie lives in Texas and has plans to attend Law School next year.