Jade Bristol, originally hailing from Southern California, embarked on her academic and professional journey at Cal Poly Humboldt, class of 1993. Her college years were marked by involvement and service, where she assumed leadership roles within the Epsilon Upsilon chapter and Greek Council. Her commitment to the Delta Phi Epsilon sisterhood didn’t stop at graduation; she continued to guide and mentor as an advisor to the Alpha Iota chapter at the University of San Francisco, and received the Jan Mays Award for Outstanding Advisor during the 1996-1998 biennium.
Furthering her education, Jade attended Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C., where she earned her J.D., cum laude, in 2001. This achievement was a stepping stone into her career in law, where she focused on estate planning, probate, and business planning. With a desire to contribute more broadly to societal well-being, Jade transitioned to a career in the non-profit sector. Her roles as director of planned giving for Muscular Dystrophy Association and Human Rights Campaign allowed her to support causes close to her heart.
Today, Jade serves as the Chief Development Officer for Giving Docs, where she combines her legal expertise and passion for philanthropy to help non-profits and their donors with online estate planning tools. It’s a role she finds both challenging and rewarding, allowing her to make a significant impact in the philanthropic world. Jade’s commitment to social justice and anti-racism has also led her to author pivotal research on the racial/ethnic estate planning gap, establishing her as a respected voice and advocate for equity in estate planning.
Living in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., Jade is the proud mother of four young adults, each carving their own paths in life and education. Her daughter, Miranda, continues the family tradition of engagement and service as a legacy member of the Epsilon Upsilon chapter at Cal Poly Humboldt.
Jade’s life beyond her professional and familial roles is filled with the joys of hiking, cooking, and volunteering, embodying her belief in the power of community service and personal well-being. Her dedication extends to her role on the board of directors for the Delta Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation, further exemplifying her unwavering commitment to leadership and service, and her love for the Delta Phi Epsilon sisterhood.
Tell me a little bit about yourself and your DPhiE journey. Why did you join? What was your experience like as an undergrad? What is it like now as an adult? Any favorite memories?
When I moved to Cal Poly Humboldt in 1990, I was 800 miles from home and knew no one. During a club fair at the beginning of the semester, I stopped by the Delta Phi Epsilon table and met two of the sisters who were immediately welcoming and enthusiastic. I was looking for a group of like-minded women, and was instantly drawn to the values of service and sisterhood embodied by DPhiE members. Epsilon Upsilon chapter has always been small, so there were plenty of opportunities for leadership roles and I enjoyed serving as New Member Educator (we called it “Pledge Mom” back then), Secretary, and Vice President. I also served as Vice President of the Greek Council. One of the many amazing women I met during my time as a collegiate member was Gina Curtis.
After graduation, I wanted to continue my involvement with DPhiE, so I became a chapter advisor for Alpha Iota at University of San Francisco, where I met Emily Meister.
Then I moved to the east coast for law school, and settled in the Washington D.C. area where I started a family and career. During this time, I was busy with my career and with having four children in five years, so my involvement with Delta Phi Epsilon had to be paused.
Years later, the decision of my daughter, Miranda, to attend my alma mater and join DPhiE rekindled my engagement with the sisterhood. Without question, being able to share my love of DPhiE with my daughter has been my favorite part of my journey with our sisterhood. Through Miranda, I rediscovered my love for DPhiE and re-engaged as an alumna volunteer. When I joined the Educational Foundation board in 2023, I found myself reunited with my old friends, Gina Curtis (Epsilon Upsilon) and Emily Meister (Alpha Iota). It felt like coming home, and it was then that I realized that DPhiE had been there all along, just waiting for me to reengage when I was ready, like a loving family who gives you space to pursue your dreams but who always welcomes you back.
How has DPhiE helped you grow in your leadership skills, both professionally and personally?
As a leader both in my company and within my industry, I attribute the foundational leadership skills that have propelled my career to my involvement with Delta Phi Epsilon. My time in DPhiE honed critical skills such as organization, effective communication, and event planning. The discipline of conducting weekly chapter meetings, guided by Robert’s Rules of Order, laid the groundwork for my ability to effectively serve on various committees and boards of directors throughout my professional journey.
You are a shining example of one of our leadership competencies: self-awareness. We define self-awareness as “The ability to articulate and show a desire to work toward personal or professional goals. To align actions with those goals.” How do you demonstrate self-awareness in your life? Any specific examples?
Goal-setting is not just a habit for me; it’s a cornerstone of my identity, playing a pivotal role in shaping my achievements across professional and personal spheres. For me, the practice of setting and achieving goals is deeply entwined with self-awareness, particularly in two aspects: (1) the capacity to set goals that resonate with my core values and (2) the flexibility to shift away from a goal when it ceases to align with my evolving aspirations. Aligning goals with personal values and priorities requires self-reflection and awareness.
Achieving a goal rarely follows a direct path. Take my experience as an illustration: reentering the workforce after a five-year hiatus dedicated to staying home with my children, I found that I needed to recalibrate my professional aspirations. Despite being qualified for more senior roles, I opted for a position that, while not as advanced, offered significant opportunities for growth and learning. This choice was made in alignment with my values and with the strategic intention of using this role as a stepping stone to eventually secure an executive position. This journey underscored the importance of adaptability and the strategic alignment of career moves with my personal values and long-term objectives.
How has DPhiE grown your ability to be more self-aware?
The emphasis of Delta Phi Epsilon on the importance of personal authenticity—to be, rather than to seem to be—has significantly contributed to enhancing my self-awareness. This ethos has served as a powerful reminder to anchor my goal-setting processes in the essence of my true self. By prioritizing authenticity in my ambitions, DPhiE has guided me to a deeper understanding of my values and aspirations, encouraging a more genuine pursuit of my goals.
How do you utilize the resources available to you to persist through challenges, both within the organization and in your personal life?
Learning to use the resources around me wasn’t easy at first; it was something I had to work on getting better at. Growing up, I was taught to do things on my own and not to rely much on others. But as I got older, I realized that finding and using help when I need it actually makes me stronger and helps me achieve my goals. Now, whenever I’m trying to solve a problem or reach a goal, the first thing I do is evaluate any existing resources – these may be individuals with certain knowledge or skills, or more concrete resources that have some connection to the goal I’m working towards.
What strategies do you employ to ensure that your actions consistently reflect your personal and professional goals?
Staying on track with my personal and professional goals involves constantly checking if my actions are moving me closer to what I aim to achieve. This process requires deliberate effort and self-reflection, plus the flexibility to adjust my actions if they’re not leading me toward my objectives. It’s about being intentional and open to change, ensuring that every step I take is a step towards my goals.
Can you share your vision for the future of the organization and how your self-awareness will continue to play a role in achieving that vision?
One of the most cherished aspects of Delta Phi Epsilon’s sisterhood that deeply resonates with me is our unwavering dedication to inclusivity and progress. From its inception, our sorority was built on these foundational values, guiding everything we undertake. It’s truly inspiring to observe that, more than a century later, we continue to embrace these principles, establishing ourselves as pioneers in promoting inclusivity and acceptance within the Greek Life community. My engagement with DPhiE has significantly bolstered my self-awareness and dedication to personal development and authenticity, and I am hopeful that these qualities will contribute to our organization’s ongoing efforts to champion social justice and inclusivity. In an era where the relevance of Greek Life is being scrutinized in the context of contemporary values, the self-awareness of our members and the organization as a whole exemplifies the leadership necessary to drive the positive transformation that Greek Life organizations should be undertaking.
