Our Leadership

Delta Gamma provides volunteer opportunities for alumnae to continue their membership journey and guide the direction and future of the Fraternity and Foundation. Our Fraternity Council is elected by the Delta Gamma membership at each biennial Convention. The Foundation Board of Trustees is elected by voting members.

2026-28 Fraternity Council

Joanna Rosenow Shook

Joanna Rosenow Shook

Alpha Upsilon-Southern Methodist

Fraternity President
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Joanna Rosenow Shook

Joanna Rosenow Shook

Alpha Upsilon-Southern Methodist

Fraternity President

With three terms on Council — serving as Trustee: Collegians and Trustee: Fraternity Programming — and two years on the Foundation Board of Trustees, Joanna is known throughout Delta Gamma for building relationships, solving problems thoughtfully and creating inclusive experiences that are both meaningful and lasting.

A proven innovator, Joanna developed the popular Revisiting Our Rituals series, launched to meet the need for connection when in-person engagement was limited. She has led key initiatives, including establishing the Honor Board Review Committee, on which she now serves, to assist collegians with complex Honor Board cases. She also refined the Collegiate Chapter Support and Chapter Incident models, implementing a constructive, values-aligned approach that delivers positive outcomes for chapters.

She serves on the inaugural Volunteer Development Committee, supporting alumnae in their volunteer journeys.

Joanna’s Delta Gamma experience includes Region 3 Director, Region 3 Nominating Committee representative, Fraternity Director of Collegiate Chapter Operations, Region Collegiate Specialist, Alumnae Development Consultant, Convention co-chair (Phoenix) and numerous advisory team and alumnae group roles. She is a proud recipient of the Cable and Loyalty Awards.

Joanna leads operations for a large fitness portfolio, driving talent acquisition, financial health, and member retention and maintains a hands-on coaching presence at Club Pilates and Orangetheory Fitness studios.

Earlier in her career, Joanna served as Vice President of Community Relations for the first Super Bowl held in Arizona. Her professional expertise in corporate giving, employee volunteer programs, public relations and fundraising has benefited organizations of varied scope and size.

A graduate of Southern Methodist University with dual degrees in finance and economics, Joanna holds certifications in Diversity in the Workplace and Mental Health First Aid. She and her husband, Jim, live outside of Atlanta and have two children, Mattingly (Alpha Delta Pi) and Dallas (Kappa Sigma) and a son-in-law, Michael (Beta Theta Pi).

Kristina Magovac

Kristina Magovac

Delta Eta-Cal State, Sacramento

Council Trustee: Collegians
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Kristina Magovac

Kristina Magovac

Delta Eta-Cal State, Sacramento

Council Trustee: Collegians

For 21 years, Delta Gamma has been a defining part of Kristina’s life. She has served as Fraternity Director: Chapter Advancement, Region 8 Nominating Committee Representative, Regional Collegiate Specialist, Council Appointed Coordinator, advisory team chairman and in several collegiate advisory roles, including collegiate chapter president. She is honored to be a Cable Award recipient.

Kristina’s professional journey began in the beauty world as a makeup artist, a role that allowed her to connect with others during some of their most meaningful moments. She later moved into retail leadership with MAC Cosmetics and other brands. A licensed esthetician, she continues to nurture her love of skincare and makeup and is always happy to share a recommendation or two — just ask!

Over the past decade, Kristina transitioned into the HCM (human capital management) sales industry, where she has found great fulfillment leading teams and supporting organizations through growth and change. She currently serves as sales vice president for Paycor, leading the California market.

Kristina lives in Sacramento with her long-term partner, Luis, and their roommate cat, Leo. She adores California’s sunshine and scenery, but a fun trivia fact, she was born in Alaska. Outside of her professional and fraternal life, she enjoys traveling, cheering at sporting events, spending quality time with friends who have become family and slowly but lovingly transforming her home one project at a time.

Dr. Melissa Thompson

Dr. Melissa Thompson

Gamma Zeta-Louisiana State

Council Trustee: Alumnae
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Dr. Melissa Thompson

Dr. Melissa Thompson

Gamma Zeta-Louisiana State

Council Trustee: Alumnae

Melissa currently serves as Council Trustee: Alumnae, where she works closely with staff and volunteers to strengthen the alumnae experience through growth, engagement and training initiatives. Over the past biennium, she worked alongside fellow Council members to shape the Fraternity’s new strategic priorities and supported the alumnae team with the development of the alumna initiate strategic plan. Her focus is on building sustainable, member-centered pathways that strengthen belonging at every stage of membership.

Professionally, Melissa is a partner at Success Labs, a Baton Rouge-based consulting firm where she specializes in leadership development, organizational strategy, and executive coaching for clients across healthcare, manufacturing, government, and higher education.

She has planned and coached speakers for nine TEDx events — most recently TEDxBatonRouge, one of nineteen events worldwide selected as a TED Countdown Anchor Event. She also teaches leadership and communication courses in LSU’s E.J. Ourso College of Business, where she enjoys helping the next generation find their voice and prepare for life after college.

Her previous Delta Gamma service includes Fraternity Director: Alumnae Engagement, Region 3 Alumnae Specialist, Delta Gamma PRO and multiple roles with Baton Rouge alumnae chapter and advisory positions for Gamma Zeta-Louisiana State.

Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree from LSU and a master’s and doctorate in communication theory from the University of Memphis. Originally from Arkansas, Melissa made Baton Rouge her permanent home in 2012 and has been deeply invested in the community ever since. She serves on the board of the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, is a founding member of the Echo Alliance supporting Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, and is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Baton Rouge.

Outside of work, she loves to travel with her fiancé, Patrick, and spend time with her sweet pups, Tallulahand Freddie.

Leslie Jean Pedigo

Leslie Jean Pedigo

Gamma Nu-North Texas

Council Trustee: Fraternity Programming
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Leslie Jean Pedigo

Leslie Jean Pedigo

Gamma Nu-North Texas

Council Trustee: Fraternity Programming

Leslie Pedigo is a dedicated volunteer leader and adult learning professional whose career has been shaped by a commitment to developing people, building strong communities and creating meaningful learning experiences. Prior to serving in her current professional role of designing educational experiences for the clean energy industry, Leslie worked for over 10 years in higher education and Fraternity/Sorority life in employee development and member education and programming.

Leslie has continuously volunteered for Delta Gamma since 2014 as an advisory team chair, a Regional Collegiate Specialist and currently serves as Fraternity Director: Chapter Operations. She has facilitated at several Delta Gamma programs such as Lewis Institute, Dawson Institute, Anchor Academy and many virtual and in-person officer and adviser trainings. She visited many DG collegiate chapters, facilitating programs on alcohol skills and supporting sisters through mental health challenges. She has previously served on the board for the Association of Leadership Educators, a membership association for professionals in leadership education, and has held a number of volunteer and leadership roles within the Junior League of Indianapolis. She is proud to have been awarded the Delta Gamma Cable Award, recognizing her 10 years of volunteer service, and the Outstanding Indianapolis Alumna from the Delta Gamma Greater Indianapolis alumnae chapter. She is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has obtained professional certifications in adult learning and program design. She has been awarded for her creative member programming and curriculum and her educational writing for professional publications. She is a double graduate of the University of North Texas, earning her master’s in higher education and student affairs.

Leslie proudly resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her husband, Grant. In her free time, she enjoys camping, traveling and reading.

Natalie Cooper Grindle

Natalie Cooper Grindle

Gamma Sigma-Houston

Council Trustee: Membership
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Natalie Cooper Grindle

Natalie Cooper Grindle

Gamma Sigma-Houston

Council Trustee: Membership

Natalie is excited to begin her second term as Council Trustee: Membership. During the past biennium, she helped lead unprecedented Fraternity growth through reimagined support structures and practical, data-driven tools. She remains focused on building a scalable growth system, expanding the smart use of analytics to strengthen chapter support and giving volunteers the resources, confidence and clarity they need to succeed.

Natalie joined our Gamma Sigma chapter through COB in Spring 2004 and later served as a Collegiate Development Consultant. She credits her time on the road for Delta Gamma as one of the most formative experiences of her life. Her cumulative collegiate and membership volunteer service has given her a deep appreciation for Delta Gamma’s history and a passion for shaping its future through thoughtful innovation and member-centered leadership.

A Summa Cum Laude graduate with bachelor’s degrees in marketing and management, Natalie brings the same strategic vision, discipline and creative problem-solving to Delta Gamma that she uses in her dynamic career. As a seasoned energy leader and business development director at Williams, she leads commercial strategy for high-impact projects across North America — advancing reliability, resilience and growth in rapidly evolving markets. She thrives on smart, scalable solutions and is driven by curiosity, agility and a strong belief in the power of connection and collaboration.

A proud Texas native, Natalie lives in Houston with her son, Cooper, and their many pets. Outside of Delta Gamma and work, she enjoys cheering on Cooper at the baseball field, traveling, live music, the arts, interior design and fashion. She approaches life with a relentless pursuit of progress, grounded in empathy, logic and meaningful connection.

Samantha McQuaig Siffring

Samantha McQuaig Siffring

Epsilon Nu-James Madison

Council trustee: Communications
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Samantha McQuaig Siffring

Samantha McQuaig Siffring

Epsilon Nu-James Madison

Council trustee: Communications

Samantha lives in Colorado with her husband, Stuart, their three children, Reid, Oliver, and Lila, dog Chloe, and cat Greta. Samantha loves traveling, reading romance novels, antiquing and cheering for the Denver Nuggets. Professionally, Samantha is a business coach and founder of a consulting and coaching company that helps women launch and grow their businesses. She is also the host of the Simple Online Business podcast and author of “Copy That Compels” and “The 90 Day Business Growth Challenge Journal.” Samantha holds a B.S.in psychology and marketing and an M.A.in counseling.

As a volunteer for Delta Gamma, Samantha currently serves as Council Trustee: Communications. She has previously served as Fraternity Director: Extension, Regional Collegiate Recruitment Specialist, Nominating Committee representative and in a wide range of local roles, including advisory team chair, alumnae chapter president and house corporation secretary.

Shenea Stephenson Strader

Shenea Stephenson Strader

Eta Iota-Nevada, Reno

Fraternity Treasurer
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Shenea Stephenson Strader

Shenea Stephenson Strader

Eta Iota-Nevada, Reno

Fraternity Treasurer

Hailing from the Biggest Little City in the World — Reno, Nevada — Shenea Strader resides with her husband, Chris (Sigma Phi Epsilon), their seven-year-old twins, Siena and Silas, and their twin dogs, Cooper and Chloe.

Shenea holds degrees in international business, marketing and Spanish, along with a minor in economics, as well as a Master of Business Administration. She is both a certified Project Management Professional and a Certified Scrum Master. Before becoming president and CEO of her family’s medical management organization, Obviate, she spent more than a decade working in corporate project and program management. Her professional strengths include organizational leadership, strategic planning and building strong, values-driven teams — skills she is honored to bring to her Delta Gamma service.

For more than 20 years, Shenea has served Delta Gamma in a wide range of volunteer roles.Her experience includes positions such as Honor Board adviser, advisory team chairman and house corporation president, as well as numerous regional leadership roles, including Region 7 Housing Specialist, Region 8 Collegiate Specialist and New Chapter Coordinator, Region 7 Director and most recently Council Trustee: Fraternity Programming.

Shenea is also deeply engaged in her local community and alma mater. She serves on the boards of the Caughlin Ranch Elementary School Parent Faculty Association, Soroptimist International of Sierra Reno, Rotary Club of Reno, Junior League of Reno and the University of Nevada Foundation Board of Trustees. Additionally, she is an active member of Altrusa International of Reno/Sparks and the Reno Elks Lodge.

In her personal time, Shenea enjoys traveling, supporting animal rescue initiatives and advocating for the special needs community. She remains grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Delta Gamma and to live out the Fraternity’s charge to do good.

2026-27 Foundation Board of Trustees

Jennifer Surgalski

Jennifer Surgalski

Zeta Sigma-Northern Kentucky

Chair
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Jennifer Surgalski

Jennifer Surgalski

Zeta Sigma-Northern Kentucky

Chair

Jennifer is at the forefront of innovative Dallas Cowboys business partnerships and strategic projects, including stadium naming rights, its headquarters and training facility, record-breaking sponsorship revenue, and expansive stadium enhancements – as well as unique ventures in co-working, esports, fitness, luxury residential, private hospitality and restaurant/retail. As Chief of Strategy for the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, she helped establish a museum and leadership institute to perpetuate the legacy of our nation’s highest military recognition. Her contributions span business strategy, brand development and experience, architectural and exhibition design, fundraising strategy and milestone events. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Northern Kentucky University, and both a Master of Business Administration and Master of Sports Administration from Ohio University.

Lee C. Deadwyler

Lee C. Deadwyler

Gamma Iota-DePauw

Secretary
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Lee C. Deadwyler

Lee C. Deadwyler

Gamma Iota-DePauw

Secretary

Lee Deadwyler is a fundraising professional whose career began at the DG Foundation working with young alumnae and collegiate donors, as well as Service for Sight . Lee is currently the mid-level giving manager for the Center for Reproductive Rights, where she manages fundraising and stewardship for the Center’s Advocates Council. Lee has been a volunteer within DG for the Delta Zeta House Corporation, the Columbus alumnae chapter, and as the Region 2 Regional Housing Specialist. She has received many opportunities through the Foundation, including scholarships, LeaderShape and the 2020 Hope Serving trip to Marrakech. She is excited for the opportunity to give back to our Fraternity and Foundation, which she credits for much of her personal and professional leadership development.

Dr. Cyndy Burroughs Cycyota

Dr. Cyndy Burroughs Cycyota

Mu-Missouri

Treasurer
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Dr. Cyndy Burroughs Cycyota

Dr. Cyndy Burroughs Cycyota

Mu-Missouri

Treasurer

Dr. Cyndy Burroughs Cycyota, Mu ’76, is a professor emerita of strategic management at the United States Air Force Academy. Before academia, she was a CPA manager with two international accounting firms and a bank vice president. Cyndy has been very involved in community service, serving on several local and national non-profit boards and several Delta Gamma positions, including the Service for Sight Grants committee, ASTP facilitator, and CFA for Beta Chapter at the University of Washington. Cyndy and her family strongly believe in supporting organizations that develop young people as engaged citizens. Cyndy, her husband Tom, a past president of Delta Sigma Phi, and their border collie, Gus, split their time between Breckenridge and Seattle.

Catherine (Kim) Schmoker Hunnewell

Catherine (Kim) Schmoker Hunnewell

Alpha Upsilon-Southern Methodist

Trustee
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Catherine (Kim) Schmoker Hunnewell

Catherine (Kim) Schmoker Hunnewell

Alpha Upsilon-Southern Methodist

Trustee

Kim is currently serving her second term on the Delta Gamma Foundation Board of Trustees. She previously served Delta Gamma as Regional Foundation Coordinator for Region 5 and in local advisory team positions. Kim also served on the Board of Trustees at Saint Thomas Academy, co-chairing their capital campaign and as president of the Junior League of Minneapolis (JLM). Kim comes from a family of dedicated Delta Gammas. She is the granddaughter of Helen Catherine Davis Stuart (H.K. Stuart Spirit of Service Award), the daughter of Catherine “Kit” Stuart Schmoker (Schmoker Principled Alumna Leadership Award) and the proud aunt of DG nieces Maggie and Katie. She and husband Willard live in Minneapolis, MN and have four boys.

Heather Shirk Patrick

Heather Shirk Patrick

Gamma Sigma-Houston

Trustee
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Heather Shirk Patrick

Heather Shirk Patrick

Gamma Sigma-Houston

Trustee

Heather has spent twenty years in the non-profit community serving at the local, regional, and national levels of healthcare non-profits. A versatile and strategic leader, she has a keen ability to leverage insights and analysis to build mission programs with maximum impact performing at elevated levels of effectiveness and efficiency. Heather is currently the President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Texas. She is focused on leading a team across Texas to elevate vision care, educate individuals about risk, and advocate for improved access to care for clients. In 2019, Heather was awarded the Women Who Mean Business Award by the Houston Business Journal for outstanding leadership and excellence in the Nonprofit Industry, and in 2025, she was recognized by the Houston Business Journal as one of the Most Admired CEOs in the Greater Houston area. She has been a part of the Fraternity since 1993 and has served in leadership roles throughout of the 20+ years she has been in Delta Gamma.

Emily Poeschl

Emily Poeschl

Kappa-Nebraska

Trustee
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Emily Poeschl

Emily Poeschl

Kappa-Nebraska

Trustee

Bio forthcoming

Dr. Amy R. Ayres

Dr. Amy R. Ayres

Alpha Iota-Oklahoma

Trustee
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Dr. Amy R. Ayres

Dr. Amy R. Ayres

Alpha Iota-Oklahoma

Trustee

Dr. Amy Ayres serves as vice president for student affairs and Title IX coordinator at Oklahoma City University. With 28 years experience in higher education, Amy has made it her life work to support and develop college students through student success initiatives that foster a sense of belonging and connection. She received her Doctor of Education degree at the University of North Texas. Amy was elected to her second term as Fraternity President in 2024 and prior to being President, she served as Council Trustee: Collegians. In her role as Fraternity President, Amy also serves on the Delta Gamma Foundation Board of Trustees and as the National Panhellenic Conference Delegate. She was collegiate chapter president at the University of Oklahoma and then traveled for two years as a Collegiate Development Consultant. Before serving on Fraternity Council, Amy served in a number of leadership roles for Delta Gamma. Amy currently lives in Oklahoma City with her dogs and cats. She enjoys going to concerts and supporting locally owned shops and restaurants.

Joanna Rosenow Shook

Joanna Rosenow Shook

Alpha Upsilon-Southern Methodist

Fraternity President
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Joanna Rosenow Shook

Joanna Rosenow Shook

Alpha Upsilon-Southern Methodist

Fraternity President

With three terms on Council — serving as Trustee: Collegians and Trustee: Fraternity Programming — and two years on the Foundation Board of Trustees, Joanna is known throughout Delta Gamma for building relationships, solving problems thoughtfully and creating inclusive experiences that are both meaningful and lasting.

A proven innovator, Joanna developed the popular Revisiting Our Rituals series, launched to meet the need for connection when in-person engagement was limited. She has led key initiatives, including establishing the Honor Board Review Committee, on which she now serves, to assist collegians with complex Honor Board cases. She also refined the Collegiate Chapter Support and Chapter Incident models, implementing a constructive, values-aligned approach that delivers positive outcomes for chapters.

She serves on the inaugural Volunteer Development Committee, supporting alumnae in their volunteer journeys.

Joanna’s Delta Gamma experience includes Region 3 Director, Region 3 Nominating Committee representative, Fraternity Director of Collegiate Chapter Operations, Region Collegiate Specialist, Alumnae Development Consultant, Convention co-chair (Phoenix) and numerous advisory team and alumnae group roles. She is a proud recipient of the Cable and Loyalty Awards.

Joanna leads operations for a large fitness portfolio, driving talent acquisition, financial health, and member retention and maintains a hands-on coaching presence at Club Pilates and Orangetheory Fitness studios.

Earlier in her career, Joanna served as Vice President of Community Relations for the first Super Bowl held in Arizona. Her professional expertise in corporate giving, employee volunteer programs, public relations and fundraising has benefited organizations of varied scope and size.

A graduate of Southern Methodist University with dual degrees in finance and economics, Joanna holds certifications in Diversity in the Workplace and Mental Health First Aid. She and her husband, Jim, live outside of Atlanta and have two children, Mattingly (Alpha Delta Pi) and Dallas (Kappa Sigma) and a son-in-law, Michael (Beta Theta Pi).

Shenea Stephenson Strader

Shenea Stephenson Strader

Eta Iota-Nevada, Reno

Fraternity Treasurer
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Shenea Stephenson Strader

Shenea Stephenson Strader

Eta Iota-Nevada, Reno

Fraternity Treasurer

Hailing from the Biggest Little City in the World — Reno, Nevada — Shenea Strader resides with her husband, Chris (Sigma Phi Epsilon), their seven-year-old twins, Siena and Silas, and their twin dogs, Cooper and Chloe.

Shenea holds degrees in international business, marketing and Spanish, along with a minor in economics, as well as a Master of Business Administration. She is both a certified Project Management Professional and a Certified Scrum Master. Before becoming president and CEO of her family’s medical management organization, Obviate, she spent more than a decade working in corporate project and program management. Her professional strengths include organizational leadership, strategic planning and building strong, values-driven teams — skills she is honored to bring to her Delta Gamma service.

For more than 20 years, Shenea has served Delta Gamma in a wide range of volunteer roles.Her experience includes positions such as Honor Board adviser, advisory team chairman and house corporation president, as well as numerous regional leadership roles, including Region 7 Housing Specialist, Region 8 Collegiate Specialist and New Chapter Coordinator, Region 7 Director and most recently Council Trustee: Fraternity Programming.

Shenea is also deeply engaged in her local community and alma mater. She serves on the boards of the Caughlin Ranch Elementary School Parent Faculty Association, Soroptimist International of Sierra Reno, Rotary Club of Reno, Junior League of Reno and the University of Nevada Foundation Board of Trustees. Additionally, she is an active member of Altrusa International of Reno/Sparks and the Reno Elks Lodge.

In her personal time, Shenea enjoys traveling, supporting animal rescue initiatives and advocating for the special needs community. She remains grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Delta Gamma and to live out the Fraternity’s charge to do good.

Leslie Jean Pedigo

Leslie Jean Pedigo

Gamma Nu-North Texas

Council Trustee: Fraternity Programming
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Leslie Jean Pedigo

Leslie Jean Pedigo

Gamma Nu-North Texas

Council Trustee: Fraternity Programming

Leslie Pedigo is a dedicated volunteer leader and adult learning professional whose career has been shaped by a commitment to developing people, building strong communities and creating meaningful learning experiences. Prior to serving in her current professional role of designing educational experiences for the clean energy industry, Leslie worked for over 10 years in higher education and Fraternity/Sorority life in employee development and member education and programming.

Leslie has continuously volunteered for Delta Gamma since 2014 as an advisory team chair, a Regional Collegiate Specialist and currently serves as Fraternity Director: Chapter Operations. She has facilitated at several Delta Gamma programs such as Lewis Institute, Dawson Institute, Anchor Academy and many virtual and in-person officer and adviser trainings. She visited many DG collegiate chapters, facilitating programs on alcohol skills and supporting sisters through mental health challenges. She has previously served on the board for the Association of Leadership Educators, a membership association for professionals in leadership education, and has held a number of volunteer and leadership roles within the Junior League of Indianapolis. She is proud to have been awarded the Delta Gamma Cable Award, recognizing her 10 years of volunteer service, and the Outstanding Indianapolis Alumna from the Delta Gamma Greater Indianapolis alumnae chapter. She is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has obtained professional certifications in adult learning and program design. She has been awarded for her creative member programming and curriculum and her educational writing for professional publications. She is a double graduate of the University of North Texas, earning her master’s in higher education and student affairs.

Leslie proudly resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her husband, Grant. In her free time, she enjoys camping, traveling and reading.

Delta Gamma Executive Offices

Delta Gamma Executive Offices’ mission is to advance the values of Delta Gamma Fraternity by providing professional expertise, purpose-driven support and passionate commitment to members, friends and colleagues in the interest of doing good. Learn more about Executive Offices.