For Immediate Release:
Contact: Liz Thompson
Director of Marketing and Communications
(614) 481-8169 | media@deltagamma.org
COLUMBUS, OHIO – Delta Gamma Fraternity is proud to announce its new partner, Social Responsibility Speaks (SRS), which will aid the organization in developing and implementing strategies for cultivating a more inclusive and equitable membership experience at all levels of the organization, including staff. Founded on the belief that all humans have a social responsibility to care for one another, SRS works toward a more just society and endeavors to educate others to do the same. The individuals who lead SRS have professional experience as staff of higher education institutions, project work with nonprofits and volunteer-governed organizations and existing relationships with Delta Gamma and other National Panhellenic Conference groups.
Prior to the start of this partnership, Delta Gamma had partnered with The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in 2019, to conduct a contextualization effort and subsequent organizational equity assessment to review policies, procedures and practices in order to provide the organization’s leaders with recommendations to further advance a culture of care anchored in enhanced inclusivity. The recommendations from the assessment, which will now be implemented by SRS, are designed to remedy barriers, create opportunities for repairing harm and identify needed cultural changes to realize a Delta Gamma where every member feels valued.
Delta Gamma Fraternity President Wilma Johnson Wilbanks, Alpha Psi-Mississippi, shares, “I am honored to work alongside the SRS team as we review the recommendations, engage our members and implement impactful change that will solidify the future of our Do Good Sisterhood. Last month, our Leadership team received the first SRS training experience and we are energized by their profound expertise, commitment to coach and guide, and authentic familiarity with member organizations established to empower women.”
In a statement from Social Responsibility Speaks, the Team Leads offered the following: “Our Team is moved by Delta Gamma Fraternity’s commitment to a comprehensive plan for sustainable change within the Fraternity to ensure the Do Good Sisterhood is able to achieve the vision of ‘when nowhere else feels like home, Delta Gamma does’ for every member. We look forward to building on the Kirwan Institute’s recommendations and operationalizing those within the Fraternity.”
The partnership between Delta Gamma Fraternity and SRS began in March 2021 and will continue for a minimum of one year as strategic plans are further outlined and the implementation phase begins across Delta Gamma organization wide.
About Delta Gamma: Delta Gamma Fraternity was founded in 1873 at the Lewis School in Oxford, Mississippi. The objects of the Fraternity shall be to foster high ideals of friendship among women, to promote their educational and cultural interests, to create in them a true sense of social responsibility and to develop in them the best qualities of character. Today we have more than 263,000 initiated members, 151 collegiate chapters and nearly 200 alumnae groups. Delta Gamma Fraternity Executive Offices is in Columbus, Ohio.
About Social Responsibility Speaks: Social Responsibility Speaks™’ mission is to create a culture of belonging and mattering through a focus on equity, inclusion, and justice. We partner with individuals and organizations to commit to becoming better and stronger in our journey to prevent harm, confront bias, and seek justice. The Social Responsibility Speaks’™ team sees everyone in this space as a leader who must model cultural humility and hold themselves and others accountable to this work.
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Liz Thompson
Director of Marketing and Communications
(614) 481-8169 | media@deltagamma.org
COLUMBUS, OHIO – Delta Gamma is proud to announce the establishment of the new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Commission, which has been formed to help advise, guide and inform Delta Gamma’s efforts around fostering a greater sense of belonging amongst members who hold marginalized identities, ensuring equitable membership experiences and continuing the organization’s commitment to inclusivity. The 2021 DEI Advisory Commission is composed of 13 accomplished and insightful leaders who are uniquely positioned to assist in the development and growth of Delta Gamma.
“I am deeply grateful for our Advisory Commission members’ willingness and acceptance of such significant responsibilities, as well as their genuine interest anchored in the advancement of Delta Gamma. As trained professionals committed to actionable organizational change, our Advisory Commission members can personally relate to the experiences of our sisters and the contributions of a fraternal membership,” says Fraternity President Wilma Johnson Wilbanks, Alpha Psi-Mississippi. “Our Fraternity Council is dedicated to working alongside these talented volunteers, seeking their guidance and engaging in conversations that will strengthen our sisterhood and our communities as we move forward.”
Members of the Advisory Commission were selected and endorsed by Delta Gamma’s Fraternity Council because of their professional, volunteer or lived experiences. Representing a total of eight different fraternities and sororities, a spectrum of campus community experiences and diverse identities, our Advisory Commission members are subject matter experts committed to the values of Delta Gamma. Many members of the Commission volunteer with other fraternal and community organizations to provide DEI guidance and support. Commission members also offer strong facilitation, consultation and project management skills.
Information about the members of the DEI Advisory Commission and a Frequently Asked Questions resource are located on our website.
About Delta Gamma: Delta Gamma Fraternity was founded in 1873 at the Lewis School in Oxford, Mississippi. The objects of the Fraternity shall be to foster high ideals of friendship among women, to promote their educational and cultural interests, to create in them a true sense of social responsibility and to develop in them the best qualities of character. Today we have more than 263,000 initiated members, 151 collegiate chapters and more than 190 alumnae groups. Delta Gamma Fraternity Executive Offices is in Columbus, Ohio.
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Liz Thompson
Director of Marketing and Communications
(614) 487-5539 ext. 339 | media@deltagamma.org
COLUMBUS, OHIO [July 2, 2020] - Delta Gamma Fraternity hosted its 69th Biennial Convention this past Saturday, June 27 through a virtual format. As members conducted the business of the Fraternity, the 2020-2022 Fraternity Council officers were elected to govern the organization for the next biennium.
“This 2020-2022 Council will continue the important work of creating a more accessible sisterhood through considering all aspects of our organization including membership, financial access, recruitment, inclusion and more. The sorority experience is a powerful lifelong bond,” said Fraternity President, Wilma Johnson Wilbanks. “I am humbled to serve once again alongside such committed Delta Gamma leaders who are a testament to the strength of our sisterhood.”
Fraternity President
Wilma Johnson Wilbanks, Alpha Psi-Mississippi
Council Trustee: Collegians
Dr. Amy Ayres, Alpha Iota-Oklahoma
Council Trustee: Alumnae
Sheri Ann Senne, Alpha Theta-North Dakota
Council Trustee: Fraternity Programming
Joanna Rosenow Shook, Alpha Upsilon-Southern Methodist
Council Trustee: Membership
Carolyn Schnure Hill, Alpha Lambda-Drake
Council Trustee: Communications
Kathleen Brady Stanton, Alpha Iota-Oklahoma
Fraternity Treasurer
Susan Eddy Kinney, Beta Psi-Alabama
Delta Gamma Fraternity’s Council is comprised of dues-paying alumnae members who serve as elected members of the Board. They attend Convention, Officer Training Seminar and other Fraternity seminars as requested. They travel, when safe and appropriate, in an official capacity on behalf of the Fraternity and perform assigned duties in conformity with our Constitution, policies and procedures. These women work with Fraternity leadership and local volunteers, as well as Executive Offices staff, to drive forward the mission of our Fraternity: Do Good.
The women elected to these roles are influential within their communities and have contributed much to Delta Gamma through their volunteer roles over time. Their bios can be viewed here.
About Delta Gamma: Delta Gamma Fraternity was founded in 1873 at the Lewis School in Oxford, Mississippi. The Fraternity’s primary purpose is to foster high ideals of friendship, promote educational and cultural interests, create a true sense of social responsibility and develop the best qualities of character. Delta Gamma has more than 250,000 initiated members, 152 collegiate chapters and more than 200 alumnae groups. Delta Gamma Fraternity Executive Offices is in Columbus, Ohio.
For Immediate Release
Contact: media@deltagamma.org
Columbus, OH – Taking a cue from many college campuses undergoing contextualization efforts, Delta Gamma explored and evaluated its own history. In doing so, the organization announces a positional statement on contextualization:
Delta Gamma supports engaging in organizational contextualization efforts. Delta Gamma acknowledges the importance of exploring uncomfortable aspects of our history and examining these with historical authenticity and candor. We commit to providing an open and honest dialogue regarding our full history, even those aspects that may not portray our organization in the best light.
These contextualization efforts have led to new training opportunities for leadership and members about implicit bias and recognizing and reducing microaggressions.
“Today, we seek to view items through a modern, 2020 lens. It is important to recognize the climate and circumstances surrounding our founding in order to provide context in which people can understand the very complex and discriminatory issues of the past and how they have shaped the present,” said Fraternity President Wilma Johnson Wilbanks, Alpha Psi-Mississippi.
This positional statement on contextualization supports the Fraternity’s commitment to inclusion. Delta Gamma Fraternity does not discriminate in its membership selection on the basis of race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, physical disability or other characteristics protected by state, provincial or federal law. Membership is open to all individuals who identify as women. Those selected for membership in Delta Gamma must have good scholarship, be of good character and standing, have an interest in activities that will enhance the academic atmosphere at the college or university, and have a sincere desire to contribute to the work of Delta Gamma.
Read the contextualization article, “Confronting Our Past: Understanding the Barriers to Inclusion,” in the winter issue of the ANCHORA.
About Delta Gamma: Delta Gamma Fraternity was founded in 1873 at the Lewis School in Oxford, Mississippi. The Fraternity’s primary purpose is to foster high ideals of friendship, promote educational and cultural interests, create a true sense of social responsibility and develop the best qualities of character. Delta Gamma has more than 250,000 initiated members, 151 collegiate chapters and more than 200 alumnae groups. Delta Gamma Fraternity Executive Offices is in Columbus, Ohio.
For Immediate Release:
Contact:
Jennifer Magro Algarotti, Ph.D.
Director of Strategic Communications
(614) 487-5507
jennifera@deltagamma.org
Columbus, Ohio [November 20, 2019]— The Delta Gamma Foundation is currently conducting a search for its next Executive Director to lead the Foundation staff in Columbus, Ohio. After serving since 2014, the current Executive Director will retire from the role and transition to a member of the development team by October 1, 2020. The Executive Director position is a full-time, 12-month contract, benefits eligible position reporting to the Chairman of the Delta Gamma Foundation Board of Trustees.
The next Executive Director will be an experienced major gift fundraiser who serves as the chief development officer for a variety of development initiatives implemented by the Foundation. The Executive Director is responsible for providing leadership and vision, directing daily operations, and furthering the long-term goals of the organization while maintaining a regular schedule of travel throughout the United States and Canada to steward existing donors as well as to build and cultivate new donors. The Executive Director will have extensive experience leading varied fundraising activities at a similarly-sized organization and will be skilled in board development, strategic planning, day-to-day operations, overseeing the Foundation’s finances, and mentoring and directing a talented and passionate staff. The full job description may be reviewed on the Delta Gamma website.
The Delta Gamma Foundation comprises a professional staff of 14, including the Executive Director, and is governed by a nine-member elected Board of Trustees. We are one Delta Gamma, but in accordance with Internal Revenue Code, the Foundation and Fraternity are two separate organizations. Each entity offers unique opportunities for our members to “Do Good.” The Foundation has net assets of over $30M. In fiscal year 2018-2019, the Delta Gamma Foundation awarded more than $1M in scholarships and fellowships and made grants to Delta Gamma Fraternity for educational and leadership programming of almost $1.2M. For more information about the Delta Gamma Foundation, please visit https://www.deltagamma.org/foundation or https://www.deltagamma.org/.
For further information, please contact EDSearch@deltagamma.org. To apply, please send a cover letter and current resume to EDSearch@deltagamma.org. All applications will be acknowledged.
About Delta Gamma Foundation: Incorporated in 1951, the Delta Gamma Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed as a complement to the Delta Gamma Fraternity, creating a vehicle for members to promote the educational interests and social responsibility referenced in Article II of the Fraternity Constitution. The Delta Gamma Foundation fosters lifetime enrichment for members, promotes Service for Sight and partners with the Fraternity to ensure the future of our sisterhood.
For Immediate Release:
Contact:
Jennifer Magro Algarotti, Ph.D.
Director of Strategic Communications
(614) 487-5507
jennifera@deltagamma.org
Columbus, Ohio [October 18, 2019]— Delta Gamma Foundation announces Roxanne Ebner LaMuth will retire from the role of executive director and transition to a member of the development team by October 1, 2020.
LaMuth has served as executive director since 2014, after being promoted from director of development, and has been a member of Delta Gamma Executive Offices professional staff for more than 15 years. Gifts to the Delta Gamma Foundation increased in LaMuth’s first year in office by 145%. She has been a great partner to the Delta Gamma Fraternity’s leadership, helping generate a relationship statement and joint objectives, accomplishing a goal the organization had held the past 15 years.
“Roxanne has been a loyal Delta Gamma leader for many years … Her enthusiasm and energy coupled with a deep love for her Fraternity and Foundation endear her to all,” said Jane Williams Simmons, chairman of Delta Gamma Foundation Board of Trustees.
LaMuth has strategically engaged in fundraising efforts surrounding the organization’s sesquicentennial in 2023 and has laid the groundwork for success. In recognition of her achievements as an executive director, LaMuth was recently named the 2019 recipient of the William D. Jenkins Award for Outstanding Foundation Professional by the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence.
The Delta Gamma Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed a selection committee that will lead the search for the next executive director. LaMuth will remain in the executive director position until a new executive director is named.
“I feel blessed that my transition presents a wonderful opportunity to continue working for this beloved organization and to continue cultivating the exceptional relationships of our donors and leaders, both of whom are vital to our success,” says LaMuth.
A public announcement of the nationwide search is forthcoming.
About Delta Gamma Foundation: Incorporated in 1951, the Delta Gamma Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization formed as a complement to the Delta Gamma Fraternity, creating a vehicle for members to promote the educational interests and social responsibility referenced in Article II of the Fraternity Constitution. The Delta Gamma Foundation fosters lifetime enrichment for members, promotes Service for Sight and partners with the Fraternity to ensure the future of our sisterhood.
COLUMBUS, OHIO [October 2, 2019] – It is with immense sadness that Delta Gamma shares that Zeta Psi-Salisbury collegiate chapter president Kassidee "Kassi" Boyce passed away on October 1.
Kassi was 21 years old and a senior at Salisbury University, studying community health. She served as Zeta Psi chapter president since 2018, and was previously vp: Panhellenic and a member of Honor Board. Kassi attended Delta Gamma’s leadership training, Lewis Institute, in 2018.
She will be remembered for her quick-witted sense of humor, her huge heart and kindness. Kassi was a nurturing and supportive friend and sister. She volunteered as a dog walker for rescue dogs and ended up adopting a puppy she loved dearly.
Delta Gamma sends its deepest condolences to her family and friends. Read more about Kassi and the arrangements to remember her.
Additionally, sisters have opened a memorial fund and are planning a remembrance vigil on Sunday, October 6, at 8 p.m. in Red Square. Representatives from Delta Gamma Fraternity Leadership will be present to provide support to the chapter during this unimaginably difficult time. Sisters are encouraged to seek and utilize SU Cares resources on campus.
About Delta Gamma Delta Gamma Fraternity was founded in 1873 at the Lewis School in Oxford, Mississippi. The objects of the Fraternity shall be to foster high ideals of friendship among women, to promote their educational and cultural interests, to create in them a true sense of social responsibility and to develop in them the best qualities of character. Today we have more than 250,000 initiated members, 151 collegiate chapters and more than 200 alumnae groups. Delta Gamma Fraternity Executive Offices is in Columbus, Ohio.
INDIANAPOLIS — For the last six months, the six National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) member organizations
with chapters represented at the University of Nevada, Reno have been in communication with the University’s
Fraternity and Sorority Life Office regarding its proposed Relationship Agreement for Recognition in 2019.
These agreements are commonly subject to negotiation, and our members had been working to arrive at an
agreement for 2019 that could meet the needs of both the University and the sorority community.
With negotiations still outstanding on a few areas of concern, the six NPC member organizations requested
an extension to the Agreement deadline in hopes of continuing discussions with the University. Unfortunately,
those requests were denied. So, the sororities declined to sign the proposed Relationship Agreement for 2019.
The University then declared them to be unrecognized student organizations, effective immediately.
NPC member organizations always strive to be partners to the academic institutions that are the anchors of
their chapters and their members’ postsecondary experiences. In particular, NPC has previously had strong
relationships with UN-Reno. The Panhellenic community has a long history (established in 1913) and continues
to grow (adding two new or re-established chapters in the past five years), with many of its alumnae remaining
actively involved. In response to the University’s decision to forgo negotiations toward a mutually acceptable
agreement, NPC and the inter/national organizations with collegiate chapters on the campus will begin work
with the six collegiate chapters to form an independent College Panhellenic Association, appoint an advisor and
determine the resources needed to ensure the sorority community continues to thrive in Reno.
However, NPC and its member organizations remain hopeful that the University will re-open discussions. Our
desire is to address two key concerns:
• A requirement by the University that sorority chapters provide comprehensive reports on their internal
conduct investigations. As independent, private organizations, NPC organizations reserve the right to set the
standards governing the conduct and discipline of their members and chapters. This requirement includes a
mandate for organizations to present to the University the names of members who might have been a victim
of sexual assault. NPC is unaware of any other university in the country that requires this.
• A restriction that prevents recognized student organizations from associating with any unrecognized
student group, including those who have chosen not to seek University recognition. This is an unnecessarily
punitive measure with Constitutional implications. The University has acknowledged this is a requirement for
students and organizations to waive First Amendment rights.
While the organizations are prepared to form an independent association, they also stand ready and willing to
partner with the UN-Reno administration and urge them to reconsider their position on these issues.
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About the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
NPC, one of the largest organizations advocating for women, is the umbrella group for 26 national and international
sororities. NPC sororities are located on more than 670 campuses with more than 415,000 undergraduate members in
more than 3,200 chapters. Alumnae are represented in more than 3,800 associations throughout the world. For more
information, including a complete list of NPC sororities, visit npcwomen.org or find NPC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
