3-8NATIONAL ORGANIZATION UPDATES - Meet the NDoO - National Organization Announcements - National Calendar
- Educational Foundation 9-14FEATURED CHAPTER - Beta Chapter - Alumnae Reflections
Editorial Notes
Welcome to the first issue of The Lioness Loop for 2021! As Newsletter Committee Chair, I want to start this issue out with an apology, a thank you and a reflection.
Like so many of us in 2020, life just got away from me. Unfortunately, that definitely affected the distribution of this newsletter. What started out as the Fall 2020 issue became the Winter 2020 issue and, eventually, the Winter 2021 issue. For that delay, I apologize.
In good news, however, as the issue was delayed, it also grew. By coming out in the new year, we have more content for you! A BIG "Thank You" to all of the amazing Sisters who shared their stories, their photos and their joys for this issue.
??? has many Memberswho work in healthcare and have vaccine stories to share. We're excited to spotlight one such Sister in this issue. As 2021 recruitment is underway, we reflect back on what it looked like for 2020, thanks to the Sisters of Kappa Active. Also, for the first time, we include Alumnae reflections as part of our focus on our Featured Chapter. These are just some of the ways ??? Members have shared themselves in this issue and we are so grateful for all of that!
Finally, a reflection: A few things popped up while working on the final touches of this newsletter which helped me work toward the finish line. First was advice from one of my favorite leadership training companies, Kadima Leadership. In January, they shared ideas about setting ourselves up for success with realistic goals and this last week they put the focus on self-care
I think these things are something that many of you can related to. Whether working on new goals in 2021, finding new energy in a new academic term or just trying to keep on keeping on, we should all take a moment to grant ourselves a little grace.
On top of this, one day when I opened our layout program site to work on the issue, the loading screen shared the following quote:
I hope you find this delayed issue of The Lioness Loop to be full of good things.
If you'd like to help make future National Newsletter issues the best they can be, please reach out and share your ideas. You can contact us any time at newsletter@ask-wits.com. We always love to hear feedback, your stories and, of course, if you are interested in joining the Newsletter Committee!
??? Love, Ali
Meet theNBoD
Get to know the NDoO: Morgan Bixby
What was your School/Chapter/Major? Bachelor's degrees in Genetics and Microbiology from Iowa State University - Epsilon ChapterAlpha Alpha Class, part of the Sapphire family
Where are you now (and what are you doing professionally)?
I currently live in Saint Paul, MN where I am a second year PhD student at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy studying experimental and clinical pharmacology. My area of focus is infectious disease pharmacology, and my current research is in clinical antimicrobial resistance.
What does your family look like? I?ve got some parents and siblings (2), but what I am most excited about is my cousins?kids (5 little ones between the two of them). This summer the oldest of them (3 years old) told me I?m her cool older cousin.
What?s your favorite thing to do with your free time? As a graduate student and NDoO I find myself with limited free time but, when I discover pockets of free time, I like to do relaxing things (watch TV/movies, craft projects, baking an insane amount of [holiday] treats the weekend after I finish a semester).
What do you do really well? It may sound very uncool, but I think I?m pretty great at wrapping presents. So I?m basically thriving this time of year!
What are you a fan of? A lot of things but to name a few: yellow furniture, warm weather and sunshine (conveniently I live in Minnesota), realistic/believable science fiction media (but also time travel stuff too), crime scene procedurals, and Schitts Creek.
What is your guilty pleasure? Cheesy/bad Holiday movies, but really I?ll take any time of year as a backdrop for that cheesy Hallmark Channel style content.
Who made the biggest impact on who you are today? I?m going to take a more unconventional route to answering this question by saying the gastroenterologist who gave me the Crohn?s Disease diagnosis. It?s not so much him, but the words he said that have made the biggest impact on my life. I had to change so many aspects of my life to prioritize my health and gained so much clarity about my past. While they were scary, unexpected words to hear him say, they have empowered me so much to advocate for myself in all settings and have allowed me to connect with so many amazing people with the same or similar chronic health conditions.
What was the best advice you ever received? Speak up for yourself!
What led you to being NDoO? Kellee asked me if I would consider running. I was the Exploratory Committee chair at the time and helped write the proposals for the LC and continuous education pilot.
If you had one piece of advice for a Sister just starting out in ??? what would it be? Everyone will always tell you that you get out what you put in. While that is true, don?t be hard on yourself if your ability to put in looks different than others'. Nobody wants you to sacrifice your mental or physical health to keep up with other people who have more bandwidth than you at any given point; advocate for yourself in times of need.
What?s your top priority for the next year? Helping all our Active Chapter Members to feel connected to their Chapter while at a distance.
photo
by
Chris Reid
The Inside L? p
Royal Blue or Silver? Silver
Do you know your Hogwarts House and, if so, what is it? Ravenclaw
What is your Favorite branch of science? Microbiology
What was your First job? Sales associate at Old Navy
Favorite season?
The 2 weeks of spring we get in the midwest
Who is your Woman in STEM icon (living or dead)? Rosalind Franklin
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Berlin, Germany
What might someone be surprised to know about you? I'm in the process of reclaiming familial citizenship in Luxembourg
What was your most memorable vacation? My semester abroad in Wales
What is your Favorite book?
Anything by Robin Cook
When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? The other night on the phone with my younger sister when she called me out for some very predictably me things (eg. being a Christmas wrapping control freak) when she was talking to my boyfriend
What one superpower would you want? Flying would be cool
If you could only have one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
macaroni and cheese
National Organization Updates National Organization Updates
National Trademark Committee
This year, the National Trademark Committee is working to standardize and clarify how we use and control all A?K trademarks and emblems. This includes how and when we use our letters, who uses our emblems and who is responsible for their use and regulation. Some existing policies will be revamped and further guidelines drafted. We want to be sure to address the concerns and needs of the whole Sisterhood, so please feel free to share your questions and ideas with us (you can use this easy form), or - if you really want to make a difference - join the committee!
photo by Shunya Koide
COVID-19
Roundtable
On January 19, the National Organization held a COVID-19 roundtable for all Chapters. At this meeting an informal committee was created to establish a uniform way to celebrate member status changes. This committee is hard at work and is making progress on celebration guidance, with a priority to get material sent to Active Chapters in March so it can be used this Spring.
The NBoD will also continue to monitor the status of COVID-19, with regards to updating guidance around ceremonies and campus operations. In the name of health and safety, non-standard operations, including restrictions on ceremonies and in-person gathers, has been extended through July 1, 2021.
Leadership Consultant Applications
Applications are now open for Leadership Consultant (LC) positions for the 2021-2022 academic year. Members interested in assisting Active Chapters as an LC can fill out the application at this link
In order to be a Leadership Consultant, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be an Alumna who is willing to be a Professional Alum for the time period of service
- Not hold an Alumnae Chapter Executive Board or NBoD position during the appointment
- Be available to travel to each of 3-4 Chapters, once COVID is not a concerning factor
The application will close on March 31st, 2021. Reach out to Morgan at ndoo@ask-wits.com with any questions.
Alpha Sigma Kappa National Book Club
In November, the National Organization launched the A?K National Book Club! The goal of this club is to facilitate discussion and assign action to our Organization's commitment to sisterhood, justice, and understanding. By reading and sharing discussion with our Sisters, we hope to strengthen our relationships and expand our knowledge. The group is designed as a platform for individuals or small groups to expand our thinking and connect over a variety of topics.
On the website, you'll find bookshelves of selected books for three categories (Leadership & Guidance, Justice & Diversity and STEM), as well as a bookshelf of Sister Recommendations.
How you engage with the Book Club is up to you - choose a book and post on the virtual discussion board at your own pace, form a group of Sisters to meet and discuss, or use the categories as a guide for your own reading! Be sure to stay tuned for updates on the National social media, as well as in the Goodreads Group.
To join the Book Club, visit this link or search for the group on Goodreads. You can also fill out this form if you have a book you'd like added to our "Sister Recommendations" bookshelf.
For questions or concerns, please email lc2@ask-wits.com and include 'Book Club' in the subject line.
National Calendar
February 9 - Xi Chapter Founder's Day
March 5 - Zeta Chapter Founder's Day Iota Chapter Founder's Day
March 28 - Theta Chapter Founder's Day
March 31 - Leadership Consultant Applications Dues
April 14 - Mu Chapter Founder's Day
April 16 - Kappa Chapter Founder's Day
May 1 - National Founder's Day National Scholarship Essay Due
Award Nominations Open
It's once again time to recognize ??? Members who demonstrate excellence in the Organization, academia and their profession.
To nominated a Sister who you feel deserves recognition, please provide a detailed nomination in the form at this link. The form is open until May 31 at midnight (PST). Winners will be announced at the 2021 National Convention!
The following awards are now open: Active Sister of the Year
Alumnae Sister of the Year
New Member of the Year
Senior of the Year
Colony Member of the Year
Outstanding Leader of the Year
And two newly added awards: Professional Excellence Award
Infinity Education Award
For any questions regarding Sister awards, please contact Eva Hanlon.
May 31 - Sister Award Nominations Due
June 1 - Chapter Reports Due National Dues Due Committee Reports Due
June 27 - National Scholarship Committee Meeting
July 1 - Educational Foundation Nominations Due
July 22-25 - National Convention
July 24 - National Educational Foundation Annual Meeting
State of the Organization
On January 15, the 2021 State of Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies was sent by the National Director of Administration to Colonies and Chapters, to be distributed to all Members.
This document includes updates from the NBoD, National Committees, Educational Foundation, Chapters and Colonies.
Some highlights include where to find the most up-to-date copies of all National Governing Documents on our website, reports of tremendous growth during an unprecedented year and information on Convention 2021 planning progress.
Also, the NBoD is expecting to send out the A?K census in the near future and the NDoF will be conducting a financial audit of the Organization this year as well.
Be sure to read the document for more.
Educational Foundation Educational Foundation
National Scholarship Topic
The Alpha Sigma Kappa Educational Foundation has announced the National Scholarship essay topic for 2021:
?Supporting Sisters/Fellow Members?
Essays are due May 1st by 11:59pm Central time. Please submit your scholarship essay using the Scholarship tab on the Foundation website (http://askwits.org/scholarships/).
Who is eligible for the National Scholarship? Any Active Member that will be Active in the Fall 2021 term. The Active Member can be an undergraduate or graduate student. However, Alumnae Members are not eligible to apply for the National Scholarship.
Similar to last year, the Foundation will compile a list of suggested directions, to help Members that might be stuck on the essay topic. They will also provide proofreading of drafts and possible workshops or one-on-one guidance.
Due to a number of generous donations, at least two scholarships will be awarded in July 2021.
Ways to be Involved
Want to get involved? Any A?K Alumna, regardless of Professional status, can be part of the 2021 National Scholarship Committee. The time commitment is minimal. Also, elections will be held at the annual meeting for the positions of Treasurer and National Scholarship Co-Chair. Any Professional Alumnae Member is eligible. Nominations are due July 1.
Please e-mail ask.educational.foundation@gmail.com if you have questions, would like to join the National Scholarship Committee or wish to send a position nomination.
Ways to Donate
Please visit www.askwits.org/donate/ for information on how to donate.
All donations - big and small - are tax deductible and provide financial assistance to Active Members of Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies.
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
NORMAN, OK EST 09.13.1997
OnMarch4, 1996,
an Interest Group formed at the University of Oklahoma which paved the way for Alpha Sigma KappaWomen in Technical Studies to become a National Organization. Just over a year later, this group was installed as the Beta Chapter, with 18 Founding Sisters. Over the years, the Beta Chapter has continued to grow and adapt, even through a pandemic.
Their growth includes demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity. Chapter President Audrey Heuser stated "The Beta Chapter is full of wonderful, welcoming Siblings who strive to create a diverse and inclusive space." Part of this was going out of their way to review and revise Chapter bylaws, enacting changes consistent with the goal of inclusivity including changing all pronouns in Chapter documents from she/her to they/them and referring to Members as "Siblings" instead of "Sisters". "The Siblings of the Beta Chapter are some of the sweetest and funniest people I have ever met," continued Heuser "and they never hesitate to help anyone in need."
In 2020, the Chapter also found ways to support each other and stay connected during the pandemic. Being virtual for the safety of their Members meant getting creative with events and the Beta Chapter committee chairs did not disappoint. They had games nights, self-care nights and movie nights, all from the comfort of their own homes. However, one of the Beta traditions that had to adapt was the "support bra". This bra, decorated with ribbon, flowers, and rhinestones in A?K colors, is discreetly given to a Member (anonymously nominated by a friend) who is going through a rough time. It is a sign of the Chapter?s love and support. While an actual bra isn?t feasible to pass around in the middle of a pandemic, the Chapter created a virtual version that they continued to utilize.
Audrey Heuser shared her own experience as part of the Chapter: "Being the President of the Beta Chapter is such a genuine joy. I love seeing everyone?s face every week at Chapter. The Beta Chapter has given so much to me. It?s where I?ve met my best friends, had some of the biggest laughs and where I?ve received so much support when I needed it most. I consider myself lucky to get to lead such an amazing group of people, and I?m so proud of them and all they?ve accomplished, both in A?K and out. I joined the Chapter my first semester of college and instantly knew I found my people. From crazy adventures on the way to retreat to doing circus tricks at recruitment events to my friends and I trying to make the infinity sign with our entire bodies after Initiation, I haven?t regretted joining for a single second."
AlumnaeReflections Beta Chapter
To learn more about our Featured Chapter this issue, The Lioness Loop reached out to Alumnae Members for reflections about their time with the Active Chapter and what ??? means to them. The following are those reflections from two Beta Chapter Alumnae.
Jennifer Andrews
is a Founding Member of the Beta Chapter who graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. She currently lives in Texas and works as the NASA System Integration and Operationalization (NASA-SIO) project lead on Bell?s Technology and Innovation team.
How does one start the story of their Chapter's founding? With questions, investigation, drive, passion, and action. That almost sounds like the scientific method! The question to me was "was I interested?"
Engineer's Week at OU was in full swing. While I can't recall exactly how the topic of A?K came up, I do remember being told that a freshman had been asking questions of Triangle Fraternity and was interested in gathering women who might be interested in bringing a technical sorority to campus. And I do remember being introduced briefly to the freshman while in the bathroom during the Engineers' Week banquet. The following year was quite a memorable year. Senior years in college tend to be that way.
That's right. I was in my senior year of college and decided to help found the second chapter of a new National Organization. I got plenty of questions about that. At my core, it was the right path. We met a delegation for the National Organization and Alpha Active Chapter in early March. The energy they had. They were a unit yet each was so different. One couldn't have convinced our small group to do anything else but bring a chapter to campus. A?K was something to easily become passionate about.
At first it was difficult to let other females into my circle. The lioness representing A?K always made sense for me, especially in the territorial nature I have experienced in engineering with other
females. While I was away over the summer, our colony's petitioning Members doubled in size. I came back and felt a bit out of place. Much had happened over the summer including the first National Convention. We quickly began to prepare for our Colonization. I got swept up in the movement again.
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The fall of 1996 was a blur. We had long conversations in the parking lots following meetings. Then even longer nights at the Kettle with hot chocolate with plenty of whip cream. We had our first masquerade ball. I applied for grad school and stumbled upon some job interviews. The plan had always been to graduate in December and go for my Master's. With the job interviews, the shift in my path had changed. I hated to leave what we had begun. Georgia was soon to be my next home and too far away for much involvement with the Colony beyond internet chatting on IRC [Internet Relay Chat] or long distance phone calls. I also had a big star on my calendar for Chapter Installation.
I will claim to be one of the more unique A?K Members. My time as an "Active" was nothing more than a few hours between the Installation Ceremonies and the Alumnae Ceremony. I suppose I could have faded into the background and elected not to return. A?K has a way of grabbing on to who you are. The Sisterhood weaves its way into your soul with every laugh shared, every tear spilled, ever hug given and received. A?K is a sense of belonging. It represents a place to come home to and a family with all the chaos and support.
From the start, one of our mantras always stayed with me - "A Sister for life." We stressed that lifelong commitment to the Organization and each other. 2020 has taken a toll on us all. With hugs far and few between, my Sisters have helped to get me through. The smiles they share on social media to remind me that they're doing well. The family photos, puppy dog tails and cat cuddles to remind me they're not alone. The chipper phone calls and video calls to brighten my day. And the washi tape and cards and group text selfies to keep me in their life.The crazy memes to make me laugh. We have a journey ahead and the roads are long and full of both joy and sorrow, but we have each other always to help us through. To understand and listen without judgment. To reinforce our foundation when it feels weak and to be our biggest cheerleaders to celebrate our accomplishments. The shared path makes a difference - it makes us Sisters, it makesus family.
My journey into ??? started before I got to college and without really thinking I'd be in a sorority, as I'm sure a lot of you can relate. Funny enough, my career has taken a similar turn into an industry I never would've pictured myself in, but that's a story for another time.
Growing up in Texas and around primarily white middle to upper class, there are a lot of social cues you pick up. My generation was one of the first to be expected to go to college regardless of background, and Greek life was definitely something that was mentioned and well known among the so-called popular circles. While I was definitely not the first in my family to go to college, I don't think anyone in my immediate family had ever joined a social Greek organization, so I didn't have any first-hand insight into what that really meant. I had already known I was interested in meteorology for years by the time I reached high school, so I was already working to go to college and earn my degree. I had been interested in the idea of joining some organization, like a sorority, by that time as well, since my first choice school was out of state and I likely wasn't going to know a lot of other people. However, I was definitely skeptical of Greek life from all the associated stereotypes.
After I had gotten my acceptance into OU, I was invited to come to a Greek life preview in the spring of my senior year. It was a fun trip not only to visit the campus but to get a sneak peak into these mysterious Greek organizations and their larger than life houses and place in a southern college. I was very intrigued by seeing these amazing houses and meeting the ladies involved. I signed up for formal recruitment over the summer, but after mulling it over I decided that the dress code requirements for recruitment alone were just too much for me. I didn't even own some of the items they suggested! After that, I didn't think I'd ever end up being a part of Greek Life, it just wasn't something my shy self could get into, with SO many people and so many strange rules. Sometimes I regret not going through the formal process to have first-hand knowledge about it, but I'm not sure if I would have come across A?K if I had.
I don't think I knew about A?K until the summer before my sophomore year when I received a letter in the mail (yes snail mail!). I thought about it then because a Greek social organization for women in technical studies sounded perfect! But I was very nervous and didn't follow up on it that semester. In the spring, I saw a flyer posted for an informational session and decided to go at least see what they were about. I remember getting a folder full of information and declining the welcome party afterwards because my social batteries were already drained. I honestly don't remember a whole lot from my recruitment but I'm pretty sure I went to all the meetings and received a bid to join (I definitely still have it). It turned out I was the only one who decided to join that semester. I remember after my Candidate Ceremony that I took my new notebook full of all things A?K back to my apartment and just read everything before my first candidate education session. I was hooked and never looked back.
Jenifer Henslee Peck
isa Member of the Beta Chapter's Mu class. She graduated in 2007 from the University of Oklahoma (OU) with a Bachelor's degree in Meteorology and currently works in licensing with Top of the World by Fanatics. She is Vice President of the Beta Alumna Chapter. From 2007-2015 she served as National Director of Communications for Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies; she continues her service to the National Organization to this day, through membership on many National committees.
When I joined the Beta Chapter, there were a total of I think 14 of us active, and 7 of them had joined just the previous semester! It was a great small space of like minded individuals who were just as nerdy as I was and I really enjoyed getting to know everyone! During our retreat that semester, I was so inspired that I wrote the A?K Toast. I submitted it as my Candidate project at Initiation and it was later submitted and accepted nationally. The size of the Beta Chapter was never bigger than that while I was Active and for a few years following. It's a great size to get to know everyone personally, but it's hard to do a whole lot of other things, because you just don't have the resources and time available. In recent years, seeing the Chapter grow to be one of the biggest, and having Candidate classes bigger than the entirety of the Chapter when I joined, has been both amazing and mind boggling!
One of my favorite things about the Beta Chapter has always been that while we tend to be academically focused, independent, and no-nonsense as individuals we also love coming together to have fun, and just be supportive Members who are all trying to get our degrees and do amazing things, all while applauding those amazing things that are done.
I fell in love with A?K very early on and it has become a huge part of my life. Not only through the amazing things I've learned but because of all the amazing people I have met. Even when I don't see eye to eye with someone, I enjoy learning new perspectives. I think continually getting to know people who are outside of your own social circle/generation is a great thing for anyone! It helps keep your mind young, even though it's starting to make me feel realllllllly old sometimes lol. (I can't imagine how our Founders must feel!).
I encourage all Members to get involved both within your own chapter (Active and Alum) and nationally, even if that is something as simple as participating in a survey that a committee sends out. I also highly encourage attending National Convention anytime that you are able. And I really hope that you will find at least one lifelong bond from A?K, whether that is just a special place for the Organization in your memories or a lifelong friend!
Recruitment
2020 was a uniquely challenging year for Active Chapters. With the COVID-19 pandemic keeping Members from meeting in person, Chapters had to get creative to keep the bonds of Sisterhood alive. The National Organization created the status of Interim Active so new Members could still be brought into the Organization at a time when in-person ceremonies are off the table.
But before there are new Active Sisters, there is recruitment. Even with the new pandemic challenges, some chapters continued to thrive and grow. One such group was the Kappa Chapter, which brought on 26 new Members through the Interim Active process. To get insight into what recruitment looked like in 2020, The Lioness Loop caught up with Celine Khashram, their Vice President who was in charge of recruitment for Fall 2020.
L?p: Did recruitment change compared to years prior?
CK: Yes, very much so. We switched to have recruitment fully online.
L?p: Was it more difficult or easier than in years past?
CK: It was easier in the sense of getting potential new members (PNMs) to show up to events this year, but more difficult in terms of participation. It was harder than I thought to keep everyone engaged even for the short periods of time of recruitment events.
L?p: You had events on Instagram, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, GroupMe and Netflix Party. Did you have a favorite platform or did it depend on the kind of event?
CK: It did depend on the event, but over all we found Zoom to be the best way to go. There were some advantages to other platforms though. We used GroupMe to make a chat with all the PNMs, which
Recruitment 2020
Taking Sisterhood Online
came in very handy when we wanted to better communicate with them and send links, letting them know events were coming up, etc.
L?p: What did Big-Little pairings look like?
CK: Big-Little pairings happened over Zoom! We did breakout rooms with families and even had Alum from some families join us to help welcome the new Littles with their Bigs. It was super exciting to see their faces as well as passing baskets out a few days before with hints in them about their Bigs.
L?p: Did your Chapter do anything to compensate for there not being a ceremony?
CK: We didn't do anything this past semester but plan to this coming spring.
L?p: How have the Interim Actives become involved with the Chapter so far?
CK: They have come to chapter and participated in our online social events! They have joined committees and helped on bylaws, planning philanthropy and spring recruitment.
About the Vaccine:
The Pfizer vaccine (pictured in the center photo above) is good for 5 days once removed from the freezer and placed in the refrigerator.
After removal from the refrigerator, the vials must be reconstituted within 2 hours using 1.8mL of normal saline.
Once reconstituted, the vials are good for 6 hours.
Each dose is 0.3mL and the clinic is able to get 6 doses from each vial.
The vaccine includes two injections, ~3 weeks apart. Devon shared that she had a sore arm with the first injection and some additional side-effects after that second injection: body aches, headache, slight fever and nausea.
Glad to hear her immune system is doing its job!
Sister Spotlight: Sister Spotlight:
Devon Montague is a Theta Chapter Alumna, part of the Beta Class and Royal Family. While at Colorado State University, she studied Chemistry. Devon currently lives in Aurora, Colorado and is the lead triage pharmacy technician at the University of Colorado Hospital.
For this issue, Devon gave us a little information about herself, her time with ??? and her work helping to get COVID-19 vaccines into people's arms.
L?p: What has it been like working in a vaccine clinic?
DM: Working in a vaccine clinic has been exciting, stressful, and overwhelming. There was a lot that was put into getting it set up so quickly, and adjustments that have had to be made but it?s all been worth it. On the first day of our clinic we were able to vaccinate 1608 employees.
L?p: What was the mood at your work when the vaccines were approved for distribution?
DM: The overall reaction was excitement, hope, and relief. Everyone has been very emotional from the approval, to the arrival at our facility, and to finally receiving the vaccine. It?s been kind of like a light at the end of a very dark tunnel and a breath of fresh air.
L?p: What got you interested in pharmacy as a career?
DM: I chose this career path because when I was younger I had a pharmacist catch a major dosing error in my medications that would have been harmful to my health. Ever since then I?ve wanted to help others in a similar way.
L?p: What?s your favorite thing to do with your free time?
DM: Spend time with family and my pets.
L?p: What originally attracted you to ????
DM: That a group of like minded women could come together and support each other in STEM fields.
L?p: Can you share a favorite ??? memory?
DM: My favorite memory is the candle passes we held. Getting to celebrate Sisters' achievements for the semester was always such a highlight and great bonding moment.
L?p: If you had one piece of advice for a Sister just starting out in ??? what would it be?
DM: Keep your mind open to change, and what you put into the Organization is what you?ll get out of it. There are so many opportunities to grow personally and professionally.
L?p: Back to the vaccine, what one thing would you most like people to understand about the COVID vaccines?
DM: It wasn?t developed overnight or rushed. There?s been a ton of research done on the mRNA that?s in the vaccine. The production of the vaccine was able to happen so quickly because of the increased funding and paperwork being expedited.
DevonMontagueDevonMontague
The
Inside L? p
Royal Blue or Silver? Royal Blue
Do you know your Hogwarts House and, if so, what is it? Gryffindor
What is your Favorite branch of science? Chemistry
What was your First job? Activities Assistant at a Veterans nursing home Favorite season? Fall
Who is your Woman in STEM icon (living or dead)? Marie Curie
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Anywhere in the mountains
What might someone be surprised to know about you? I love to cook and bake
What was your Most memorable vacation? Going to Mexico for Christmas one year with my entire family
What is your Favorite book?
I don?t have a favorite book, but anything written by Sarah Dessen I love.
When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? This sounds awful, but I honestly can?t remember the last time I laughed so hard I cried.
What one superpower would you want? To be able to understand animals.
If you could only have one food for the rest or your life, what would it be? Enchiladas
Showus
usyour mask!
A?KHoliday Secret Sister Exchange A?KHoliday Secret Sister Exchange
Every December, since 2015, Active and Alumnae Members come together from across the country to spread Sisterhood and Holiday cheer through the A?K Secret Sister Holiday Exchange. This year, we're taking a look at how it got its start, as well as learning a bit more about the Sisters who created the annual gift exchange and have kept it going for so long.
Katelynn Orona is an Alumna of the Eta Chapter, who graduated in 2014 with a Mechancal Engineering degree and a minor in aeronautical engineering. Mary Matthews is also a Mechanical Engineer, who works for the US Army. She is an Epsilon Alumna, part of its Founding Class.
The Secret Sister gift exchange got its start in 2015 when Katelynn Orona had graduated and wanted to connect with the Sisterhood. "In the Eta chapter we would do this every year. It was a great way to get to know your Sisters and spread some joy," she explained. "When I graduated I didn't really have much time to be as active as I wanted at the national level, so I thought "Why not try to bring more Sisters together for the Holiday season?". I wanted to try and give everyone a chance to get to know Sisters from other chapters, Alums and Actives. Spreading some sisterhood and joy on a larger scale."
And it worked! Sisters were open to the idea and willing to participate. So much so that the next year those who had participated wanted to know if it would continue. Katelynn wasn't able to commit the
time needed to organize it that year (making sure everyone received gifts and clues) so, that's when Mary Matthews took over the organizational role. "I'm so glad Mary was able to take over when my life got crazier," Katelynn continued. "It's pretty much been the same since I started it. I'm so glad Mary wasable to come up with a way to still do it."
There is a Facebook group where participating Sisters share pictures of the gifts they receive and make guesses as to who the sender is (based on 3 clues). Over the years, the exchange has grown, approximately doubling in number of participants from 2015 to 2019. Mary noted "I see new Sisters coming in each year; there have been a lot more younger Sisters participating." She expects that the number of Actives and new Alumnae might grow even more if the platform was moved off of Facebook, but for the time being this group set-up provides the most convenient way to easily share photosand info only with the year's participants.
Each year, participating Sisters fill out a spreadsheet with information about their likes and hobbies. This information has expanded a little bit; Mary noted that shirt size was added in 2017 and Amazon Wishlist added in 2019, each intended to provide gift-givers with more ideas. Otherwise, the process hasn't changed much over the years.
However, 2020 being what it was, it was also the first year with bigger changes. In 2020, Sisters decided to send one larger gift rather than three $10 gifts, to
reduce the shipping burden. This also meant Sisters had almost the entire month to meet the shipping deadline (December 21), rather than meeting multiple, spread out deadlines. Unfortunately, 2020 also meant fewer Sisters able to participate. However, on the bright side, what was learned in 2020 will move forward - the option for one larger gift and sending clues about the giver through the exchange coordinator will each be carried into future exchanges.
So, let's learn a little more about Mary, the Sister who has been coordinating the exchange since 2016. Helping ??? on the National level is not new to this Epsilon Alum. She has served as NDoE, NDoA and on numerous committees, including Membership Development and Philanthropy. She currently serves as Secretary for the Educational Foundation and chairs the Closed Goal and National Documents Committees.
It?s no surprise that she took on the task of connecting Sisters across the country through the exchange, as connecting with Sisters is central to what she does. Since most things ??? happened online or on the phone, Mary shared that her favorite ??? moments are in-person: Sisterhood retreats and National Convention. ?I like catching up with Sisters from my chapter,? she explained. ?That?s also why I like going to Convention, because most of the year we are just doing things on the telephone.? This could explain why she has attended a whopping 16 National Conventions, including every Convention since 2005.
Her advice for those just starting out in ??? is ?Go to Convention, because you see that the Organization is bigger than just your chapter.? Which is just what she did in 2002, attending her first National Convention while Epsilon was still an Interest Group.
So, what does it look like each year when she does the pairings for the ??? Holiday Secret Sister Exchange? Of course, she has the
spreadsheet. It doesn?t matter if a Sister is Active or Alumna, so that column gets deleted, but keeping the Chapter column is important. She told The Lioness Loop that there is often one chapter which has more participants, but which chapter that iscould change from year to year.
Mary also mentioned that the hardest part of pairings is making sure she?s not matching Members from the same Chapter, so she color codes the lines before proceeding with the sort. After that, the pairings are random and she goes through to double check and make sure everyone has a Secret Sister. In 2016, each pair was a direct swap, but that is not something she intends to repeat.
As much as Mary does for the Organization, she isn?t all ??? all the time. In her free time, Mary enjoys craft projects, including AR Workshop wood painting. ?I like to make things for people,? she shared. One of the favorite pieces she has created was a lazy Susan for her mother.
Her parents are not too far away and she lives with her in-person supervisor, a ?mini black panther? who is a social media favorite and keeps her on task in her role as the Assistant Product Manager for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected - All Terrain Vehicle for the US Army. And, who knows, the Members of ??? may also have this "supervisor" to thank for just how productive Mary stays with all things ???.
We asked Sisters: "Do you have a gift from the exchange that was particularly memorable?"
Heck yes! I have so many memorables, but I think the one that is really sticking out right now is my unicorn mug that says ?I?m fucking magical?. In these days of Zoom meetings, I can use it while working and no one can really read it.
- Katie O?Toole (Eta Alum)
Yes! One gift that I got that I loved and used a bunch was cookie cutters in my favorite animal shapes which I thought was so cute because it combined two things I loved and it was something that I was also able to actually use a lot.
- Alex Reimers(Iota Alum)
In the 2018 gift exchange, I got an insulated cup that holds ~95% of a venti Frappuccino. It keeps my Frappuccino cold and frozen from 0630am until I'm done with it around 0830/900. When I'm at work at my desk, I would use it everyday.
- Mary Matthews (Epsilon Alum)
I love participating in the Secret Sister Exchange. I think it's such a great demonstration of how well our Sisterhood thrives across chapters.The year before last, I got a pair of sapphire-blue earrings from an etsy shop. I wear them to every ceremony I go to!
- Kellee Hartjen (Epsilon Alum)
I got my favorite necklace ever from Katie Jacobson.
- Katelynn Orono (Eta Alum)
I've gotten so many wonderful gifts over the years, but I realized this year that I still use the cozy socks Mary gave me in the very first exchange back in 2015!
- Ali Kidder-Mostrom (Epsilon Alum)
I got a pint glass with my favorite female scientist, Rosalind Franklin. I drink out of it all the time! I also got a stethoscope case which has a permanent place in my backpack.
- Adele Vrooman (Theta Alum)
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
The Inside L? p with Mary Matthews
Royal Blue or Silver? Royal Blue
Do you know your Hogwarts House and, if so, what is it? Um? technically, depending on how I answer it ? Slytherin or Ravenclaw
What is your favorite branch of science? Chemistry, cuz you make things explode
What was your first job? Front desk check-in when I was like 15, don?t really count Babysitting as a job
Favorite season? Spring
Who is your Woman in STEM icon (living or dead)?
That one's hard, because there a lot of women I like, but the one I?ve read the most about is Katherine Johnson (from NASA).
Probably New Orleans, because I went to visit one summer and it was really hot, the food was really good and there is just so much history in NOLA.
What might someone be surprised to know about you?
Oh, I don?t know. That I almost dislike lima beans as much as beets.
What was your most memorable vacation?
Probably the first time I went to Brainerd, MN; it was just fun to hang out with my cousins for a whole week.
What is your favorite book?
I read so many books, that it?s hard to pick a favorite. One that affects me every time I read it is Brothers Forever.
When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?
Probably 2 days ago, when Facebook reminded me of the crazy conversation we were having on a work trip about whether you would bet for tacos or beer. Just to see that was funny, the responses that I got were pretty funny.
What?s one superpower would you want?
To fly ? because I hate to wait in line
If you could only have one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Tacos
CandlePass
Career andAcademics
Jennifer Andrews (Beta Alum) led her team to a successful UASdemonstration in the National Airspace System in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in September, for NASA's SIO and was featured in the Bell video on the project. In December, she was the featured speaker of women and drones at the InterDrone conference.
Nicole Jandick (Epsilon Alum) passed her preliminary exam, which means she is now officially a PhD candidate!
Mary Matthews (Epsilon Alum) transitioned to the role of Assistant Product Manager for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected-All Terrain Vehicle in January 2021, after being competitively selected for the 22 month development assignment.
Rebecca Scott (Epsilon Alum) switched gears (after almost 15 years working at United States Gypsum Company), taking a process engineering position at Wells Fargo in West Des Moines, IA. She looks forward to being a true Des Moines local for the first time since moving there 3.5 years ago.
Patrice Sorensen (Epsilon Alum) passed her boards for veterinary school at the University of Minnesota.
Christina Navarez (Eta Alum) graduated in December with her Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering degree from New Mexico State.
Sarah Reynolds (Theta Alum) moved to Pennsylvania in July 2020 for her new job of Park Ranger with the National Park Service-Valley Forge National Historical Park.
Alex Reimers (Iota Alum) graduated from the University of New Haven in December with her Master's Degree in Chemistry.
Piper Blackburn (Kappa Alum) moved to Denver to begin working in the engineering department at Kiewit at the end of January.
Stephanie Huizar (Lambda Active) was accepted into a midwifery program at the National Midwifery Institute and will be starting it in this new year!
photo by Nicola Fioravanti
MarriageandEngagement
WE TIED THE KNOT!
Samantha Quandahl (Alpha Alum) & Sam Morken | September 26th, 2020
Kellee Hartjen (Epsilon Alum) & Nik Wasik | October 10, 2020
Diane Andrews (Epsilon Alum) & Anson Andrews | December 31, 2020
Olivia Labbe (Theta Alum) & James Walker | November 9, 2020
Atisha Morrison (Theta Alum) & Jackson Brockway | October 3, 2020
WE SAID ?YES?!
Katrina Fauser (Epsilon Alum) & Tyler Erickson | November 26, 2020
FamilyandBirth
IT'S A GIRL!
Christina Nevarez (Eta Alum) welcomed baby Xayah on December 9, 2020
by
photo
Michael Dziedzic
