Meet the NDoF: Renee Layoun

Sister Spotlight: NDoF Renee Layoun

Sisters, I'm honored to serve as the National Director of Finance and share a little bit about myself with you! I'm a member of Epsilon Alum, having graduated from Iowa State University in May 2018. I initiated with the Chi Class in Fall 2014, into the Salsalita Family!! Woop Woop!! I graduated with two degrees in Business Economics and Math, but in my current role, I?m going back to my Mechanical Engineering roots. I work for Union Pacific Railroad in a management training program. I'll finish training in September and become a manager of locomotive maintenance, working in a diesel shop. Goodbye cute shoes, hello steel toes!

I have one brother who's a pilot in Chicago and parents in Portland, Oregon. My dad works for a commercial bakery and makes a lot of dough ;) I make bomb macarons - my newest side hustle!

I?m very spontaneous and like to do new, crazy things in my free time! I?m planning a trip to Antarctica, ran a couple half marathons, craft ceramic bowls, and curl every week! Maybe y'all will see me in the Olympics sometime. My guilty pleasure is Raising Cane?s chicken fingers. Patrice in Epsilon got me hooked a few years ago. I?m a fan of absolutely everything Iowa State Cyclones!

I'll never forget my first ever ΑΣΚ recruitment event. Epsilon hosted a picnic on Central Campus and I really connected with everyone. I even met an old neighbor from Illinois! If I had one piece of advice for a Sister just starting out in ΑΣΚ it would be make time to attend as many events as possible! I know with exams, classwork, jobs, and other commitments, it's easy to put ΑΣΚ on the back burner and do just bare minimum requirements. Show your Sisters you support them and show up for events they plan. These memories will last a lifetime!

My top priority for the next year: I want every Chapter to be comfortable with their finances. I want to provide more optional finance programming to Chapters and help build everyone's financial confidence.

The Inside Lοοp

Royal Blue or Silver? Silver

Hogwarts House? I'm not a Harry Potter fan, but everyone tells meI would be in Hufflepuff

Favorite branch of science? Chemistry

First job? Calculus tutor

Favorite season? SUMMER!!

Woman in STEM icon? She's not in STEM, but Jennifer Hamann is Union Pacific's first female CFO. She takes time to get to know everyone that crosses her path, asks tough questions, and is not afraid to change the status quo. She's made a huge impact on my career so far.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? The Big Island, Hawaii

What might someone be surprised to know about you? I don't like to sleep. There's so much to see and do in the world that I wish I didn't have to sleep to function.

Most memorable vacation? I backpacked around Hawaii for three weeks by myself. It was absolutely amazing!

Favorite book? The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? Every time I watch CutthroatKitchen on Food Network; so yesterday haha

What one superpower would you want? The ability to fly

If you could only have one food for the rest or your life, what would it be? Blueberries, no doubt