Growing Alumnae Participation

Sigma Alpha is simply, for life. The bonds of sisterhood carry through the years and decades after walking across the graduation stage, but staying connected as an alumna isn’t always easy.

Just ask Heidi (Hamilton) Russ. Heidi is a 2018 graduate of Iowa State University in Agronomy and currently serves as a Farm Account Manager for Lee Agency, where she helps farmers insure their farm operations adequately. She also serves as the President for the Iowa State Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha, one of the sorority’s most active alumnae chapters. “We currently have 442 alumnae, but we really want to continue to grow and stay involved with the collegiate chapter,” explains Heidi, who mentions lots of different ways they do that as a chapter, including an alumnae tailgate, alumnae banquet and an upcoming event where they’ll create their own charcuterie boards. “We also recently implemented a mentorship program with the collegiate chapter which helps bridge the gap between the collegiate and alumnae chapter.”

If you’re alumnae chapter is looking to grow in number and influence, Heidi offers a few pieces of advice:

Start by focusing on sisterhood. “I believe alumnae stay involved in our chapter because we put a great deal of focus on sisterhood and staying in touch. It can be tough to stay connected with even the closest of friends so we work really hard to check in on each other, do updates on social media and plan events that are both in person and online so people can still join even if they are out of the local area.”

Emphasize the things that matter to your

members. “I think the most important thing we do every year is our alumnae banquet. It allows us to connect with the collegiate chapter, recognize women in our alumnae chapter who have gone above and beyond and to connect what has been going on between the alumnae and collegiate chapters.”

Have patience and grace. “It can be difficult to stay in touch with each other, even with the best of intentions. It takes time to build engagement, but every year the chapter has the opportunity to invite the recent graduates in…I think making the new alumnae feel invited, appreciated and loved truly helps them continue to grow in their journey as a Sigma Alpha sister, even as an alumna.”