Strengthening Sisterhood with the Rho and Beta Gamma Chapters

Alpha Phi Foundation is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2022 Susan Brink Sherratt Leadership Grant: Rho (Ohio State) and Beta Gamma (Colorado)!

After assessing the strengths and weaknesses of their chapter, members of Rho’s Executive Board recognized that the pandemic affected the closeness of their members, making it difficult for new members and active members to form bonds. Seeking to revive the cohesiveness and closeness of their chapter, the Rho chapter will use their grant to fund a chapter-wide teambuilding sisterhood event at Play: CBUS.

“These activities aim to make large groups more cohesive, strong, and collaborative. Bonding with new members is imperative during our spring semester, as they are recruited during the spring semester and only have a few short months to meet and bond with older members and their own pledge class,” shares Maggie O’Brien (Rho–Ohio State), Vice President of New Member Education & Member Experience. “Trust and teamwork will ensure maximal chapter output in terms of community service, philanthropy, and chapter participation. For this reason, it is critical that members feel valued and close with their sisters.”

Following a series of tragic events impacting the University of Colorado Boulder community, including the pandemic, King Sooper Shooting, sexual violence, and Marshall fires, the Beta Gamma chapter will create a pathway to support the needs of their sisters through their “Life Phi60: Sisters Caring for Sisters” program. Developed by Chapter President Loren Palmer (Beta Gamma–Colorado), the “Life Phi60” program will strategically engage Beta Gamma in a 6-month educational series to encourage personal growth and assist each other during life’s varying challenges, focusing on topics like mental health, stress, sexual violence, and substance abuse.

“On a personal level helping one sister navigate a challenging issue would be worth the program. But the “Life Phi60” program has the potential to provide the skills and courage for our sisters to help numerous members within our entire chapter and campus community,” shares Loren. “Developing strong, empowered women is a critical aspect of the Alpha Phi mission, and “Life Phi60” pushes this goal to a new level. Engaging the chapter in the difficult process of learning and discussing challenging topics is hopefully part of the growth within a person’s college experience and the women of Beta Gamma are willing to begin this challenging journey together.”

The Susan Brink Sherratt Leadership Fund was established by Renee Smith Zimmerman Zainer (Beta Epsilon—Arizona) to honor Susan Brink Sherratt (Beta Beta—Michigan State) and her notable leadership, support, and service to Alpha Phi. Through the generous support of Susan and her family, this fund continues to provide an annual grant to an established collegiate chapter for leadership training, building activities, and sisterhood events that help further the wellbeing of the chapter.

The 2022 grant to Rho and Beta Gamma marks 17 chapters awarded through the Susan Brink Sherratt Leadership Fund.