Thousands of Alpha Phis StepUp! at Leadership Conference

Once limited to chapter-wide trainings, Alpha Phi expands the reach of its program to thousands of collegiate leaders

In the nearly 150 years since Alpha Phi’s founding in 1872, much has changed, but at its core, our sisterhood has remained true to the primary concern of our founders – supporting each other in mutual growth. During February’s in-person Leadership Conferences, Alpha Phi reinforced this tenet through the StepUp! program, made possible through the generosity of Foundation donors. Introduced in July 2021 through the launch of the “StepUP Campaign,” StepUp! was initially offered through individual chapter visits from Alpha Phi’s League of Coaches but now boasts over 2,000 current collegiate officers trained through the program.

Featuring curriculum from the University of Arizona and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), modified to the needs of today’s Alpha Phi collegiate and membership experience, the program focuses on providing intervention tools and strategies to support and safeguard one another and encourage accountability. Through this unique blend of discussions on personal responsibility and lessons taught through a lens of sisterly and community care, the StepUp! program made an impact on how Alpha Phi’s collegiate officers conduct themselves as sisters, leaders, and community-focused members of society.

As the Gamma Iota chapter’s Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Student Senator at Texas Tech University, Aaliyana Mayfield (Gamma Iota—Texas Tech) gained valuable action-oriented skills to help her lead confidently. “I was shown how to be aware of when my sisters are in need, how to help in those situations, and how to implement effective action,” shared Aaliyana. “Learning about all the ways I can be aware and help my sisters truly enhanced my position as VP of DEI, my role on Texas Tech’s campus, and how I conduct myself in my everyday life!”

Jordan Lahaye (Gamma Pi—Arizona State), the Gamma Pi chapter’s Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, left Leadership Conference with similar sentiments. “I never imagined there would be as much willingness to participate in growth and uncomfortable conversations, and it was the most amazing thing to experience,” shared Jordan. “As a queer person, I was ecstatic that others were so excited to grow and step up into their roles as leaders and be the best versions of themselves for their chapters. I am so grateful for the experience and look forward to the future growth of our chapters.”

Alpha Phi’s dedicated alumnae volunteers and StepUp! facilitators, too, were impressed by the instrumental training. As a retired teacher, League of Coaches coach, and longtime Fraternity and Foundation volunteer Joanne Godfrey (Eta Delta—CSU East Bay) spent her career imparting lessons like those found in StepUp! to her students and student teachers. After facilitating the program at Leadership Conference, Joanne noted her appreciation for the opportunity to learn more about StepUp! and its redesign for Alpha Phi. “I must applaud Alpha Phi for the brilliant idea of reimagining these lessons for our collegiate sisters. While [they] may know some of these skills, refining them in the Alpha Phi sisterhood gives it more meaning and a stronger purpose. I’ve been in situations that have necessitated using what I presented as well as being a recipient when I was a collegiate myself.”

Since the adoption of its new Risk Reduction & Safety philosophy in January 2019, Alpha Phi has worked to develop and provide new, empowering programs and opportunities that prioritize the health and well-being of its members. With the support of Foundation funding through Leading With Heart, Alpha Phi can scale the impact of its programming to create a universal membership experience.

When you lead with heart, you join over 15,000 Alpha Phis who have helped transform the landscape of leadership training. Learn how you can join with a gift to the Endowment for Leadership at www.alphaphifoundation.org/leadingwithheart.