Kappa Delta - University of Texas

www.texaskappadeltas.com Chairman Meghan Taylor-Steshyn, Florida '07 taylor.meghan.m@gmail.com Member Education Advisers Michelle Ly, Baylor '00 Sarah Swanbeck, Florida State '13 Membership Adviser Libby Dolan Miller '02 Operations Adviser Meredith Elia, Villanova '09 Community Service Adviser Courtney Brown, Texas Tech '97 Public Relations Adviser Emily Donaldson, Missouri '11 Standards Adviser Courtney Hicks Dickey, Wake Forest '01 Efficiency Adviser Melissa Mehaffey, Oregon '99 Finance Adviser Roberta Petrauskaite, Michigan State '10 Panhellenic Adviser Jackie Vogel Boone, Southern Mississippi '99 Academic Excellence Adviser Rachel Rando Renfro, Texas Tech '96 Alumnae Relations Adviser Shannon Haddox Livengood '94 Members-at-Large Rachel Ferguson Zander, University of Louisiana-Monroe '94 Chapter Advisory Board President Carol Stancil Edwards '84 sekdhcpresident@gmail.com Secretary Ashley Westenhover '07 Treasurer Lesley Bolton Higginbotham '81 Members-at-Large Melissa Cumbest Bixby, Millsaps College '84 Andrea Heisler Melcher, Arizona State '82 House Corporation Board Living True to Kappa Delta Values Perri Verdino-Gates '81 Is Proud to Support Her Community Witnessing her daughter's initiation last year reminded Perri Verdino-Gates '81 of why she became a Kappa Delta. "The motto of the sorority is to always strive for that which is honorable, beautiful, and highest, and this has challenged me to do my best not only for myself, but also for others." Perri joined the Sigma Epsilon Chapter because of the friendships the sorority offered, but Kappa Delta provided so much more. While studying for a bachelor of science in radio-TV- film, she gained "a belief in my abilities and myself" due to her Kappa Delta membership, as well as a duty to serve others. She and her sisters encouraged each other to be their best selves each day. This support system and an internship helped jumpstart her career as the assistant to the general manager of KVBO-TV Austin after graduation. She later worked as director of communications for First United Methodist Church-Austin, on Austin Faith Dialogue at KLBJ-TV, and after a move to Dallas eventually formed her own company, Perri Verdino Productions. She also was a writer for Barney and Friends. "Yes, the big purple dinosaur with Barney kids Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato!" When Perri and her husband, Mike, returned to Austin, she "maintained a few clients while working for my most demanding and most rewarding clients—my children." Once daughters Lauren and Gillian '17 were older, Perri was asked to help with a local nonprofit, Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF), a social outreach ministry that serves homeless men and women in central Texas. She writes and coordinates communications and marketing and recently celebrated her fifth anniversary with the organization. Throughout the years and her moves to different cities, Perri has met many Kappa Delta sisters from other chapters in parent groups, neighborhood associations, and her work. In fact, joining the MLF staff reunited her with Elizabeth Hunt, "a Kappa Delta from the other UT—University of Tennessee." They had met in a playgroup when their daughters were toddlers. Now Elizabeth is the grant manager for MLF. Gillian also works for the ministry, as the student commissary manager. "As Kappa Deltas, our passion to serve is strong, and I'm so proud to serve our community with my sisters by my side." Reconnecting with fellow Sigma Epsilon members has also been a blessing for Perri. "Several years ago, it was on my heart to reach out to my pledge sister and roommate, Cara Bounds Sliva '81. The day I called she had just received the news that she had breast cancer. I'm so glad I didn't ignore that feeling that I should reach out to her." Since then, Perri and Cara have "celebrated life's joys and weathered the storms that come our way." With her daughters now grown—Lauren is a speech language pathologist in Dallas, and Gillian is studying speech pathology at UT, Perri is a "free bird" and enjoys reading, attending Bible study, and taking photography and pottery classes. She also recently joined the local alumnae group. "It has been fun to gain new friendships, as well as rejuvenate relationships with women who share my values, work to serve their community, and also like to have fun!" Perri can be contacted at perri@gatestex.com. Perri and her daughter, Gillian '17.

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