Gamma Phi Beta - University of Missouri

Gamma Phi Beta University of Missouri P.O. Box 442100 Lawrence, KS 66044-2100 Address Service Requested G A M M A P H I B E T A A T T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F M I S S O U R I Hilites Alpha Delta mizzougammaphibeta.com f Gamma Phi Beta - Alpha Delta Alumnae f Gamma Phi Beta - Alpha Delta Chapter l @mizzougphi mizzougphi Guided by Gamma Phi Alpha Delta Provided Allyson Wallenta Peters '14 Skills to Succeed as Broadcast Journalist S orority life is not all rainbows and butterflies: it taught Allyson Wallenta Peters '14 that the more you put in, the better; to be confident in who you are and where you come from; and how to problem solve and deal with conflict. These lessons have been instrumental in Ally's success and growth as a sister, woman, and leader, as well as in her career as a broadcast journalist. l Putting in the Work "A sorority can teach you a ton of valuable life lessons, but to truly benefit from all a sorority has to offer, you have to put in work," Ally stated. "Membership is a commitment. I found that the more effort and time I gave (of course still allowing me to do well in school), the more I got out of the sorority." Being chapter president for a year ultimately opened doors to many unique opportunities for Ally. Her favorite memory as an undergraduate is traveling to Atlanta, Georgia, for a leadership conference alongside her executive board. She had the opportunity to speak about her Gamma Phi Beta experience in front of more than 1,000 sisters, as well as more closely connect with her executive board. "We left the conference with new ideas and opportunities we were excited to share with our own chapter," she shared. "Being president helps you grow as a leader first and foremost, but it also improves your confidence, speaking abilities, problem-solving skills, patience, and understanding." l Gaining Confidence Ally has also seen her experience as chapter president and involvement in Gamma Phi Beta truly transfer over into her career and professional life. After graduating from Mizzou with a degree in journalism, Ally accepted a job as an evening anchor and producer at WAOW TV in Wausau, Wisconsin, which is about three hours from where she grew up. She's spent the last three years anchoring their weekday evening newscasts and producing their 9 p.m. show. "As chapter president, I learned quickly how to listen to other ideas, take constructive criticism, and work together as a team to find the best path forward for our members," she said. "Also, as you can imagine, speaking in front of 300-plus women once or twice a week will really help you gain confidence speaking in front of others... or in my case, thousands of TV viewers a night." l Solving Problems Exposure to conflict management was another important first-hand experience Ally had while serving as chapter president, which better equipped her to deal with issues in the "real world." "Holding any type of position in a sorority is going to involve some sort of conflict and need for problem-solving skills," she said. "Through guidance from advisors and working closely with other members, you become better at figuring out how to overcome these challenges, which makes it much easier in the future." l Giving Back Ally has also been active with the special needs community since she was in middle school. When she moved to Wausau, she knew she wanted to connect with an organization that would allow her to stay involved. GiGi's Playhouse, a Down syndrome achievement center that offers therapeutical, educational, and career-development programming at no cost, was in the early stages of coming to fruition in the area. "I joined the start-up board, was eventually voted in as vice president, and now have helped a beautiful playhouse become a reality in our community," she shared. "We serve hundreds of families and offer a space for people with Down syndrome to learn, explore, socialize, and grow." Since graduating from Mizzou, Ally has also stayed involved with Gamma Phi Beta as public relations advisor for Alpha Delta Chapter. She recently accepted a job as an anchor and reporter at a news station in Rochester, New York. She will move to the "Empire State" at the end of March with her husband, Charlie, and their dog, Nala. "I am excited to start this new journey, while continuing my work with Gamma Phi Beta and the Down syndrome community," she said. "I couldn't have made it where I am today without the support of the women in Gamma Phi Beta." You can connect with Ally at allysonpeters08@ gmail.com.

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