Kappa Delta - Florida State University

Always ink of KD 4 Foster genuine connections among the new member class (PC 23). • Hold a sisterhood event at the Chapter House during the new member period for only SET leaders and new members. This will encourage members to feel comfortable in the house as well as foster genuine connections within the new member class. • Facilitate emotional intelligence training for the SET leaders prior to the new member period so that these mentors can better understand and support new members during their period of transition. Engage with and build confidence in the Girl Scouts. • Host the Girl Scouts on a campus tour for our Confidence is Key event. Have members of the Girl Scout troops hand out balloons with positive affirmations that instill confidence in women on campus. • Provide the opportunity for members and alumnae to buy their cookies online through a local troop so that Girl Scouts in the area can deliver cookies in person and foster their social skills and confidence. • Host a local troop at the house for brunch and give them a tour of the facility. Have a presentation of the join history behind KΔ and Girl Scouts as well as the history behind Kappa Alpha and the troops. Provide members with an increased understanding of Kappa Alpha's history and rituals during the recruitment process. • Present the history behind Kappa Alpha and our ritual ceremonies during spirit week so that members can better understand the importance of our traditions within preference round, first degree, second degree, and initiation. W e are 15 Kappa Delta alumnae sisters from five different Chapters with over 136 collective years of collegiate advising experience. As individual advisors, we strive to establish a relationship with our collegiate counterparts so that our sisterly mentor/mentee relationship extends beyond that of Chapter operations to more of a life and mental health coach role. We meet weekly with our collegiate counterparts on topics ranging from philanthropy and social events to risk management, finances, and beyond. Monthly, we meet as a full board with our collegiate sisters, and we engage frequently with national officers and the local university campus. Our CAB advisors are also regularly present at Chapter philanthropy events, Chapter meetings, and ritual ceremonies. Together with our House Corp sisters, we are diverse KD alumnae who are proud to be a part of the legacy of Kappa Alpha as a top Chapter on FSU's campus by almost any metric. Anyone interested in serving on CAB should contact Alli Liby Schoonover '03 at allison.liby@gmail.com or (850) 321-4799. C HA P T E R A D V I S O RY B OA R D A message from your... B orn and raised in Tallahassee and "a Seminole through and through," Marissa Walton Langston '00 (who received her FSU degrees in 2004 and 2014) was honored to join the Florida State University staff in 2010. She never could have pictured back then where she is now: working as Chief of Staff to FSU President Richard McCullough. "I can't even express what a privilege it is to serve under President McCullough," Marissa said. "I'm so excited by the leadership of the President and the First Lady, Jai Vartikar, and am humbled to serve my alma mater in this way." "I value those relationships, and I've been thankful to carry them through to this point in my life." Marissa held various roles at the FSU College of Business before her current job, starting as a development officer and finishing as an assistant dean. When she thinks about how far she's come, one of the first things she recalls is the leadership lessons she found in Kappa Delta. BEST OF THE BEST Marissa visited each sorority house for recruitment and was impressed with every single one. The members were excited to be on campus and share their values and initiatives. Even then, Kappa Delta stood out as a well-organized group whose sisters took the time to connect with visitors. "They had a warm, welcoming, professional presence, and I was just so impressed," she said. "I decided I'd love to join these amazing young women and see what I could do here." Kappa Alpha Chapter introduced Marissa to many great students from across the country, expanding her worldview beyond Tallahassee. Hearing about their experiences and goals was a great personal growth opportunity, as were her leadership roles in the standards board and line dancing group. "The sisterhood was strong and united," she said. "The girls sometimes had different perspectives, as to be expected, but we enjoyed each other and enjoyed sharing the college experience together." MAKING CONNECTIONS With her sorority and educational background, Marissa encourages sisters to treat people and their points of view with respect. "Whether it's a colleague, someone I know well, or someone I briefly met, showing them respect has always served me well. It's such an important value." She also stresses the importance of students getting involved on campus—Greek life being one of many great ways to do so. "There are a variety of ways to connect on campus that offer personal growth and instill life lessons. I always encourage getting involved early and not missing an opportunity—there are lots of ways to do it!" When Marissa isn't working, she's mostly busy raising two kids! Her husband is a fellow FSU alumnus, and both hope to see their daughters (3 and 6) as Seminoles someday. Marissa also keeps up with several local sisters and tries to visit more at least once a year, whether on game day or a Kappa Delta girls trip. "I value those relationships, and I've been thankful to carry them through to this point in my life." You can reach Marissa at m.langston@fsu.edu. A Lifelong Kappa Alpha Seminole Marissa Walton Langston '00 Proudly Serves Her Community Lauren Waller Bevis Ellie Cissel Jenny High Cottingham Kaitlin Davidson Emily Hall Caitlin Hart Patty Kitchen Courtney Larkin Cindy Lavoie Sarah Mallory Taylor Pacenta Alli Liby Schoonover Ansley Seaton Vicki Wiman Jennifer Edwards Woolfe

• Cover