Alpha Chi Omega - University of Missouri

3 Alpha Chi Omega H aving been raised on the outskirts of a town of 83 in rural Missouri and being the only one of four daughters to attend high school, Lillian Bingenheimer Bjorseth '61 didn't have any role models for college. Before arriving at Mizzou, she didn't understand the Greek system or know anyone who was a member. Thanks to Sue Ormiston Sherrod '60, an ACW who worked with Lillian in the psychology department, Lillian was invited to spring recruitment. The rest is history. Lillian's English teacher during her high school sophomore year was the first to point out her better-than-average oral and written communication skills. "I took to those courses like a duck to water, and I enjoy speaking and writing as much today as I did at the beginning of my public relations and speaking career," she shared. Attending one of the best journalism schools in the nation was by happenstance, as her high school counselor tried to convince her to attend Southern Illinois University, his alma mater. However, Curator Awards and the lower cost of in state tuition easily swung the pendulum. "This was one of the major turning points in my life," she stated. Fifty-two years since graduating from Mizzou, Lillian led a session called "Networking Savvy for Women over 50" at the 2016 Alpha Chi Omega Convention. The session addressed how these women face a special challenge in the workforce and need to make certain they are building key relationships. "They need to be savvy and target the right people," she said. The one point Lillian hopes convention attendees took away from her session is that relationships are the lifeblood of your career. "One of the keys of networking is finding a commonality," she said. "We as sisters have a strong and enduring one: Alpha Chi Omega." Lillian has spoken around the country and says she has never had such an immediate connection as she did with her Alpha Chi sisters at convention. Lillian loves inspiring audiences to build a new kind of wealth—social capital—since face-to-face networking is the number one way to start building relationships. She also is a certified DiSC Classic behavioral trainer and an author. She wrote the multi- edition networking standard, Breakthrough Networking: Building Relationships That Last. Lillian has two sons: Scott, a lawyer (and Mizzou J-School grad), and Troy, who works for UPS. One of her three grandsons is a freshman J-School major at Mizzou. Lillian and her second husband, Wayne Haberlach, enjoy attending grandsons' sports activities and cruising. One of her most awesome moments was stepping onto Russian soil, something she never imagined when she studied the USSR in her one-room elementary school. Lillian also loves reading the newspaper front to back and doing crossword puzzles. To reconnect with Lillian, email her at lillianspeaks@duoforce.com. Alpha Chi Omega Helps Prepare Lillian Bingenheimer Bjorseth '61 for Successful Career in Public Speaking C oming to Mizzou from out of state, both Carrie Dent '07 and Katie Doner '11 agree it was important for to find a home away from home and a smaller community to join so that they would not get lost on such a large campus. "I immediately fell in love with all that Alpha Chi stands for," said Carrie Dent, "And was attracted to the strong sisterhood that was apparent during recruitment. The sorority's values made a lasting impression on me." It was those things that inspired her to become a chapter advisor for the Alpha Lambda chapter at the University of Minnesota, where she attended graduate school. Katie joined Alpha Nu through Continuous Open Bidding in 2011 "at just the right time in my life," she shares. "I was contemplating transferring schools to be closer to home. Alpha Chi provided me a place, the friendships and love I had been missing." When Katie relocated to Ann Arbor, Mich., in May 2015, she felt lost. However, Erin Wilkerson '11 encouraged her to see if Theta chapter at the University of Michigan had any volunteer opportunities. Luckily for Katie, Theta chapter needed a new chapter advisor as soon as possible. "Once I became chapter advisor, things in Michigan started to fall into place. Once again. ACW was there to give me another home away from home and the support system I so desperately needed." Carrie and Katie both hope to model for their respective chapters that membership in Alpha Chi is for a lifetime and that it can be even more rewarding as an alumna. According to Carrie, the most gratifying part of being a chapter advisor is witnessing members develop into extraordinary leaders to their peers and Alpha Chi. "I have the opportunity to mentor women to become the best version of themselves and lead the chapter to new heights." For Katie, having 200 young women looking up to her as a role model is one of the best feelings in the world. Carrie received a bachelor's degree in human environmental sciences with an emphasis on nutrition and fitness with a minor in psychology from Mizzou. She has a master's degree in public health from the University of Minnesota. She is a registered dietician at a clinic specializing in eating disorders in St. Louis Park, Minn. Carrie enjoys traveling, visiting friends and trying new restaurants in her free time. To reconnect, email her at cjdent0421@gmail.com. Katie has a bachelor's degree in radiologic sciences with an emphasis in nuclear medicine. She is a product specialist and software tester for a company in Ann Arbor that creates nuclear cardiology software. In her spare time, Katie loves exploring Michigan with friends, collecting Disney memorabilia and planning her next trip to Disney World. To reach Katie, email her at kidoner27@gmail.com. ACW Experience Inspires Carrie Dent '07 and Katherine Doner '11 to Become Chapter Advisors Carrie Dent '07 Katie Doner '11 with two of her Theta chapter officers: Chapter President Evie VanDeWege '14 and Vice President of Risk Management Kelly Creal '14 at the 2016 convention.

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