Alpha Phi - Cornell University

THE FORGET-ME-NOT 2 Alpha Phi Paves the Way to a Successful Career for Nora Bensahel '93 W hen Nora Bensahel '93 first attended Cornell University, she had no intention of joining a sorority. However, she quickly changed her mind when she met a group of Alpha Phis through classes and activities on campus. "They were all incredibly interesting women, with interests and identities that were not solely about being in a sorority, but who clearly loved being part of Alpha Phi. I started learning more about Delta Chapter and decided to join the sisterhood," Nora says. Being a member in Alpha Phi meant Nora was provided with a safe haven during some of the most transformative years of her life. She says, "Delta was a very important part of my time at Cornell. It was a place where I could always walk in the door and feel welcome, and where I could always be myself without any pretense or concern. Alpha Phi truly helped me develop confidence and networking skills in ways I didn't understand at the time. My experience with this amazing group of women helped propel me into the successful career I have today." Nora strongly believes in the importance of mentoring and helping those who follow in her footsteps, thanks to the countless women she connected with in Alpha Phi. For this reason, she is confident Alpha Phi will continue to develop future leaders on campus, in the community, across the nation, or even around the world. "Being in an organization where all of the leaders and members were women was a very exciting experience for me," she says. "Alpha Phi helped me learn a lot about myself and I gained many leadership skills that I continue to apply to my everyday life more than 25 years later. If I hadn't learned to network with others early on, I would have missed some tremendous opportunities in the professional world." As an alumna, Nora's Delta roots remain intact and she makes it a priority to stay connected with sisters to this day. "Pippa Loengard Almond '93 is one of my closest friends. We talk often and see each other whenever we can, though we live in different cities. I see Amy Sachs Yam '92 a couple of times a year, since she is my veterinarian and takes wonderful care of my cats! If it weren't for Alpha Phi, I likely wouldn't have ever had the chance to develop close friendships with these wonderful women. I hope Delta will always be a place where some of Cornell's most interesting women can come together, learn from each other, and support each other, not just during their college years but for a lifetime." No stranger to hard work, Nora has enjoyed a rewarding career as a distinguished scholar at the School of International Service at American University and as a widely published expert on U.S. defense policy and military operations. Some of her publications include Hard Choices: Responsible Defense in an Age of Austerity; Battlefields and Boardrooms: Women's Leadership in the Military and the Private Sector; The Future of the U.S. Army; and Building Better Generals. Nora received her Ph.D. and master's degree from the Department of Political Science at Stanford University and her bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, from Cornell. She serves on the President's Council of Cornell Women, along with Heidi Grenek '92 and Patricia Santiago '92. In her spare time, you'll likely find Nora cooking, reading, solving crossword puzzles in The New York Times newspaper, and watching college basketball or the Olympics. She lives happily in Arlington, Virginia. You can contact Nora at bensahel@american.edu. Alumnae News W e want to hear from you! Alumnae are encouraged and welcome to keep us up to date on personal news about your family, career, activities, and contact information. As sisters of Delta Chapter, we want to utilize The Forget-Me-Not as a way to keep in touch. Please send information for publication in future issues to our alumnae relations coordinator at mlisher@penningtonco.com. Susan Schaefer Kliman '86 is a department chairman and architecture professor in Washington, D.C. She says, "I have also been a practicing architect for many years. I have spent a lot of time volunteering for the national organizations that regulate the practice of architecture and accredit architecture programs. I am passionate about mentoring the next generation—particularly young women. I love being connected with so many Phis on Facebook. I try to stay in touch with as many sisters as possible, and definitely don't get to see them as often as I would like." E-mail: skliman@klimatic.com President Val Katz '18 vk259@cornell.edu Vice President of Risk Management Lexie Federhen '19 Vice President of Chapter Operations Lisa Condoluci '19 Vice President of Membership Recruitment Kelsey Mackenzie '18 km555@cornell.edu Vice President of Campus Affairs Katie Budde '19 Vice President of Programming Mareshah Sowah '18 Director of New Member Education Amelia Brackett '18 Director of Finance Cait Hagan '18 Director of Administration Johanna Dejoria '18 Panhellenic Delegate Jenna Doyno '19 CHAPTER OFFICERS

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