Alpha Phi - Michigan State University

The Ivy 2 A s a sophomore at MSU, Mary Palazzolo Martin '96 began to truly feel at home when she joined the Alpha Phi sisterhood. "I had heard great things about the sorority and appreciated their more laid-back vibe." Being laid back, however, did not stop Mary or her Beta Beta sisters from pushing themselves to their fullest potential. "I loved our amazing group of smart, fun, and outspoken leaders," she explained. "I think Alpha Phi gave me an excellent foundation for what it meant to be a woman leader." Advancing a Successful Career Mary has worked in the healthcare industry for 15 years and at Michigan Medicine for the last five ("Don't worry—I still cheer for Spartan sports teams!"). In March, she will begin a new position as COO of Duke University Hospital. "I love working in academic health organizations because I believe the country's best healthcare comes from institutions supporting advanced research and educating our next generation of clinicians," Mary said. "Duke is also helping to redefine state and national payment models to improve the quality of care and reduce overall costs. Providing access to these services and making sure we deliver efficient, quality care drives my work ethic every day." In her first healthcare job at Detroit Medical Center, Mary was part of the team which turned performance around and saved two of their hospitals from closing. A Leap of Faith Prior to working in this industry, Mary graduated from James Madison College at MSU with a degree in International Relations and worked in government for five years. During which, she was involved in the building of two professional sports venues in Detroit: Comerica Park and Ford Field. "Both parks have a plaque thanking the public officials involved, including me— which my sports-enthusiast father loves!" She also worked in political circles and met former presidents, vice presidents, and other politicians. Nonetheless, Mary is glad she took a leap of faith with healthcare and encourages undergraduates to be open to new opportunities. Remembering the Fun Mary served as Pledge Educator (now called New Member Chairman) as well as VP of Administration on the Panhellenic Council. She also has fond memories of scavenger hunts, social events, Formals, and "just hanging out at the house and being goofy!" Her other piece of advice, "Never lose your sense of fun! My current coworkers at Michigan say they will not only miss my work, but my ability to make them laugh. Work can be serious, especially in healthcare. Just don't forget to have a little fun along the way." Mary loves watching Spartan football, basketball, and spending time with her family: husband Jason, step-daughter Julia, and daughter Ava. Email Mary at maryp06@yahoo.com. LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, AND FUN Mary Palazzolo Martin '96 Maintains Beta Beta Values "I think Alpha Phi gave me an excellent foundation for what it meant to be a woman leader." A s a stay-at-home mom, Monique Corriveau Turco '88 found her calling in helping other families. Monique and her family volunteer as a host family for Healing the Children, a nonprofit organization helping third- world children access medical care in the United States. "I watched a good friend get involved here at the Michigan chapter, and I took a leap of faith and decided to join." Every day, Monique applies many of the skills and values she learned as a sister of Alpha Phi. Foundations for Success Monique joined Beta Beta because she felt the most comfortable and at home with the women in the house. She served as Rush Counselor (now called VP of Recruitment) and graduated MSU with a B.S. in Biology. "Working in groups and networks provided me with good volunteering skills," Monique said. "I also learned to trust in my sisters— we could always be both brutally honest and humorous with each other. One of my best friends, Georgianna Green Slazinski '88, is a pledge sister. She moved to Houston, but we and our families are still very close." Living a Life of Service Through Healing the Children, Monique and her family welcome children from Honduras and Haiti into their home, helping them get needed care. They help the children keep in touch with their parents while receiving treatment, and then they return home. Her family has also gone on mission trips to these countries in an effort to provide clean water. While doing so, she has met some of the families they helped face-to-face. "There's so much joy in meeting these families. You meet other mothers and feel for their struggles, and you realize the advantages we have here. They take a leap of faith out of love, and I'm glad I took that leap as well." Getting Involved To those interested in similar volunteer work, Monique encourages reaching out to others who are involved and asking about it. "I've learned it's much easier to help people than we think it is. My children have a great perspective on life at a young age, and it's taught us all to be stronger and empathetic. It's been a blessing for all of us." Monique and her family live in Grosse Pointe, MI. Two of her daughters are in college, and her third is a senior in high school. Her husband, Michael, is an attorney and serves on the board of Aqua Clara International, which helps install micro water filters on their mission trips. They currently have a foster child from Detroit as well. If you would like to connect with Monique, she can be reached at theturcofamily@gmail.com. TAKING THE LEAP OF FAITH Monique Corriveau Turco '88 Shares Her Volunteer Experience "I've learned it's much easier to help people than we think it is. My children have a great perspective on life at a young age, and it's taught us all to be stronger and empathetic. It's been a blessing for all of us."

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