Gamma Phi Beta - University of Kansas

GAMMA PHI BETA 3 Chapter President Lucy Bailey '20 Administra ve Vice President Claire Marshall '19 Financial Vice President Anna Stoval '20 Educa on Vice President Annie Gurne '19 New Member Educators Abby Gorman '20 Morgan Huppert '20 Membership Vice President Ryann Jones '19 Public Rela ons Vice President Gabby Findley '21 Panhellenic Affairs Vice President Ka e Lamfers '21 House Manager Maddie Mayfield '20 Diversity and Inclusion Chairmen Faith Kelly '20 Anna Wood '20 B eginning college can be a daun ng experience and can be an even more challenging for out-of-state students. Coming from a small town in Illinois, Susan Harper '69 didn't know many people at the University of Kansas. Joining a sorority was the perfect way for her to meet new people and create lifelong friendships. Susan felt so comfortable during recruitment that she knew she wanted to be a Gamma Phi. Sigma Chapter brought Susan instant friendships, and some of her closest friends today are her pledge sisters; she even met her best friend Missy Hueben Murray Spra ord '69 while living in the chapter house. Susan and Missy talked at least once a day every day for 45 years—up un l Missy's passing in 2017. Susan always had a wonderful me with her sisters during her undergraduate years. "One of my favorite memories is when six or seven of us squeezed into a Volkswagen Bug and drove all over campus in the middle of the night, collec ng trophies and composites from all the fraterni es," she shared. "We returned them, of course!" Susan credits Gamma Phi Beta for helping her to become a "strong woman," and as an alumna, she con nues to create new memories. She recently volunteered at Southern Methodist University's Recruitment Work Week and shares that it was fun to see how different but how alike Gamma Phi sisters are. Addi onally, Susan has belonged to alumnae associa ons in several ci es, and she always looked forward to a ending the Greater Kansas City Alumnae Arts and An que Show. "I can't count the pounds of sloppy joe I've made throughout the years," she said. "It was so fun and everybody par cipated, so I got to see all my sisters." In her personal life, Susan began her career right out of college, teaching at the Kansas State School for the Visually Handicapped. From there, she served as the first female president of the North Central Associa on of Schools for the Blind. Susan enjoyed a fulfilling career at Southwestern Bell Corpora on, serving in posi ons across the Midwest. A er she re red, she had a chance to work and live in Abu Dhabi. The cherry on top of all her careers was serving as the Sigma Chapter house director. Terrie Webb Hun ngton '68 and Be y Hailey Crooker '57 asked Susan to serve as house director for one semester, and she thought it would be an adventure. Li le did she know, she would stay for five and a half special years! She was proud to serve in the posi on, as Sigma Chapter has a strong reputa on at KU. "I was rewarded every day when the girls would come into my apartment to visit; I was so fla ered that they wanted to spend me with me," Susan shared. Susan recalls many highlights from her years as house director. She will always remember her first formal dinner where she was so proud to sit at the head table. She consistently felt respected, and she cherishes the memories of every conversa on she had when someone wanted her advice or opinion or told her a secret. Some of her other favorite moments include being recognized as House Director of the Year, winning Rock Chalk Revue, and Sigma Chi Derby Days. She even had the opportunity to meet Kris n Chenoweth, who came by the house a er a local performance. In her free me, Susan loves to travel; she has visited 25 countries and isn't finished! She recently returned from a 21-day trip to Morocco. Susan also loves animals, reading, kni ng, shopping, and spending me with friends. You can connect with her at harper0650@verizon.net to learn more about her travels or her me as house director. Susan with gradua ng sisters. The class of 1972 never had the chance to walk down the hill to the Memorial Campanile because of rain. They were invited to walk down the hill with the class of 2022, and Susan was honored to par cipate. W ith a new school year comes a me to reflect on the sisterhood and what we've accomplished, plus me to focus on areas in which we can improve. This semester, we hope to build upon the following areas: 1. Foster academic achievement within the chapter with academic events, scholarship opportuni es, and a focus on pairing new members with peer mentors to increase our GPA from last year. 2. Create stronger bonds between pledge classes with more sisterhood and social events. 3. Become more ac ve in the Lawrence community by promo ng Gamma Phi's philanthropy events as well as se ng a goal of 10 service hours per member per semester. Strengthening Our Sisterhood Sigma Chapter Finds New Ways to Improve Chapter Officers CHERISHING SPECIAL MOMENTS Susan Harper '69 Reminisces on Her GPB Experience and Time as House Director

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