Delta Delta Delta - Kansas State University

C H A P T E R O F F I C E R S J oining Tri Delta was one of the best decisions I made during my time at college. I decided to go through recruitment because I thought joining a sorority would be an excellent way to meet new people. From the start, Tri Delta stood out as a welcoming place. The singing and camaraderie on the final night made me feel like I had found my home. During my time in Theta Iota Chapter, I was constantly inspired by the wonderful, talented people around me. The chapter's philanthropic efforts, particularly our events to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, made me proud to be a member. My favorite memory in the chapter house was getting engaged and planning a surprise candle lighting. During one dinner, the house boys passed around a candle with my engagement ring, and when it came to me, I blew it out to reveal my news. Keeping my engagement a secret for a month wasn't easy but sharing that night with my friends through the candle lighting made it a fun, memorable moment. I earned two bachelor's degrees from Kansas State in journalism and secondary education. Later, I attended the University of Missouri, where I earned master's and doctoral degrees in journalism. I've had a fulfilling career in journalism as a newspaper designer, magazine writer, magazine editor and website editor. I always knew I wanted to teach, and after earning my doctorate, I became a professor at the University of Florida. Now living in Missouri, I teach online journalism courses for UF and both online graduate and in-person undergraduate courses at Mizzou. I'm passionate about the role of journalism in our democracy. We need credible journalists to hold those in power accountable and to combat misinformation. The public also needs to seek out accurate news. Being an informed citizen takes effort, but it's essential. My advice for undergraduates now is to pursue internships and gain as much experience as possible before graduating. In my classes, I have students build a résumé and an online portfolio early on so they can see how much more they need to learn and do to land a dream job. College is a time for fun, but it's also an opportunity to develop expertise and explore career options. The friendships I made during my three years living in the chapter house have had a lasting impact on me. I'm grateful that two of my high school best friends, Ashley Warren Eckman '92 and Jill DuBois Heidrick '92, joined the sorority with me. Through Tri Delta, I formed incredible friendships with other sisters too. These relationships provided a strong support system and influenced my values and perspective. I live in Columbia, Missouri, a college town with wonderful trails and parks. My husband is also a professor, teaching photojournalism at Mizzou. We have two daughters and two sons, ranging in age from 14 to 22, and three dogs. It's a noisy, busy household, but I embrace the madness. We love road trips and traveling, and I dream of visiting all the National Parks in an RV during retirement Want to hear more from Renee? Send her an email at reneemk@gmail.com. page 2 Collegiate Chapter President Lexie Weatherford '22 Vice President of Operations Addie Weishaar '22 Vice President of Chapter Programming and Development Jessica Butler '22 Vice President of Community Relations Macie Warren '22 Vice President of Membership Experience Taylor Baker '22 Director of Administration Lauren Brown '23 Director of Member Finances Brynn O'Hara '23 Director of Financial Operations Kaylee Sears '23 Director of Facility Operations Peyton Berner '22 Director of Academic Excellence Faith Rost '23 Director of Risk Management and Wellness Saylor Fornshell '23 Director of Ceremonies and Rituals Gabbie Fink '22 Director of Social Events Sydney Dudzik '23 Director of Philanthropy Kiera Radar '22 Director of Public Relations and Marketing Sadie Stock '22 Director of First Year Experience Chandler Duntz '23 Director of Lifetime Membership Maci Kratzer '23 Director of Recruitment Events Virginia Perry '21 Director of Membership Selection Lydia Held '21 1 Better the chapter and provide an environment where everyone feels welcomed and appreciated. Our increasing numbers have been great, but retaining members matters most to us. We remind the chapter to come together when life gets hectic and encourage each other to remain present. 2 Accountability has also been a focus. We have all been trying to find the balance between being a friend and being a leader of the chapter and have each run into a situation where we must decide whether to discipline or provide constructive criticism. In order to approach each situation correctly, we have challenged ourselves to see the middle ground but remain certain in the decisions we make. G O A L S Tri Delta Ties CATCHING UP WITH RENEE MARTIN KRATZER '92 My fellow alumnae, I encourage you to visit your sorority house and attend reunions! A few years ago, I went back to Manhattan, Kansas, and seeing how the house had changed was so exciting. Of course, the best part of the visit was reconnecting with old friends and sharing memories.

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