Phi Mu - University of Mississippi

The Lion & The Ladybug 2 W alking into the Alpha Delta Chapter House during recruitment, Leslie Westbrook Frigerio '65 didn't know of the many opportunities and experiences that being a Phi Mu would bring. But, she found her home. The people she met were real, authentic, sincere, down-to-earth, and of great life and character values. "I felt a kinship," Leslie says. "I felt safe and secure, as well as being liked and valued. I had a great sense of family, camaraderie, support, and love. My world expanded greatly. The Phi Mu Chapter House was elegant, a home I felt very proud to show, to share, and to live within. I found a safety net, a place where I could grow, learn, and expand myself as I was becoming an adult to go out into the world to make my way." Leslie held undergraduate positions of pledge trainer and Chapter president. The sisters even nominated Leslie as a candidate for Miss Ole Miss in 1968, and she won! Some of her favorite memories were working together with sisters to achieve a goal. Whenever the sisters took on a project, they gave it their all, being fully engaged and involved. "I learned how to function in that microcosm of life—in a safe and secure environment—and make decisions, be a leader, work as a team, compromise, negotiate, and be independent," Leslie says. "I grew from being a girl to being a young woman going out into the world to make her way, behaving socially as well as in leadership roles, as the representative of a group, not just as oneself, and learned how to be a lady while still being strong in a career." After graduation, Leslie started her career with Procter & Gamble in consumer market research, leading into a career as a consumer research specialist and marketing strategist. She was a consultant to most Fortune 500 companies, and owned her own firm from 1980-2013. Now, Leslie does pro bono work for non-profits and guest lectures at Ole Miss in the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. While it may seem that Leslie's path was clear from the start, she says that was not always the case. Her advice is to be open to any and all opportunities that life might put in your way. "I was trained to be a wife, mother, and English teacher in 1968," she says. "I took a completely different path being open to opportunities that came my way. Follow your passion. Find what you love, what gets you up in the morning and gives you energy. Even if you are getting a certain degree and are on a career path, stay open to unexpected people, ideas, and events that come your way and may change your course. Stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone, beyond the limits you feel now. Push yourself to explore the great big wonderful world we have!" Leslie and her husband, Paolo, live on the Chesapeake Bay near Washington, D.C. They met in Milan, Italy, while traveling in 1984. They enjoy traveling and spending December-February at their home in Costa Rica, where they hike, kayak, and go on adventures. Leslie is also on the board of the Chesapeake Chamber Music Organization. She maintains contact with Susan Langdon Norton '67 and Pat Horne Holcomb '65. "I am rediscovering how much Phi Mu helped shaped the person I am today. I got far away; now I am coming back home. It is a lasting bond," Leslie says. She can be reached at lesliewestbrook10@ gmail.com. A Lasting Bond Leslie Westbrook Frigerio '65 Embraces All Phi Mu Opportunities and Experiences A lpha Delta Chapter ended the fall semester on a great note, and we were excited to kick off the 2016-17 academic year! With many lively events occurring throughout the semester, the Chapter welcomed home 155 new Phis thanks to the hard work of the recruitment team. From football games to practices to socials, preparing for recruitment is always a mixture of emotions, but Alpha Delta could not be more proud of the women who have found their home within our Chapter. Our new members went to Memphis for their Phi Retreat where they spent the afternoon touring our Children's Miracle Network Hospital, Le Bohneur, before spending the evening in the Skyroom at the top of the Peabody Hotel for hors d'oeuvres and fellowship. We initiated our new members on November 15, after six short weeks of a Phi program due to a late Bid Day and a short semester. We are thankful to all alumnae who joined us for the ceremony at the Oxford Conference Center. In addition to a successful recruitment, Alpha Delta House Corporation hosted a successful event at the Chapter House for alumnae to see the new renovations and enjoy food while catching up with old and new friends. The Chapter would like to thank the House Corporation for not only the renovations, including the stunning new bathrooms, but also for putting on this event to show off the new and improved Phi Mu Chapter House. We hope to have similar events annually for our alumnae to visit the Chapter House. Philanthropy Chairman Hart Pepper '13 planned a new philanthropy event called Phi Mu Couture, which raised nearly $20,000 for Le Bonheur! The event, a fashion show, took place at the Oxford Conference Center, where members from almost every sorority on campus entered women to walk the runway wearing the latest fashions from stores in and around the Oxford area. We were so excited to do something new to raise money for Children's Miracle Network. This year, Philanthropy Chairman Savannah Odum '13 looks forward to a something old and something new approach to planning our annual Bonnamu Music Festival for March 30, and a new event next semester is in the works. Stay tuned for more information for both events as planning evolves. Alpha Delta is so thankful for the love and support shown by our sisters who paved the way for us over the years, and we look forward to another eventful and successful spring semester to start off the new year. Love in Our Bond, Abby Cummings '13 Chapter President alphadelta.pres@gmail.com Alpha Delta Welcomes 155 New Members, Raises $20,000 for Le Bonheur Undergraduates Thankful for House Corporation, New Updates Emily Biernacki '15, Dessa Paul '14, Abby Cummings '13, Rachel Edwards '12, Kaitlin Childress '15, Lindsey Dunn '14, and Taylor Harbour '14 at Big/Little reveal.

• Cover