Alpha Chi Omega - University of Florida

page 2 The Carnation Chronicle A History of Involvement Cultivated through Alpha Chi Omega Brittany Hope Lee '00 on the Impact of Gamma Iota F or Brittany Hope Lee '00, her passion for leadership and involvement can be traced back to her time with Alpha Chi Omega, and she is thankful for that every day. As an undergraduate, Brittany served as both the assistant recruitment chairman and the Homecoming chairman. After graduation, she was compelled to give back and served as the risk management advisor for six years. "I believe sororities, and specifically Alpha Chi Omega, instill charitable principles and cultivate leadership skills in young women," Brittany said. "That was apparent and I learned a lot of that from our alumnae. From the very first day as a Gamma Iota sister, I was impressed with alumnae such as Dorothy Schoonmaker Henderson '47, Shirley Steinhardt Stone '67, and countless others who helped me quickly realize the impactful experience I was about to embark on." Throughout her collegiate experience, Brittany was proud of the involvement that her Gamma Iota sisters demonstrated outside of the chapter. Many of the young women were involved in student government and other prominent organizations, and it pleasantly surprised her how much they emulated the Florida state government and other organizations. But even with all of the work in and outside of Alpha Chi Omega, Brittany made sure to have fun and make lifelong connections. "I believe strongly in the old adage, 'the world is run by those who show up,' and in my experience with Gamma Iota, we were the women who always showed up," Brittany said. "One of my favorite events was the Alpha Chi Arrest social where when you and your date arrive, you are immediately handcuffed together. It was a fun, upbeat event," she said. "It is events like that or just the times hanging out that I am thankful for the friendships I made. The cliché about making lifelong friends really holds true, and I would not have met some of my best friends today if it were not for Gamma Iota." Brittany enjoys the opportunity to meet with members of the Gainesville Alumnae Chapter for lunch and going back and visiting the chapter when she can. She especially liked attending the ribbon cutting ceremony and Thanksgiving meal event. Plus, like any good Gamma Iota, she loves attending Gator games. Brittany and her husband, Ryan Brown, an elementary school teacher, live in Gainesville, and they have a 2-month-old son, Jeb. She is the vice president of Florida Blue Farms Inc., a family southern highbush blueberry farm outside of Gainesville. Brittany is also a member of various boards and organizations, including the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources and the United States Highbush Blueberry Council, a position to which she was appointed by United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. "Gamma Iota prepared me in many ways for the community, state and national boards I sit on. The chapter's structure and presence on campus prepared me in many ways to navigate legislative processes and lobby for organizations I'm involved with," Brittany said. "More than any board or committee position I hold, what I am most proud of is my family and our family business. As our farming operation continues to grow and expand, I look forward to cultivating a positive and viable business for our future generations." If you would like to get in contact with Brittany, she can be reached at brittanyhlee@gmail.com. WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS Caroline Gaspich Melbourne, Fla. Kelly Grieco Basking Ridge, N.J. Austen Hentschel Orange Park, Fla. Maggie Moskal Lakeland, Fla. Victoria Rossman Hollywood, Fla. Jordan Sprechman Jupiter, Fla. Allison Thiel West Babylon, N.Y. Bryn Tolchinsky Plantation, Fla.

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