Kappa Delta - University of Alabama

2 The Katydid Kappa Delta Lasts a Lifetime Frances Turner '78 Encourages Alumnae Involvement F or Frances Turner '78, she grew up "bleeding the green and white." From a young age, she was exposed to the Kappa Delta way, since her mother and aunts also took the pledge. She continued to fall in love with the Chapter during recruitment, where she said she met a number of wonderful and diverse Kappa Delta women. She said the experiences and the friendships she built helped her become the person she is today. After graduating in 1981 with a degree in secondary education and endorsements in history and social sciences, Frances went on to teach for a number of years. She remembers her time teaching fondly and enjoyed helping students reach their potentials both in and out of the class. She serves as vice president of Turner Motor Company, which is a Chevy dealership once owned by both her father and grandfather. As third-generation owners, Frances and her brother work hard to carry on their family's business. As an alumna, Frances serves on the Kappa Delta Alabama Housing Corporation Board, where she says the focus is on creating a home away from home for the active Chapter. "We want to provide a secure home environment where the girls can thrive through leadership opportunities and create lifelong friendships," Frances stated. By ensuring the prosperity of the Chapter House, Frances and the Board hope to continue to provide a positive home environment for future generations of Kappa Deltas. Frances is thoroughly impressed with the leadership displayed by the active Chapter, as well as their involvement not only within the Chapter but within the university and community as well. Frances encourages alumnae who may have lost touch with the Chapter over the years to reconnect and get involved. "It is so easy to get involved," Frances said. "You always have a home at Kappa Delta." When Frances is not running her family business, she enjoys watching Alabama football, attending dog shows, and spending time with her sweetheart, whose mother was in Kappa Delta. If you would like to reconnect with Frances, she can be reached at feturner12@gmail.com. CHAPTER TO CHAPTER Frances Watts '06 Shares Her Kappa Delta Experience T he recruitment process can be a rather stress- inducing time, especially if you have a particular sorority in mind. For Frances Watts '06, she knew Kappa Delta was the one after meeting a special group of ladies from her hometown of Greenville, Ala., who would share stories about their years in Kappa Delta. After receiving her bid, Frances found her new home at Kappa Delta and went on to serve as the Zeta Chapter president, vice-president of operations, and pledge class president during her time as an undergraduate. Frances took notice of her passion helping people during her time in Kappa Delta and wanted to continue that in her professional career. After graduating in 2010 with a bachelor of science in commerce and business administration, Frances obtained her MBA and master of science in health administration (MSHA) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She works for UCLA Health in Los Angeles, Calif., as the director of hematologic malignancies and stem cell transplant. "I had a great advisor in the business school that introduced me to health care administration," Frances shared. She urges undergraduates to consider a career path in health care management. Staying involved in Kappa Delta has allowed Frances to see firsthand the similarities and differences between the Zeta Chapter and Alpha Iota Chapter, where she serves as a member of the Chapter Advisory Board. In addition to her role on the advisory board, she participates in a national selection committee for Kappa Delta grants and undergraduate scholarships, as well as the alumnae engagement strategic committee. "Kappa Delta was such a rewarding and rich part of my life that I felt it was important to give back in any way I could," Frances stated. "Across the nation, collegians and alumnae have the same drive to help our women succeed whether being elected to college committees or helping secure internships or post-graduate jobs." Frances encourages all members to stay in touch and support the national organization. "Nothing compares to the network that allows Kappa Delta friends to visit whenever we travel," Frances said. With the '06 pledge class reunion in three short years, Frances invites her sisters to email her if they would like to assist in planning the event as another form of involvement. Frances lives in Los Angeles, Calif., where she met her fiancé, Jacob van Beek; they will be wed in Montgomery, Ala., in January 2018. She thoroughly enjoys exploring Los Angeles and its surrounding cities with a few of her favorites including Palm Springs and Carmel-by-the-Sea. She also makes time every Saturday to gather with her friends to watch Alabama football. If you would like to reconnect with Frances, she can be reached at fawatts@gmail.com. Frances Watts '06 at an event with her fiancé, Jacob van Beek.

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