Gamma Phi Beta - University of Kansas

SIGMA NEWS 2 O ur sincere thanks go to each sister who has made a contribution to Sigma Chapter. Your gifts make possible the necessary work that happens at our Gamma Phi Beta home. Listed here are the donors to the spring 2017 appeal. If an error has been made in recording your gift, we sincerely apologize. If a correction to your giving record is needed, please send it to Sigma Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta, P.O. Box 3796, Lawrence, KS 66046. Neely Brotherton Bordegon '99 Marcia Nelson Cassidy '59 Dee Burrows Clifford '68 Sara Clawson Colt '59 Kelly Burke Davis '84 Sandy Smith DeCoursey '76 Marjorie Anne Fischer Dozier '63 Catherine Campbell Dunmire '53 Connie Carney Erickson '67 Martha Jane Mueller Gentry '72 Becky Goodbar Gibson '63 Kelle Burmeister Gilmore '98 Molly Mueller Haase '98 Diane Hornaday Hall '50 Susan K. Harper '69 Jane E. Heeney '85 Tracy Johnson Jones '86 Connie Kruenegel Kendall '75 M. Suzanne Kastner Kerwin '58 Alice Robinson Levy '72 Susan Ulrich Loncar '58 Janis Withers Milham '79 Deb Reid Mountsier '74 Ann May Williams Overman '54 Susan Rogers Seidel '79 Bridget S. Staker '92 Anna Muhlenbruch Stucker '44 Betsy Robinson Vander Velde '70 Linda French Wilson '64 Jean Elson Woods '57 Karen Zupko '69 Thank You, Generous Sisters D espite their varying interests and high school activity involvement, Susan Anderson Leonard '92 and her sister, Bonnie Anderson Maddox '87, have always been the best of friends. After some encouragement from her mother and sister, Susan decided to give recruitment a shot, thinking there was no way she would end up in the same chapter as Bonnie. To her surprise, Gamma Phi Beta was the perfect place for someone like Bonnie and herself. "There were women from big cities and small towns, from near and far, who were athletes, dancers, debaters, you name it," she said. "I remember our pledge trainer reading off the list of accomplishments of my pledge class in high school and wondering how I ended up in such a special place." Susan experienced a number of great moments during her undergraduate years, but the true highlight was Bonnie attending her initiation—only to be outdone by the two attending initiation in 2015 for Bonnie's daughter, Jamie Maddox '15. Additionally, Susan loved all the competitions, specifically Derby Days, and remembers winning each of the four years she was an active member. Not to mention, serving as president, or "Madame Presbytata," her senior year and meeting her future husband and fellow Greek president, Matt, at the President's Forum. "Gamma Phi Beta helped me identify my strengths as a leader and then gave me opportunities to grow and develop those skills," she said. "Being president was a truly transformative experience for me." Upon graduation, Susan began her teaching career in north Kansas City as a high school social studies teacher and coach. Immediately she looked for leadership opportunities and was encouraged by her principal at the time to apply for the district's Leadership Academy program. Susan was accepted and simultaneously started her master's program. After three years in the classroom, she moved to administration and received her Ph.D. from the KU School of Education in 2007. Shifting gears, Susan took a principal position at the small private school Pembroke Hill, and last school year, began her position as one of three associate principals at Shawnee Mission East High School. "It was always a dream of mine to work within my own community where my children would attend," she said. Shawnee Mission East is a great school with a long history of excellence. However, as associate principal, Susan thinks there is always room for growth and looks forward to helping East become even better. "Right now I'm focused on the culture. I want teachers to be goal-oriented and to think about how they can be better tomorrow than they are today." Susan has learned that staying in touch with Gamma Phi Beta, and specifically her college girlfriends, is important. Looking back on her years in Sigma, Susan knows the chapter taught her how to collaborate with others, develop strong relationships, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself and help you become better. "There are no words to describe how strong our bond is, and knowing that those girls would do anything for me, and me for them, is one of the greatest blessings in my life," Susan said. Susan, Matt, and their children, CJ and Maggie, live in Fairway, Kan. In her free time, Susan enjoys running, bike riding, traveling, and cheering on her favorite sports teams. She can be reached at susanleonard@smsd.org. Sigma Prepared Susan Anderson Leonard '92 for Career in Academia EXECUTIVE COUNCIL President Lauren Frederick '14 Administrative Vice President Emalee Crosser '15 Education Vice President Kaycee Peterson '14 Financial Vice President Mary Joyce '14 Membership Vice President Audrey Devries '14 Public Relations Vice President Lauren Barbour '15 Panhellenic Affairs Vice President Anna Karlin '14

• Cover