Kappa Alpha Theta - University of Missouri

KAPPA ALPHA THETA P.O. BOX 30166 COLUMBIA, MO 65205 Address Service Requested THE THETA UPDATE Hulett one night at Harpo's. And Brian's sister, Amanda Hulett Cooper '92, was initiated in the fall class while Jennifer was in the spring— the chapter's last February initiation. After graduating from the MU Sinclair School of Nursing, Jennifer practiced as a registered nurse in critical care settings. She later returned to MU to earn a master's and then a Ph.D. in nursing, due to her interest in researching health outcomes associated with the use of complementary and alternative therapies in cancer survivorship. Jennifer and Brian say their college experience in Columbia is what compelled them to move back in 2007 and raise their family in the community. Being so close to the chapter, Jennifer initially volunteered with Alpha Mu because she wanted to get involved and thought it would be fun. She stayed involved because "I saw an opportunity to mentor young women as others have done for me." As the finance advisor for the chapter at that time, Jennifer says her "reward was being a resource to my officers, providing that little bit of encouragement they sometimes needed." Brian and Jennifer fondly recall all the Theta active members who babysat their three children over the years. "When Brian was doing a lot of work-related travel, those women were a tremendous support to me. They probably don't realize how much of a difference they made in my day, but I am extremely grateful and wish them all well wherever life has taken them." She later became a District 9 financial district director. She remembers attending the Theta Grand Convention in 2010 and was proud to witness Alpha Mu win the Founders Award. Taking a break from volunteering for a couple of years due to her Ph.D. program demands, Jennifer began a second term on the Alpha Mu FCB in 2015 and served another year as the District 6 budget director. As a favor to Jennifer, Brian agreed to help Alpha Mu's facility director prepare the house for move-in when she was without a handyman. "Little did I know at the time that [it] would result in my being involved with Theta for the next 11 years," says Brian. Because of his previous construction experience and knowledge of the chapter facility after helping maintain it for several years, Brian was the FCB's natural choice to manage the chapter house renovation project. As the board's representative, he dealt with the architects, contractors, and inspectors. "My wife and sister are Thetas, plus I knew my two daughters might one day be Thetas, which gave me a vested interest in the future of Alpha Mu Chapter." Supporting the Forever Home campaign was important to Jennifer and Brian in order to preserve 603 Kentucky Boulevard and "keep pace with the modern needs of our active members. Having a facility large enough to accommodate over 100 members with modern (and expected) technological conveniences allows Alpha Mu to remain competitive in recruiting new Thetas," Jennifer says. Brian says, "I think most will agree the house turned out beautifully, and I'm thankful to the many Thetas who worked tirelessly to achieve such a great result." As a thank-you to FCB President Sophie Pyrtle Chambers '04 for her role in the campaign, Brian reclaimed some of the herringbone flooring from the renovation to build her a tabouret. Jennifer and Brian's hope for an Alpha Mu legacy has been realized: they are thrilled their daughter, Caitlyn '17, was initiated this fall. "It is a great comfort to know she has a Theta family for support, especially with her being away from home for the first time—and then we moved 1,000 miles away!" Jennifer and Brian now live in Columbia, South Carolina, with their other children, Chase, a high school sophomore, and Gracie, a seventh grader. Jennifer is an assistant professor in the College of Nursing at the University of South Carolina, and Brian is the operations manager for McWaters, a commercial interior design firm and supplier of high-end commercial furniture. They have been exploring the history and culture of South Carolina and really enjoy the nearby access to beaches (Hilton Head and Charleston) and the Smoky Mountains. Jennifer can be contacted at jenniferhulett3@gmail.com. (Continued from page 2) A Family's Dedication to Alpha Mu Using flooring from the renovation project, Brian Hulett built a table as a gift for FCB President Sophie Pyrtle Chambers '04. Notice the kite detailing!

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