Kappa Alpha Theta - University of Missouri

10.75" THE THETA UPDATE 2 H Advisor Rebecca Jones, Delta '89, Gives Time and Treasure to Alpha Mu "A part of me will always consider this home." Alpha Mu Advisory Board 75+ Years of Combined Experience! W hen Rebecca Jones, Delta '89, moved to Columbia with her husband Greg (a Mizzou Beta alumnus) and two young daughters, she was excited about the prospect of living in a brand new city. She also knew she'd need to make connections quickly. In desperate need of a haircut, she called the Theta house to ask for a babysitter. "They said they'd be happy to provide a list and asked if I was willing to volunteer a little bit of time. I signed on as Advisory Board Chairwoman (ABC) and have been giving 'a little bit of time' for the past 14 years!" With an organizational communications degree from the University of Illinois and a minor in business, Rebecca began her professional career with Accenture Consulting in St. Louis. From 1992-2001, she led multi-year change projects for large consumer products company clients, including Anheuser-Busch and Frito Lay. She now owns her own consulting practice focused on strategic planning, leadership, and communications for small to mid-size organizations. These same professional skillsets proved to be a natural transition to working with Theta collegiate leaders. In 2004, Rebecca accepted the role as co-chair of the Advisory Board with Nan Murch '78 and then took over as sole ABC in 2006. She immediately set to work recruiting a full board of talented alumnae advisors, and talented they are! (See inset "Alpha Mu Advisory Board") Applying her professional skills in leadership and communications to Theta members is fun and rewarding for Rebecca and her whole advisory team. "We have such talented young women with so much potential. It is an honor and privilege to watch them develop and hone their skill sets." Rebecca says she is often asked why she continues to volunteer. "I've thought a lot about my response. And my answer is that I firmly believe the sorority experience is still relevant in 2018. I believe this is still the best place where a young woman can perfect the art of communication and compromise and leadership. I believe it because I see it happen right before my eyes year after amazing year." Throughout Rebecca's tenure, the advisory board has seen the chapter through numerous projects, changes and expansions, and they've racked up their fair share of awards during that time as well. They are two-time recipients of the MU Outstanding Advisor Award on campus, two-time recipients of the Outstanding Advisory Board Award at Theta Grand Convention, and brought home the Founders Cup for Outstanding Theta Chapter in the nation at the 2010 Grand Convention. This marked the third time Alpha Mu had received the coveted national award, making them the only chapter to receive it three times since its inception. Not only does Rebecca devote her time and talent to the chapter, she committed a gift to the Forever Home capital campaign. "I may not have been initiated at 603 Kentucky Blvd., but I have now effectively spent four times as long here as in the halls of 611 E. Daniel Street. A part of me will always consider this home." With the tough competition on Mizzou's campus, this campaign secured Alpha Mu's position in the Greek community, "providing us with a firm foundation, a beautiful, updated interior, and room to grow." Rebecca and Greg have been married for 19 years, and their daughters, Riley (17) and Maren (14), are now in high school. Rebecca is hopeful that they have come to love Kappa Alpha Theta as much as she does. And she sends "a big shout-out to all the Alpha Mus who babysat over the years—Sarah, Lauren, Katie, Stacey, Tara, Meagan, and too many others to list here!" Rebecca can be reached at rebeccajones221@gmail.com. I t has been said that the greatest good you can do for someone else is not just to share your riches, but reveal to him his own. That's exactly what this group of fabulous advisors does for the young women of Alpha Mu! They give hours of themselves each week to mentor future Thetas and pass on what they have learned in college and their professional careers. They prove each day that it is still possible to find women who are intelligent and strong, yet caring, supportive and willing to take the time to share their wisdom with those that come behind them. They are raising the bar on what Alpha Mu Thetas can and will accomplish, both in their immediate officer roles and in their future workplaces, and this chapter continues to thrive because of the work they do! Rebecca Jones, Delta '89, Advisory Board Chairwoman (14 years) Jodie Perry Burditt '95, Marketing Advisor (14) Bridget Trapp Schuster '95, Recruitment Advisor (15) Sarah Landwehr Sadewhite, Westminster '96, Administration Advisor (7) Jennifer Wingert '97, Scholarship Advisor (1) Kyle Wilson Dyer '02, Operations and Risk Management Advisor (9) Mary Meyer '02, Ritual Advisor (1) Tara Gutshall Rucker '03, Education Advisor (10) Traci Kennedy Harr '05, Alumnae and Communications Advisor (4) Alex Hoberock Boland '11, Finance Advisor (3) Greg, Riley, Maren, and Rebecca.

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