Alpha Chi Omega - University of Kansas

N O T E S O F T H E L Y R E | P A G E 2 Better Leaders, Stronger Advocates Heather Bradley-Geary '92 on Shaping Her Passions through AXΩ "I f you can live with 80 women, you can do anything," quipped Heather Bradley-Geary '92 in reference to her active years in Alpha Chi Omega. After joining the Gamma Xi Chapter at Western Michigan University in the fall of 1992, Heather went through formal recruitment in an effort to meet other students. "I joined AXΩ because I loved the realness of the members in the house," she shared. During her junior year, she transferred to the University of Kansas, where she was welcomed by the women in Phi Chapter. The transition to KU could have been overwhelming and terrifying, but Heather felt fortunate to be assigned to a room in the chapter house with three other sisters. "They all welcomed me, but one sister in particular, Andrea Pharr Parker '93, truly embraced me and eventually became one of my best friends." The two women decided to hang out and become acquainted that night, sparking the beginning of a bond that is maintained to this day. Heather graduated with a bachelor's in music education and music therapy in 1997, returning to KU for graduate school years later to earn a master's in social welfare. Today, she is a social worker with the Vecino Group, which develops supportive housing for the homeless by partnering with non-profits and local, state, and federal governments. "AXΩ helped me become a better leader and stronger advocate," Heather shared. Having always possessed a passion for social work and activism, she credits AXΩ with preparing her to pursue endeavors in those fields. In addition to her professional career, Heather is engaged in the Lawrence and Kansas City communities, teaching social policy as an adjunct professor at KU, working with the Youth Council to End Homelessness in Kansas City, and volunteering as a youth pastor for St. Thomas Episcopal Church. She and her husband, Brian, have been married for 20 years. Brian is an Olathe School Board member and vice president at the Bank of Blue Valley. The couple have two adopted children, Bre and Micah, both of whom share their parents' passion for leadership. Bre, a sophomore, was recently accepted into Raven Flight Corps, a leadership group at Olathe Northwest High School. Micah is a seventh grader at Prairie Trail Middle School and "a social worker in the making," Heather noted. "He will change the world with his passion." AXΩ remains a part of Heather's life today. "My hope for Phi, and the sorority as a whole, is that it will continue to help others and embrace all women." Her advice to undergraduates and fellow alumnae? "Find your passion and live it. Make your voice heard." CHAPTER ETERNAL Jerre Lyons Asel '46 entered Chapter Eternal on October 8, 2017. She was very proud of her AXΩ membership. ALUMNAE NEWS Margaret Ewing '43 attended the 75th reunion on Founder's Day last October in Kansas City, Mo. She meets for lunch every fourth Thursday of the month with Winona Klotz Townsend '48, Patricia Link Marshall '46, and Carolyn Keith Stevenson '46. Margaret is an avid KU basketball and football fan. Barbara Johnson Bishop '44 has lived in Longview, Wash., for years. She enjoys following KU basketball and keeping up with what happens at the University. Mary Anne McClure '49 appreciates the newsletter and learning what Alpha Chis are doing these days. "Seventy-two pledges! My 1949 pledge class was only about 16 women. Back then, the chapter house stood where the Adams Institute stands now and was a short walk to classes and Union Boulevard," she shares. E-mail: mamc3514@sunflower.com Peggy Circle Edman '50 enjoys playing bridge. She hopes all her Phi sisters are doing great. Carole Toliver '55 earned her master's degree from Case Western in Cleveland, Ohio, in the late 1960s. She has lived all over the U.S., including Washington, D.C., Detroit, Mich., Granger, Ind., and Lexington, Ky. She and her husband, Jack, retired to Sun River, St. George in Utah in 2009. Jack still practices intellectual property law and international corporate law while Carole enjoys her many pastimes. Colinda Stailey '59 and her brother, Randy Austin, donated the pavilion at Audio-Reader Sensory Garden in 2015. It has since won awards from the School of Architecture, which Colinda and Randy are quite proud of! Susan Hayman Taylor '67 and her husband, Andy, were married in the KU chapel eight years ago. Susan had previously been divorced for 39 years and says her marriage to Andy is a storybook kind of romance. "We have five children between us, ages 19-47, and two grandchildren, Adriana and Camden." says Susan. "Our 19-year-old is a sophomore at KU this year. We are so lucky!" E-mail: susanhtaylor@optonline.net Kristan Mantooth Thomason '70 is active in the Delta Sigma Delta alumnae chapter of AXΩ in St. Petersburg, Fla. Deborah Ramirez Koch '76 retired from teaching after 32 years in the Olathe school district. She now works part-time at Cornerstone Bank in Overland Park and enjoys golfing, traveling, and time with her friends and family. Sarah Cox '96 has been a police officer in Salina, Kan., for the past 15 years. She was featured in a previous issue of Notes of the Lyre about a year ago. E-mail: crimsonbluejayhawk@yahoo.com Kirsten Devin '07 started her first year of OB/GYN training in 2017, after returning from a year in Brazil on a Fulbright Scholarship to study women's healthcare. ALUMNAE UPDATE

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