Let's Talk Tri Delta

Dr. Joanna Fix, New Mexico, was leading a flourishing career as a college psychology professor and a law enforcement contractor. She began to notice signs that her executive functioning began to wane. Fueling her car, unloading the dishwasher … these became daily challenges for her. Eventually these issues lead to an involuntary retirement from her teaching career. After four years of tests to determine her diagnosis, Joanna was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at age 48. She is one of the 5% of those diagnosed who are under the age of 65. Despite this life-changing diagnosis, Joanna has become an advocate to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s and dementia, using her platform to change the tragic narrative of the disease. She shares a glimpse into her day-to-day life and how a very special opportunity allowed her to provide a new face to those living with Alzheimer’s. Her story is one of inspiration and hope for all her Tri Delta sisters touched by the disease.  

Among the recipients of Tri Delta’s 2023 Women of Achievement include Lt. Gen. Caroline Miller, Pacific, who oversees all of the manpower of the United States Air Force (USAF). Lt. Gen. Miller shares that the connections she made within Tri Delta helped her better her best in the fields of military service and diplomacy around the world. She discusses her love of the people and families who serve our country and how she empowers them along their careers and lives. Lt. Gen. Miller shares her personal philosophy on leadership, which includes knowing your job better than everyone else, decision making and having fun at work. In addition to her many accomplishments as a servicewoman, she also details her journey with brain cancer and how her resilience helped her return to her command position in the military. We honor her service to our country and congratulate her as a 2023 Woman of Achievement!

Female friendship coach and educator Danielle Bayard Jackson wowed our collegiate leaders at 2023 CLC and is back for more! She loved giving her keynote and was so impressed with the future face of leadership among Tri Delta’s newest collegiate officers. Danielle felt the magnitude of support among our members and on this episode goes deep into the importance of female friendships and how that affects our mental health and satisfaction. She heavily relies on research in her work to both affirm and inform women on how they want to show up in relationships. Danielle breaks down her philosophy of “friendtimacy,” which is a balance of positivity, consistency and vulnerability. She addresses how conflict is inevitable in any relationship and offers advice on how to navigate it to build beautiful friendships that last a lifetime. 

Follow Danielle on Instagram and learn more on her website and podcast!

www.betterfemalefriendships.com.

To change the podcast up a little, our hosts Karen White, Georgia, and Mindy Tucker, Southern Methodist, are joined by two young professionals from the Executive Office staff. Avery Sadler, Mississippi, and Meredith Davies, Rhodes, jump in on the conversation of hot topics and other Tri Delta news. Avery and Meredith are recent graduates and help bring younger perspectives on everything from sisterhood, dating and what’s going on in Tri Delta today. They talk about intergenerational learning and how bonding with sisters is a gift from Tri Delta. All four hosts relate it back to being with sisters in the “TV rooms” of their Tri Delta houses. Tune in for a great chat with sisters being sisters!

Allison Dickson, Southwestern, is an attorney, activist, philanthropist and a 2022 Tri Delta Woman of Achievement. She was born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy and was not expected to live past the age of three. Despite a lifetime of overcoming challenges, Allison shares her motto in life, “I don’t need easy, I just need possible.” She discusses her membership journey in Tri Delta and why being selected as a Woman of Achievement is such an honor for her. Allison is a powerful advocate of education and has established multiple academic scholarships to help a new generation access the education she was given as a result of scholarships. Her story is an inspiration to all!

Follow Allison on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn!

Tri Delta Woman of Achievement Jeri Sedlar, Michigan State, has a passion for people and their professional development. Even at retirement age, we will all still have passions and full lives and journeys to fulfill. Her book, Don’t Retire, REWIRE! focuses on understanding what drives you in your career and how to use that to propel to your next endeavor in your career or retirement. You’ll hear about “drivers” and how acknowledging them will help you rewire TO something else.  As the landscape of retirement age is increasing, Jeri’s advice has never been more helpful!

https://dontretirerewire.com/ 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/career-length-retirement-living-longer-11675878313

Multi-hyphenate and super sister Dr. Melanie Hicks, Central Florida, has built an incredible career across numerous fields and joins us to share her wisdom on women in the workforce. Mel recently launched her own publishing house to help people tell their stories. She takes a glance at what the workforce looks like for women post-pandemic, given the shifts to work and life balance. Mel discusses the “psychological contract” women make regarding the expectations we bring into the workplace and how to build bravery to make changes to their careers. She also discusses her “3 E” method of making change: Excavate your Attic, Eliminate your Obligations and Embolden your Resolve. She reminds us that women in particular “own the keys to the cages we keep ourselves in.” Look for more from this dynamic Delta and her upcoming book!

Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn!

Follow her publishing house Inked Elephant Publishing on Instagram.

While everyone knows about the amazing experience we offer our collegiate members, not as many of you are aware of the powerful and engaging growth and development opportunities we offer our alumnae. Our latest offering is one of a kind and so exciting that we decided to devote today’s podcast to sharing more about the LEADDD Network. Through the LEADDD Network, we will provide ways to make connections with other professional women who happen to be your Tri Delta sisters! The Network will have specific content curated in a way that it’s not just programs … it’s an experience you won’t want to miss! Created from feedback from our alumnae, Tri Delta is leaning into our Purpose and meeting our members where they are. Learn more, join today and bring a sister!

https://www.tridelta.org/our-members/leaddd/

Tri Delta offers a home away from home for our sisters. And often, that home away from home includes an actual Tri Delta house where members live and enjoy the once in a lifetime experience of living with their sisters. VP of Housing and Operations Dan Duncan joins us this episode to speak about Tri Delta Housing and how we are leading the way on the housing front and prioritizing the living experience. Tri Delta Housing is lucky to have a whole team of professional staff who work tirelessly to ensure that our Tri Delta homes are safe, comfortable and competitive living spaces for our collegiate members. Learn about how the Tri Delta Housing portfolio has grown in recent years and some exciting new projects we’re so proud of. Dan also speaks how history plays an important role in housing and how we are taking technology to a new level. Want to learn more about what Tri Delta Housing can do for you? Visit tridelta.org/housing!

We open up the archives to learn about our Founder with the help of Fraternity Archivist Beth Applebaum, Texas Christian, and Chair of the Tri Delta Alliance Ginger Hicks Smith, Emory, a retired professional archivist. Beth and Ginger read excerpts from letters written by some of Tri Deltas greatest leaders like R. Louise Fitch, Knox, and Ernestine Block Grigsby, Colorado. These memories paint a portrait of who Sarah Ida Shaw (later Ida Shaw Martin) was, from those who knew her best. Their letters recall the founding, Sarah’s commitment to the broader fraternal movement, Tri Delta’s expansion west and so much more. They also discuss the touching moments of Sarah’s broadcast address to the Golden Anniversary Convention in 1938. This is an episode not to be missed … Happy Founders’ Day!

Be sure to visit more of our digital archives at tridelta.historyit.com!