Grand Council Names Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as a Top Priority for the Sorority
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Last week, Alpha Delta Pi shared our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive sisterhood that celebrates the identities of our lived experiences. We made a commitment to stand with and hear our Black members as they navigate the pain and harm caused by a longstanding history of racism and injustice. We also recognize our responsibility to acknowledge our contributions to the racist and oppressive systems still in existence today. We are long overdue in taking responsibility to be better for all of our members, especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color, and other marginalized identity groups. We want to ensure we are truly embodying our motto, We Live For Each Other, in our words and actions. For it is only in doing so that we can be better as a partner on campuses and within communities.

On June 2, 2020, Grand Council shared the sorority’s 2020 Strategic Plan for the biennium with the International Officers and Staff who will be responsible for executing it. Developed over the course of the last few months, this new plan prioritizes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and identifies inclusivity as one of the core values of our organization. 

Strategies for this prioritization include:  

• Ensuring a multi-level and multi-faceted approach in addressing the needs of all organization members and integrating inclusive practices into Alpha Delta Pi.
• Understanding the sorority experience through the lens of identity using assessment and evaluation.
• Completing an education, resource, and policy audit to address shifting campus and chapter demographics.
• Researching informed programs, policy, and operations to maintain standard of excellence.
• Enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion resources for members.
• Determining appropriate preventative practices and restorative response process to ensure inclusive sisterhood.
• Consistently reviewing methods to ensure relevancy to student and host institution expectations.

These steps are only a starting point into our efforts to be actively anti-racist and fulfill our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. They are the beginning of a multi-year plan developed by the Diversity and Inclusion Committee with the support of Sorority leadership.  

An impactful campaign for change within our organization cannot be developed or delivered in a week. We have provided a space for members to engage in this conversation through our Talk About It Tuesdays webinar series, which provides the opportunity for listening, learning, and sharing on topics of inclusion. The upcoming issue of The Adelphean includes content around this topic. More details will be forthcoming in member and stakeholder communications.

We hear the demand for action from our sisters. We agree and commit to addressing them with the direction of the outstanding professionals on our Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Change takes time and we appreciate your continued accountability to move our Sorority and one another forward. While the organization has significant work to do as we unlearn and dismantle internally oppressive systems, we ask our members to commit to the following call to action: 

• Educate yourself. Participate in the Talk About It Tuesdays webinar series, including our upcoming webinar on deconstructing implicit bias. Read, view, and listen to some of the recommended resources shared by the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.  
• Invite others into the conversation with grace. Each individual comes into this discussion at a different place in their learning journey and holding each other accountable to do better is key to growth and change. 
• Be an active bystander. Address acts of racism and oppression. Actively engage your sisters, family, friends, fraternity, and sorority communities in conversations about the need to educate and advocate against racism and oppression. 
• Don’t tokenize others. Be careful not to lean on our sisters of color, especially our Black sisters to educate you about these topics. There is emotional labor in their being the ones to educate while also managing their feelings – it is not their job to educate the whole.  
• Advocate for and amplify the voices of those oppressed. This will look different depending upon our stage of life. It could involve peacefully protesting in support of addressing these issues, holding our sisters, including Sorority leadership, accountable for change, speaking up to ensure there is representation at the decision-making tables of your chapter, campus, or workplace, or inquiring about the diversity and inclusion strategic plan for your campus or workplace. 

Many sisters have found themselves compelled to financially support one or many non-profit organizations or special fundraisers that offer resources and education to the Black Lives Matter movement and community organizations around the country. As an international organization, Alpha Delta Pi has not endorsed any particular giving outlet, as there are many that are worthy of receipt. Instead we encourage our members to research options in their communities and throughout the country to find a fund that resonates with them. Whether it be a non-profit dedicated to helping Black women start small businesses, a private fund to help the families of victims, or a large national movement, we are confident that our sisters will give as they are able in order to fulfill our commitment to unselfish service to mankind. 

The Diversity & Inclusion Committee continues to examine and evaluate Alpha Delta Pi’s efforts to create a more inclusive sisterhood. We want to ensure the voices of all our members are accurately represented at the table, especially those who have often felt silenced by our Sorority’s past practices. If you have further insights, questions, or suggestions, please email inclusion@alphadeltapi.com.

2020 Ruth Pretty Palmer Panhellenic Award Collegiate Recipients

The Ruth Pretty Palmer Panhellenic Award was established in 1996 to honor individual collegiate and alumnae members for leadership and exceptional service to college and alumnae Panhellenics. This award is named in memory of Ruth Pretty Palmer, Sigma—Illinois, who served on the Alpha Delta Pi National Panhellenic Conference Delegation for sixteen years.

The Ruth Pretty Palmer Panhellenic Award is given annually to individual members who are involved with their local Panhellenic and have displayed outstanding leadership in their local Panhellenic, Greek Council, or regional Greek Conference.

• Michelle Ashby, Eta Pi – Virginia Tech
• Claire Canestrino, Theta Tau - Penn
• Madalyn Cleer, Epsilon Zeta – Texas State
• Faith Fallon, Zeta Omicron – Georgia Tech
• Madison Lockrem, Kappa – Samford
• Katelyn Neely, Alpha Iota – Pittsburgh
• Genevieve Pritchard, Alpha Theta – Washington
• Josephine Sandoval, Alpha Epsilon – Nebraska

2020 Emerging Leader Award Recipients

The Collegiate Emerging Leader Award is presented annually to members who demonstrate a commitment to leadership in Alpha Delta Pi, on her campus, and in her community. This award honors the spirit of our young, innovative founders who had the foresight and propensity to create our beloved sorority.

The award is presented to sisters who are a first- or second-year member and have shown great leadership ability or potential. They must have earned a minimum 3.14 cumulative college GPA and have a recommendation from a chapter officer, advisor, or campus professional demonstrating how the member lives our Creed and has impacted her chapter.

• Allison Ball, Alpha Iota – Pittsburgh
• Blythe Best, Theta Epsilon – Methodist
• Emily Brown, Gamma Phi – East Tennessee
• Danielle Burton, Epsilon Pi – Georgia Southern
• Brynn Carlson, Alpha Eta – Kansas State
• Addison Cottone, Beta Epsilon – South Carolina
• Maya Dalton, Eta Upsilon – Wake Forest
• Chelsea Dunleavy, Zeta Pi – San Diego
• Virginia Felton, Theta Epsilon – Methodist
• Morgan Fritz, Pi – Iowa State
• Laura Goines, Eta Gamma – Austin Peay
• Desiree Green, Zeta Zeta – Augusta
• Hope Heilmann, Theta Xi – Central Oklahoma
• Kyra Higgins, Theta Nu – Christopher Newport
• Katherine Hodges, Theta Nu – Christopher Newport
• Casey Keller, Eta Epsilon – Miami, Ohio
• Delaney Lloyd, Gamma Iota – Florida
• Crosby Loftin, Beta Omega – Auburn
• Phoebe Love, Epsilon Rho – UNLV
• Natalie Morris, Theta Beta – Coastal Carolina
• Kylie Noe, Delta Nu – Southeast Missouri
• Haley Marie Palmer, Epsilon Eta – Mississippi State
• Caitlin Personale, Gamma Rho – Arizona State
• Camille Pon, Iota Gamma – UC, Davis
• Meghana Sharma, Beta Psi – Kentucky
• Meghan Spears, Upsilon – Washington State
• Michaela Stavropoulos, Zeta Lambda – Texas A&M
• Rebecca Sternberg, Beta Epsilon – South Carolina
• Jennifer Thorpe, Zeta Omicron – Georgia Tech
• Elizabeth Upchurch, Zeta Psi – UNC, Greensboro
• Justice Williams, Epsilon Rho – UNLV
• Elizabeth Wright, Zeta Omicron – Georgia Tech

Press Release

[Atlanta, GA] – With great sadness, Alpha Delta Pi grieves the death of Linda Welch Ablard, Alpha Omicron—Oklahoma State University. After a brief battle with pneumonia, Linda passed on Sunday morning, January 5, 2020, in Tampa, Florida.

Linda’s Alpha Delta Pi legacy is unparalleled. In 2018 she retired from the position of Executive Director after 15 years in that capacity. She served during a time of great growth for the sorority and implemented many new projects that propelled Alpha Delta Pi into the 21^st century, including our highly successful internship program. In 2019, the Executive Director’s office was officially named in her honor at a special event celebrating her accomplishments. Her successor, Amanda Sloan, Alpha Beta—Iowa, noted, “Linda was a mentor to many Alpha Delta Pi staff and Greek friends in her role as Executive Director. She took time to learn the business and advocate for Greek women and our organizations. Her leadership and influence run deep and our industry is indebted to her.”

Prior to her role on staff, Linda served in numerous capacities, including International Secretary, Adelphean Editor, Traveling Chapter Secretary, and several committee positions. Past Grand President Virginia Rosenberg Stafford, Alpha Beta—Iowa, remarked upon learning of Linda’s passing, “She was an Alpha Delta Pi who loved and understood the sorority and knew how to write about it and express it, too.” Indeed, Linda’s words will live on forever through her many Adelphean articles and our two beautiful history books, Sisters and More Sisters.

Linda’s impact on the fraternity and sorority world was not limited to Alpha Delta Pi. She served as President of the Fraternity Executives Association and in 2012 received the Evin C. Varner, Jr. Fraternal Communications Award presented by the Fraternity Communications Association. At Alpha Delta Pi’s 2019 Convention in Las Vegas, Linda received the Joan Perry Boatright Alumnae Loyalty Award for her years of dedicated service. “Linda’s impact is deep and wide, not only within Alpha Delta Pi but also in our Greek community,” noted International President Emily Erkel, Zeta Chi—Baylor. “Most importantly, Linda impacted the lives of individual sisters and friends with her passion for the Greek experience, love of ADPi history, faith in God, and belief in the potential of others. I personally cherished Linda’s ability to both learn from and teach others through her many roles. She made a difference in my life as a young consultant and again as President.”

Updated Information On Linda's Service

May 2020:
At this time, Linda's memorial service has been postponed. We will continue to share updates on this page.

March 2020:
Linda's service and impact was deep and wide in the Greek Community. Her life will be celebrated at the following gatherings to allow people from many areas of her life to participate.

Fraternal Executive Association (FEA) will recognize Linda during their annual Executive meeting on May 28, 2020, in Norfolk, Virginia.

Linda's family will celebrate her life with a memorial service at Russell Baptist Church, about 25 miles from Altus, Oklahoma, on the morning of Saturday, May 23, 2020. All are invited to be part of this service. The church is about 25 miles from Altus, which is about 160 miles from the closest airport in Oklahoma City. Hotel accommodations are available in Altus at the Holiday Inn Express or at the Hampton Inn; they are also available in Oklahoma City at a number of hotels. If you are planning to attend, please let Amanda Sloan know so we can share logistical plans as they are finalized and keep the family current on expected ADPi guests.

The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) will recognize Linda during their annual educational conference and meeting on October 29, 2020, in Lexington, Kentucky.

Alpha Delta Pi will recognize Linda during our biennial Convention on June 24, 2021, in Orlando, Florida. Linda's impact will be celebrated during our memorial service.

Donations in Linda's memory can be made to the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, 1386 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta GA 30306 for the Alpha Omicron Housing Fund to construct a new chapter house at Linda's home chapter at Oklahoma State University.

Linda's Obituary

Read Linda's obituary. A full obituary will also be shared in the spring 2020 Adelphean. Read more about Linda’s service to Alpha Delta Pi in the fall 2018 Adelphean article celebrating her retirement.

The passing of sister Betty Woollen prompted Kathy Lucey Russo & me to plan this 4-day reunion. It’ll be in Charleston, SC. Please spread the word! We have a dozen sisters already committed to coming & a bunch of maybes. I’ll be reserving a block of rooms. Time is of the essence because Oct. is a popular time in Charleston. If you’ve been, I’m preaching to the choir in saying it’s a lovely town. If you haven’t been, you’re in for a treat! ADPi love to all.
Contact: Cookie Wherry (pcwherry@rcn.com)

Join us for Alpha Delta Pi's Second Annual Week of Service when sisters around the world will be volunteering in their communities and on their campuses.