Building Confident Leaders: Three Leadership Lessons from NMALC 2025 

By Sofia Fernandes, Pi Tau, Sacred Heart University  

2025 National Headquarters Marketing and Communications Intern 

A Weekend of Connection 

(Oxford, Ohio) Every summer, the Norma Minch Andrisek Leadership Conference (NMALC) brings Delta Zetas together for a weekend full of connection and inspiration. Designed for emerging leaders, the two-day conference helps members build on their leadership skills, unlock new possibilities within themselves and realize their full leadership potential. It is a time where both collegiate leaders and facilitators get to share stories, grow alongside one another, and build the confidence to carry what they have learned back to their chapters and campuses. Reflecting on that experience, three of our NMALC facilitators – all Delta Zeta alumnae – share their thoughts on leadership and the impact of mentoring and guiding others. 

Leading with Heart 

One of the strongest themes this year was the idea of leading with heart. Elizabeth Longmire, Beta Lambda, University of Tennessee/Knoxville, shared how powerful it was to see members leaning into vulnerability and values-driven leadership. Elizabeth knows firsthand how transformative the Delta Zeta experience can be. Now serving as Assistant Director of Sorority and Fraternity Life at the University of Florida, she began her leadership journey as Vice President of Philanthropy for her chapter and later as Panhellenic President. As a four-time attendee (once as a student and three times as a facilitator), she reflected, “One focus from this year was on vulnerability in leadership and leading with our values was especially powerful. It was inspiring to witness our members reflect on their areas of growth and strength, particularly in how their values shape the programming they create for their organizations.” 

You Belong! 

The idea of connecting values to leadership tied beautifully to another key lesson of the weekend and one of our core values, belonging. Shae Mann Priebe, Lambda Gamma, Jacksonville State University, reminded us that true leaders create plans and sacred spaces where people feel at home. She explains, “We belong just as we are. In this sisterhood it is important for us to create a space where our sisters can truly be themselves, and we can be ourselves. We are Delta Zeta. We are beautiful, smart and empowered women. Leaders value belonging and create belonging in our sisterhood.” Shae now serves as a Region X Recruitment Coach for Texas and New Mexico, helping chapters foster that same culture of confidence and belonging. Her words were a reminder that leadership means not only embracing who we are, but also making sure others know they are celebrated for exactly who they are, too. 

Redefining Leadership 

Connection was another powerful leadership theme throughout the weekend. Madeline Stine, Kappa Beta, Northern Kentucky University, reflected on how leadership is less about having all the answers and more about building community through listening and shared experiences. She explains, “During my time facilitating at NMALC, I was reminded that leadership is rooted in connection and in creating space for every voice at the table. Throughout NMALC, the most meaningful moments came when participants opened up, listened to one another and realized that they were not alone in their challenges. In my opinion, true leadership is about standing alongside others, building trust and fostering an environment where everyone feels supported to be themselves and grow.” 

Empowering Delta Zetas to Shine 

These reflections from three of our facilitators highlight what makes NMALC so special. Leadership is about showing up authentically, creating spaces where others feel empowered and carrying our values into every decision we make. This year’s conference showed us that Delta Zetas across the country are ready to keep shining, leading with love, lifting each other up and bringing a little extra confidence wherever we go. Thank you to our facilitators and attendees for another successful NMALC event! 

About Delta Zeta 

Delta Zeta Sorority is a global women’s organization whose shared values support a vision to truly inspire action and impact lives through leadership, service and philanthropy. Founded on Miami University’s campus in Oxford, Ohio in 1902, the Sorority has more than 300,000 members in the United States and Canada. The Delta Zeta Foundation, a non-profit organization, makes possible gifts and support for scholarships, leadership, philanthropy and education. The Delta Zeta National Housing Corporation provides safe housing and chapter facilities for more than 2,000 collegiate students on more than 70 campuses. Learn more about our mission at deltazeta.org. For more information about the Delta Zeta Foundation, visit deltazeta.org/foundation.  
 
For more information, please contact Cindy Menges, Chief Executive Officer, at [email protected].