I Am a Sorority Woman: A New Alumnae Initiate’s Perspective

Being a sorority woman is more than just wearing Greek letters—it’s about embodying values that shape our personal and professional lives. When you join a sorority like Delta Zeta, you’re not only becoming part of a sisterhood but also stepping into a network that opens countless doors to your future. Last weekend at the Tani Austin Ignite the Flame Community and Philanthropy Summit, we initiated ten women into our Delta Zeta sisterhood. Our alumnae initiation ceremony was full of distinguished leaders in the audiology field.

What interested you in joining Delta Zeta? What do you look forward to most as you join this network of women?

“Both of my parents worked for Starkey Hearing Technologies. I’ve been traveling with them since I was born and I was always the only young girl. When Delta Zeta joined us and started traveling with us, I felt like I found my sisters even before I became one. It was amazing to have people my age with my similar interests to share this experience with and it’s truly life changing once you’re there. I look forward to having friends to travel with and be a part of a bigger mission. To learn from them, grow together and definitely get to know them. There’s people from everywhere, different countries, different cultures and I’m just looking forward to having sisters from different backgrounds and sharing that with them.

At first I was scared and nervous, not well aware of what I was getting myself into, but I felt so welcome. I feel like I’m a part of something that is bigger than myself and that together, we can genuinely do something big. In this past mission in the Dominican Republic, I helped train the Delta Zetas that attended and it was just amazing to have women with the same passion and energy genuinely wanting to make a difference. It’s contagious to want to teach them and watch them grow once you see that spark in them.”

– Francesca Nicole Rondeau Rodriguez, Phi Iota

“The first thing that interested me about Delta Zeta is that I am an audiologist. So, your concern of working together to promote better hearing and speech around the world was certainly very attractive to me. The personal reason is I have never belonged to a sorority and I was raised with three older brothers. I’m looking forward to being a part of a sisterhood where people think like me and have the same concern. I look forward to aligning our goals and our mission to promote better hearing around the globe. Hearing is about so much more than just hearing aids, it’s about the connection that people have to others in the world – the sounds that bring them joy, and their passion is ignited again. I’m looking forward to working with the other members of Delta Zeta and my sisterhood in promoting better hearing to millions of people around the world.

I was a little nervous about the initiation but there’s nothing scary about it and it’s good to be a part of something when you’re working together. As Bill Austin, Founder of Starkey Hearing Foundation, says, “Alone we can’t do much, but together we can and we will.””

– Dr. Gyl Kasewurm, Phi Iota

Interested in joining Delta Zeta as an alumna? Delta Zeta is seeking to recruit 1,902 women into our sisterhood as Alumnae Initiates before our 125th Anniversary in 2027. A Delta Zeta member in good standing may sponsor a woman for alumna initiation into Delta Zeta Sorority. This could be your mother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, cousin, lifelong best friend or even a colleague from work. By sponsoring a candidate for alumna initiation, you are endorsing them as someone who is aligned with Delta Zeta’s shared values of friendship, curiosity, generosity, empowerment, community and belonging.

Joining a sorority means investing in your future. The bonds you build and the skills you develop create a foundation for success long after graduation. Truly embrace the journey and watch as these opportunities transform your life.