When you are a collegiate it’s hard to imagine what life will look like a year after graduation. It’s even harder to imagine what life will look like in 20 years. When I graduated in 1993 from Concord College (now Concord University) my undergraduate degree was in Travel and Tourism. I could only see as far as my plan to get out of West Virginia. Over twenty years later, I found myself back in West Virginia with a master’s degree in strategic leadership as well as a Ph.D. in Global Leadership. I’ve worked in the food service industry, photography, tourism, higher education and most recently I started my own consulting business. I started my consulting business during the COVID-19 pandemic. I wanted to put all the education, skills and experience I’ve gained since leaving Concord University under one roof. My mission was to use my consulting company to assist the citizens of the Appalachian region who were trying to make a difference in their communities. Then, I joined the AΣA Country Roads Alumnae Chapter and re-connected with Alpha Sigma Alpha. And now, as a member of an alumnae chapter, I have been able to achieve my mission on a more personal level.

Getting involved as an alumna has allowed me to use my skills as a facilitator and a motivational speaker to talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with collegians. I’ve used my experience in higher education student life to talk about civil discourse. I was also previously a chapter advisor where I was able to put my student life administrator skills to work. I also use my public relations experience to administrate and create content for social media platforms of the Country Roads Alumnae Chapter. I’m also proud to have become a brand ambassador for AΣA! Most recently, I had an exciting opportunity to recruit members for the first National Panhellenic sorority at Bluefield State University.

Now close your eyes and picture this, you’re a newly graduated alumna, poised for an adventure that will last for the rest of your life! Alpha Sigma Alpha has taught you how to run a business meeting, work on a team and has given you a variety of communication skills. Now you’re going to take everything that Alpha Sigma Alpha has taught you and apply those experiences and skills in the professional arena. As you move through your professional life you will also build on your AΣA skills while gaining additional skills from your employment. Now, with your eyes still closed, I want you to imagine turning around 20 years later to look back down the road of that adventure you just traveled. Have you gained experience in event coordination? Then you should volunteer to support the National Convention & Leadership Conference or The Academy. Did you become a teacher? Then you could volunteer by facilitating a program. Perhaps you are a higher education administrator? You’d be perfect as an advisor. Consider yourself social media savvy? Get involved by liking, sharing, commenting and tagging sisters. Use all the skills you built over the last 20 years to get reinvolved in Alpha Sigma Alpha as an alumna!

My story is just an abbreviation of what lifelong membership in Alpha Sigma Alpha looks like. Do you have a story to share? Perhaps you are an alumna thinking of re-connecting with Alpha Sigma Alpha? If you are, I encourage you to re-connect and get involved today.