Kappa Delta reflected on 125 years of Our Own KD at the 65th Biennial National Convention. It was a weekend full of sisterhood, celebration and confidence. Convention is a time to acknowledge our accomplishments over the past biennium, imagine the future and recognize those who have left a lasting impact on Our Own KD. 

If you missed it, here are some highlights! 

Let’s get down to business! 

The weekend kicked off with the State of the Sorority — a recap of the last biennium. Watch it here!  

Delegates representing our collegiate and alumnae chapters, along with National Leadership Team members, elected the 2023-2025 National Council and voted on amendments to the National Bylaws. The amended bylaws will be available in the member portal soon!  

We are excited to announce Kappa Delta’s 2023-2025 National Council:  

• National President: Susan Stockton, Delta Gamma-Western Kentucky 
• National Vice President: Emily Ulmer Feinstein, Delta Sigma-South Alabama 
• National Vice President-Membership: Laura Beth Hanson McKew, Delta Gamma-Western Kentucky 
• National Vice President-Collegians: Julie Wendell, Zeta Alpha-Texas Tech 
• National Vice President-Alumnae: Rhonda Mullins Giedt, Omega Xi-Cincinnati 
• National Vice President-Finance: Sarah Smith Dubbert, Epsilon Iota-Missouri 
• Kappa Delta Sorority and Foundation Executive Director: Maggie Waples, Delta Sigma-South Alabama 

Click here to learn more about these leaders! 

We were also able to celebrate three retiring National Council members and their contributions to Our Own KD! 

Courtney Hicks Dickey, Zeta Omicron-Wake Forest, retired as national vice president – membership. For the past two years, she has championed Kappa Delta’s growth through recruitment and extension, helping secure the opportunity to reestablish our chapters at Samford University and Texas Christian University this fall.  

Tove Thomas, (Omicron-Illinois Wesleyan, retired from her service as national vice president–alumnae. Tove has served Kappa Delta in various volunteer roles for over 50 years, including six on National Council. 

Julie Johnson, Sigma Psi-North Dakota State, retired from her role as national Panhellenic delegate. She has been a force for good on Kappa Delta National Council for nearly 30 years, serving as KD’s NPC delegate for 18, and before that, as national vice president-membership and national president.  

We are so thankful to Courtney, Tove and Julie for their dedicated service. 

Kappa Delta Foundation 

Along with a new National Council, the Kappa Delta Foundation is excited to announce the 2023-2024 Board of Directors: 

• Chair: Michelle Parmley Rabideau, Sigma Omicron-Illinois 
• Vice-Chair: Kirsten Kuykendoll, Gamma Nu-Miami 
• Secretary-Treasurer: Cheryl Grant Sizer, Epsilon Eta-Illinois State 

Directors: 

• Emily Ulmer Feinstein, Delta Sigma-South Alabama 
• Brandi Cappaert Harper, Mu-Millsaps 
• Kate McGlynn, Sigma Epsilon-Texas/Austin 
• Kristin Power, Epsilon Kappa-Cal Poly/San Luis Obispo 
• Anna Green Rich, Kappa Alpha-Florida State 
• Susan Stockton, Delta Gamma-Western Kentucky 
• Tove Bichel Thomas, Omicron-Illinois Wesleyan 
• Jennifer Priebe Wood, Zeta Gamma-Arkansas/Fayetteville 

Click here to learn more! 

Awarding Outstanding Sisters 

Collegiate and alumnae chapters were recognized for their accomplishments in membership, financial responsibility, Panhellenic involvement, community service, marketing efforts and much more. Chapter advisory board and housing volunteers were also commended for their support of chapters.  

Topping off the weekend, members of National Council announced the sorority’s highest awards:  

• Joan Hovde Haines Outstanding House Corporation: Zeta Gamma-Arkansas/Fayetteville  
• Outstanding Chapter Advisory Board: Sigma Tau-Washington State  
• Marjorie Rowles Stakes Outstanding Alumnae Chapter: Dayton, Ohio, Alumnae Chapter 
• Council Award: Nu-Oklahoma State 

Click here to see if your chapter won! 

Imagine Her Future – We did! 

The Kappa Delta Foundation announced the Imagine Her Future campaign raised more than $4.6 million to increase scholarship support for Kappa Deltas, exceeding the original goal by more than $2.1 million. Read more about this historic campaign here. 

Thank you for Imagining Her Future with us! 

The Foundation also awarded more than $888,000 in opens in a new windowleadership awards and scholarships to 328 sisters, representing 134 of our 168 chapters, which will help decrease their financial burden. The foundation also announced opens in a new windowKiDs grant recipients, opens in a new windowO’Keeffe Art and Leadership interns, orthopaedic research interns and UIFI participants. These opportunities would not be possible without alumnae, collegians and friends of KD investing in our sisterhood.  

Thank you for sending roses and supporting scholarships! 

Thank you to EVERY SINGLE PERSON who sent virtual roses with the Kappa Delta Foundation White Rose Garden. 1,970 donors raised over $86,000 to increase scholarship support for Kappa Deltas by sending more than 11,000 virtual roses. 

Congratulations to Beta Epsilon-Tulsa, the winner of the White Rose Garden chapter challenge! They purchased and sent an outstanding 1,000 roses, and their chapter will receive a $5,000 scholarship for the next biennium. Congratulations, and thank you to all who have been part of this effort! 

Interested in sending some post-convention roses? It’s not too late! 

Inspiring Voices 

Convention attendees had the opportunity to learn from an impressive lineup of speakers.  

• Communicating Over Obstacles: Dr. Tania Israel (Sigma Theta-Pennsylvania) talked to the National Leadership Team about leadership and communicating through unknowns. 
• Your Time to Rise: Lindsey Boccardo gave us ways to handle stress, face our fears, overcome and ultimately transform who we are. 
• Thriving in a High-Powered Career: Kelly Gleeson Smith, Kappa Alpha-Florida State, talked about the values of confidence, authenticity and integrity and how they can help us thrive in our professional lives.  
• Navigating the Hard Stuff: – Jessica Gendron helped us learn how the ability to control your mindset is paramount in managing the tough stuff – inside and outside the office. 
• She Who Runs with Wolves: Tianna Faye Soto taught us how we can amplify our voices and cultivate confidence in conversations, relationships and moments of decision making. 
• If Everyone is “Fine,” Then What’s Wrong with Me?: Archie Messersmith-Bunting explained the science behind our feelings and helped us discover new ways to express what we are feeling. 
• Philanthropic Impact: Prevent Child Abuse America President and CEO Dr. Melissa T. Merrick and Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Bonnie Barczykowski discussed their experiences leading impactful nonprofit organizations as well as Kappa Delta’s role in building confident girls and families in our communities. 

We also had an exceptional lineup of speakers from Kappa Delta National Headquarters. From harm prevention to marketing the Kappa Delta experience to making our chapter house a home, every attendee had the opportunity to take new information and knowledge back to their chapters and communities.  

These incredible speakers would not have been possible without support and funding from the Kappa Delta Foundation.

Recognizing Outstanding Sisters  

National Council announced the biennial awards recognizing exceptional alumnae. Twelve alumnae received the Order of the Emerald, which recognizes Kappa Delta alumnae who have displayed extraordinary service to an alumnae chapter, chapter advisory board, house corporation, Panhellenic and/or state or national Kappa Delta. 

Eight alumnae received the Order of the Pearl, which recognizes outstanding contributions at the national, state or local level in areas other than service to Kappa Delta. 

Order of the Emerald

Order of the Pearl

Read more about the winners here. 

The Kappa Delta Foundation awarded Corre Anding Stegall Collegiate Leadership Awards to 26 exemplary Kappa Delta women. 

Named for former National President Corre Anding Stegall, the Corre Anding Stegall Collegiate Leadership Awards are presented each year to Kappa Delta’s top student leaders. This award is the highest individual honor an undergraduate Kappa Delta member can earn. In recognition of her achievements, each award recipient also receives a $3,000 leadership scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Learn more these impressive sisters here! 

In Memoriam 

Each biennium, the Kappa Delta Memorial Service is conducted to honor the memory of our Kappa Delta sisters. You can view our In Memoriam list hereopens PDF file . 

Who’s ready for the next National Convention? 

Mark your calendars to join us for Kappa Delta’s 66th Biennial National Convention! We will be heading to the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, June 20-23, 2025. 

We can’t wait to see you in the Lone Star State!