Six alumnae and four collegians have been selected to serve on Tri Sigma’s newest standing committee, Inclusive Excellence. This committee will review the sorority’s current policies, and practices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, engage with and gather input from members of the sorority’s constituency, research best practices, assist with identifying tools and developing educational materials for increased dialogue and civil discourse, and monitor progress towards implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
The team will be led by Committee Coordinator Leslie Deeb, Beta Epison–Western Illinois University.
“I believe fraternal organizations, such as Tri Sigma, are well past their due date to set diversity, equity, and inclusion practices into motion. The only way fraternal organizations can begin to re-imagine their representation in this world, and their purpose is by having authentic, raw conversations.,” said Leslie. “These conversations must happen regularly from member to member in individual chapters all the way to the leadership entities in national headquarters. Fraternal organizations must begin to acknowledge, welcome, and celebrate the unique, lived experiences of our individual members who have minoritized, marginalized intersectional identities. It is critical that fraternal organizations create, promote, and foster an environment that is inclusive and equitable so that diverse identities can thrive in our spaces.”
Other members include Pritali Amrutkar, Epsilon Theta–Oglethorpe University; Giselle Chun, Epsilon Nu–University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Charlotte Coberley, Omicron–Eastern Michigan University; Miranda Himel, Alpha Mu–University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Lafayette Alumnae Chapter; Crystal Jones, Zeta Pi–Virginia Wesleyan University; Logan Levine, Alpha–Longwood University; Maria Price, Alpha Beta–Kent State University; Berylann Rivera, Eta Nu–Ramapo College of New Jersey; and Lily Rupert, Epsilon Chi–Northeastern University.
The committee looks forward to taking on this important work.
“All Tri Sigmas—including our Black, Indigenous, and other sisters of color, as well as our LGBTQIA+ sisters, members from lower income backgrounds, those with physical disabilities, and anyone who faces discrimination in their day-to-day life—deserve to have a place they can call home,” said Pritali.
