This summer, the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation was pleased to sponsor two keynote sessions and three breakout sessions at Grand Convention 2022. Will Frankenberger, Chief Safety Officer for Delta Zeta Sorority, led one of these sessions specifically for House Corporation and facility volunteers titled “Creating Mentally Healthy Spaces for Sister Success,” helping our volunteers be better equipped to respond to mental health needs facing collegiate members.

Melanie Morris, Alpha Xi–The Ohio State University, is a current House Corporation Board member for Chi Chapter at Wittenberg University and has served in this role for about three years. While at Convention this summer, Melanie was thrilled to see Will’s session on the schedule. After attending, she felt energized about the information shared:

“The presentation was so dynamic, interesting, and entertaining. Will not only provided data-driven information describing Gen Z, mental health, and tips about what will keep sorority house living relevant, but also presented it in a way that kept his audience engaged with down to earth banter.”

Melanie came out of the session with many key takeaways that she would not have learned otherwise – such as mental health response training for house directors and House Corporations; understanding Gen Z member’s wants and preferred living arrangements; and how a house’s design can affect members’ moods and mental health. The session was relevant to her work, and she was excited to bring back the information to her House Corporation.

More than anything, Melanie is grateful that important programming like this was made available, specifically with housing volunteers in mind:

“As most chapters know, housing is one of the most challenging pieces of our sisterhood.  Covid and Gen Z have changed the game, and it is important that ADPi stays ahead of the curve with relevant options and offerings that adjust with our sisters!”

Other session attendees shared the following:

“Will’s presentation was amazing! This was exactly the information HC representatives needed to hear, and he was the best person to share it with them.”

“I loved hearing more about where the ladies are now, as far as mindset. As I get older, it just seems SO different from when I lived in the house 22 years ago. Understanding their mindset is very helpful when planning and working with them, not just in housing but in any capacity.”

Melanie is thankful the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation “consistently goes above and beyond” in the support they offer to Alpha Delta Pi members, and programming like this is just one of the many ways this is demonstrated.

To ensure more programming like this can be offered in the future, consider making a gift in support of the Foundation’s Areas of Greatest Need by visiting https://donate.alphadeltapi.org/greatestneed.