Alpha Connect Sisterhood Series: Recent Episodes
Kelly McGinnis Beck
Alpha Connect Sisterhood Series is a bi-weekly podcast for members and friends of Alpha Sigma Alpha. National President Kelly McGinnis Beck and her dazzling array of guests will connect and empower women as we celebrate our sisterhood.
In this episode, Amber chats with chapter sister, Areke Latham, HH, about her experience of going through chemotherapy for breast cancer while she was pregnant.
In this episode, Amber chats with chapter sister, Jaecy Bradford, HH, about the importance of being civically engaged, registering to vote, learning more about candidates and our own political biases and more.
On this episode, Kelly chats with chapter sister, Traci Trznadel Fraley, EK, as she shares the journey of her son, Jake Fraley, in becoming a Major League Baseball Player. Jake is currently center fielder for the Cincinnati Reds.
On this episode, Kelly chats with Lynne Rachal Chambers, A, and learns about the time she met founder Mary Williamson Hundley, A, and when she met Wilma Wilson Sharp, ZZ. Lynne also shares some history about Stubbs Hall at Longwood University and her experience as NPC Delegate.
On this episode, Kelly chats with Susan Maiolo Angelicola, EM, on her work as a nurse practitioner and what it’s like to live with multiple sclerosis.
On this episode, Jenn Schimmel, Zeta Delta, talks with Kelly about her bone marrow transplant. You can learn more about how to become a donor at bethematch.org.
On this episode, Kelly chats with members Baylee Zimmerman, Michaela Markwell, Lexi Calderon and Scarlett Nichols from Iota Lambda Chapter on their experience establishing the first NPC sorority on campus, during a global pandemic, as they celebrate their one year anniversary.
On this episode, Kelly chats with Janet Crook Conroy, Beta Pi, on her path to becoming a flight attendant and her new role as a regional coordinator at the Office of Drug Control Policy in West Virginia.
On this episode, Kelly chats with Marcia Kinbar Goldstein, Delta Tau, on her experience as a founding member of the chapter and her life as a Pharmacist.
On this episode, Kelly chats with Hillary Sexton, Zeta Omega, who shares how she became a burn nurse and then turns to her experiences as a traveling nurse during COVID.
On this episode, Kelly talks with Karen “Timi” Leota Bressler, Zeta Lambda, and learns about HELLP (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets) syndrome and preeclampsia, both dangerous conditions that Timi experienced during both of her pregnancies. To learn more, visit the Preeclampsia Foundation, preeclampsia.org. If you want to connect directly with Timi, you can contact her at asatimi@yahoo.com.
On this episode, Kelly talks with Jennifer Miller Gobrecht, NN, who was the first woman to give birth via a deceased donor uterus transplant at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia. To learn more about clinical trials, visit clinicaltrials.gov.
On this episode, Kelly chats with Bradley Norwood, Theta Gamma, as she shares her experience with egg cryopreservation. If you want to learn more, you can contact Bradley directly at bradleymnorwood@gmail.com.
On this episode, Kelly chats with author and Alpha Sigma Alpha Recognition of Eminence Award Winner Denise Swanson Stybr, Gamma Lambda, about her path to becoming a New York Times Best Selling Author. Denise’s new book, Resurrection, will be available December 9th on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.
This is the final episode in the National Headquarters Series. Kelly chats with the three newest members of staff: Melissa Koch Merriam, EE, Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah Johnson Gafron, Beta Theta, Collegiate Experience Coordinator, and Kayla Vivace, Epsilon Phi, Communications and Graphic Design Coordinator.
On this episode, Kelly talks first with Darci James, Office Manager, and then with Jane Rauck, BY, Finance Manager.
On this episode, Kelly chats with Vanessa David, Delta Kappa, Director of Alumnae Engagement.
On this episode, Kelly chats with Lexi Carter Johnson, Beta Theta, Director of Communications & Marketing.
On this episode, Kelly is joined by National Council member, Amber Shaverdi Huston, HH, to discuss the work of national council in reviewing and updating Alpha Sigma Alpha’s Vision and Purpose statements.
On this episode, Kelly wraps up her conversations with the collegiate and program staff with Kim Richard, EK, Director of Collegiate & Program Services and Lexi Moore, Epsilon Phi, Program Coordinator.
On this episode, Kelly is joined by the collegiate services team: Tess Tedrick, Theta Gamma, Assistant Director of Collegiate Services; Jen Akright, HH, Collegiate Recruitment Coordinator; and, Sarah Morrison, EE, Collegiate Experience Coordinator.
On this episode, Kelly chats with the 2021-22 Leadership Consultants: Abby Dominick, ZN, Alexandria Horton, IH, Shelby Kriegh, Theta Upsilon, Taylor Landry, Theta Mu, and Elizabeth Martin, Zeta Upsilon. During the episode, the LCs reference a “lollipop moment” and a TedTalk they watched during their training. You can watch the clip here: https://www.ted.com/talks/drew_dudley_everyday_leadership/transcript?language=en
On this episode of the national headquarters series, Kelly chats with Suzanne Haynes Jones, Beta Lambda, who serves as the Director of Development for the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation.
On this episode, Kelly kicks off a new series of interviews with the Alpha Sigma Alpha National Headquarters staff. This first episode features Krystal Geyer Slivinski, Gamma Rho, Executive Director.
On this episode, Kelly is joined by Cindy Rhoades Ryan, Delta Iota, as she shares her story as a prosecutor in the State of Delaware, as well as in the federal government. She was the first female Chief Counsel at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and is a recipient of Alpha Sigma Alpha’s highest honor, the Recognition of Eminence Award.
In honor of Pride month, Kelly speaks with Lisa Argento Boyer, EN, who shares the story of her son’s transition.
On this episode, Kelly chats with Nancy Szalwinski, Beta Delta, on the path that led to her career as a Foreign Service Officer. If you are interested in learning more about careers representing America, visit https://careers.state.gov/.
May is Guillain-Barre Syndrome Awareness Month. This week Kelly chats with her chapter sister, Jennifer Wheeler, EK, on what it’s like to live with this rare disease. You can learn more about GBS at https://www.gbs-cidp.org/. If you want to connect with Jen, you can reach her via email at jenna7323@gmail.com
On this final episode, Kelly speaks with Melissa Koch Merriam, EE, who served as national president from 2014-2018.
On this episode, Kelly speaks with Cindy Kelley, Beta Pi, who served as national president from 2008-2012.
On this next episode, Kelly speaks with Lori White Scott, EE, who served as national president from 2004-2008.
This episode of our Past National President series features Marianne Busch Bullock, Beta Theta, who served from 2000-2004.
This episode of our Past National President series features Suzanne Kilgannon, BI, who served from 1996-2000.
This episode of our Past National President series features Diane Yencic James, HH, who served from 1988-1992.
On this next episode of our Past National President series, Kelly speaks with Rosemary Carruci Goss, Beta Pi, who served from 1984-1988.
Kelly’s first guest on this special edition series is Past National President, Mary Ann Sidehamer Wenzel, Gamma Eta, who served from 1970-1976.
Kelly chats with Naydia Spears Mills, Zeta Omega, on her health journey and her podcast, memoirs from the MINIVAN. Subscribe to her podcast directly through Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts or through her website: memoirsfromtheminivan.com
In this episode, Kelly chats with Sertrice Grice, EE, about the work she does in diversity, equity and inclusion, allyship and her own personal experiences as a black woman.
On this episode, Kelly chats with Kim Benson, Delta Nu-B, on her decision to become an engineer, her career at UPS and the impact Alpha Sigma Alpha has had along the way.
On this episode, Nikkia Young, Theta Beta, joins Kelly to share her experiences as a woman working in IT, volunteering as a region facilitator and her love of music.
In this episode, Kelly chats with Julie Wiley Ramsey, A, and Madison Levine, A, about being members of the Alpha Chapter, in addition to being mother and daughter! This episode was recorded back in July during the Sorority’s 2020 Reimagined Convention.
In this episode, recorded back in September, Kelly chats with Valerie Warren Baker and Katy Baker, Beta Sigma members, who talk about their family Tik Tok, Baker Banter, and how we can continue to support our differently-abled friends and family members.
In this episode, Kelly speaks with Dr. Julie Connor, ZZ, about mental health and ways we can support each other. This episode includes personal stories about agoraphobia, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
Resources referenced in this podcast include:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- Crisis Text Line: text 741741 and type "home" to speak with a trained counselor
- SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: www.samhsa.gov
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): www.nami.org
- www.drjulieconnor.com
A conversation with Julia Cwiklowski, Mallory Unverfehrt and Amy Krazl, members of the BN chapter, on recruitment and sisterhood during COVID-19 and winning the Crown of Excellence Award.
We wrap up our special edition series of the podcast with National Council Vice President, Jessica Bridwell Wright, Zeta Pi, answering ASA‘s version of 73 Questions.
This week’s special edition series of the podcast features National Council Vice President, Kathy Wilson Burke, NN, answering ASA‘s version of 73 Questions.
This week’s special edition series of the podcast features National Council Vice President, Emily Just, BN, answering ASA‘s version of 73 Questions.
Kelly continues the special edition series of the podcast with asking National Council Vice President, Kathy Dawson Messbarger, Phi Phi, ASA‘s version of 73 Questions.
Kelly continues the special edition series of the podcast with asking National Council Vice President, Amber Shaverdi Huston, HH, ASA‘s version of 73 Questions.
Kelly continues the special edition series of the podcast with asking National Council Vice President, Kat Wolfington Harth, EE, ASA‘s version of 73 Questions.
Madison Levine, A, has created her own style of Vogue’s 73 Questions which she asks me on this first episode in a special edition series of the podcast designed to get to know the members of the 2020-22 national council.
On this episode Kelly is joined by Yesenia Alarcon, a recent graduate from our Zeta Phi chapter.
This week Kelly chats with Patty Blunt Vollbrecht and Marylou Kulaszewicz Wendzinski, both members of Delta Zeta Chapter, as they talk about sisterhood and friendship. Patty celebrates 50 years of membership this year!
On this episode, Tanya Trumbla Brewer, Delta Upsilon, joins Kelly to share more about the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation.
On this episode, Stephanie Koprince, ZT, joins Kelly to discuss the history of Pride and the LGBTQIA+ community.
On this episode, Suzanne Kilgannon, BI, joins Kelly to discuss the topic of racism and the challenges that white people have in discussing this topic.
On our first episode, Kelly chats with Chayna Wilson, founding member of the Epsilon Mu chapter at The College of New Jersey.