Offering a Unique Perspective: Recent Episodes

Unique Perspective

Offering a Unique Perspective with Dr. Amanda Horvat offers honest, enjoyable, and maybe sometimes controversial discussion on topics related to higher education and fraternity/sorority life on campuses. Asking the hard questions and critically evaluating areas with students and the staff that work with them can be challenging, but someone has to do it! If you're looking for content and conversation to get your wheels turning and/or just to learn something new - this podcast is for you!

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The timing just seemed to perfect to pass up the opportunity to have some conversations with my sorority sister, Kristin Henkenius. Mom of two and mentor to many, Kristin has continued her alumna involvement with Theta Phi Alpha since she graduated from Wayne State College in Nebraska. She spent some time with me discussing why she has continued to live out her lifetime commitment, ways for others to remain engaged and involved, the differences between collegian and alumnae life, and all of the positive things she has been given throughout her sorority experience! Listen to Kristin's story and get ready to challenge yourself in living your own commitment to your organization!


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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As we continue to celebrate PRIDE this month, I wanted to have some deeper conversations with Mari Ann and Callie. Both share their stories and experiences with inclusion. As Callie’s aunt, Mari Ann helps to explain how deeply Callie has explored her own identity. Callie shares her identification process and things to keep in mind as we work to provide inclusionary spaces throughout our world.


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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As a follow up to Dr. Callais' guest blog, "Ritual - Why Then? Why Now?, I spend some time chatting with Mari Ann on the importance of living our Ritual today more than ever before. Some may say that parts of our conversation are controversial and we are both ok with that. I hope it allows some deeper thinking about the promises we made when we first became members of our organizations and how we can challenge one another, years later, to still live up to those promises. We put out a call to action for our fraternity and sorority leadership to step outside of their comfort zone. Spend time with us as we share our thoughts, feelings and questions on how our Rituals impact our daily lives.


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Sarah Harring has a background working as an advocate for those who may have experienced sexual misconduct and she now works as a Title IX staff member. Join me as Sarah shares some updates, recommendations, and regulations, as well as what our campuses may be able to expect in the coming months.


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Today I interview Emily Patterson who is a Kappa Delta alumna from Westchester University. She shares her experience as a founding member of her chapter and what life was like on campus and in her chapter during the height of the COVID pandemic.


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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As we celebrate Women's History Month, I wanted to share the history of sororities and how courageous and powerful our founders truly were.


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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I have been intrigued by the Piazza Center at Penn State since its inception several years ago. The work the Center has done captured my interest originally when I began my own dissertation research on fraternity and sorority life. Reaching out to Dr. Veldkamp finally gave me the opportunity to gather new and exciting information about the Center, what plans they have coming up, and how to become more involved with their work. This podcast is informative and educational in nature, specifically regarding the current and upcoming research the Center is working though - it is an exciting time for sure! Take a few minutes to listen and hear about the research plans on educational outcomes of fraternity/sorority membership and how they may compare to outcomes of our institutions of higher education. Dr. Veldkamp also shared how institutions and headquarters can get involved in the Center's current research methods. Happy listening, friends!

Feel free to check out all of the amazing things the Center has going on, how to get involved, or how to donate at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/piazzacenter/about


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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I had the opportunity to spend some time at Penn State for the past few days. I was able to meet and spend some class time with students that are in the Presidential Leadership Academy (PLA) here at Penn State. Melissa Doberstein is the Director of the PLA and has worked at Penn State since 2002. Melissa and I met originally when we worked together in Residence Life. Melissa provides information on how PLA originally got started, what the goals of the program are, how it has grown, and some of the things that the program plans to offer in the future. 


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Moving along to Part 2 of our College Students and Mental Health, we speak with another current college student and a parent of a college student who has worked with her student to address her mental health needs. Continue our journey through their eyes on how to uncover signs and symptoms and ways to appropriately manage mental health situations.


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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We are seeing more and more mental health issues on our campuses and within our organizations. In this podcast we speak with a current college student and a Fraternity/Sorority Advisor. Both share their experiences with mental health, whether it is assisting students when they need it most or how to take the best care of yourself throughout some challenging mental health experiences. Take a journey through their eyes on how to uncover signs and symptoms and ways to appropriately manage mental health situations.


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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As recruitment is occurring around the U.S., we wanted to offer the perspective of alumna of Pi Beta Phi, Sarah Iaquinta. Sarah shares her experiences as a Potential New Member going through recruitment, as well as some of her experiences learning about formal recruitment as a collegiate member of her chapter. Finally, shares some of her alumna experience, as well as offering some advice to chapters as they go through formal recruitment this fall.


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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When we consider the true definition of brotherhood and sisterhood, we can certainly come up with examples to showcase what we have experienced. Research has been conducted to help us have a better understanding how our collegiate members define brotherhood and sisterhood. This episodes provides some information on that research and takes it a little further on how we can utilize that information as we continue to prepare for upcoming recruitment efforts.


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Happy to share some insight into the formal sorority experience for our collegian members and potential new members as recruitment begins this month on many of our campuses.


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app