Meet The Beta Mu CAB

Having a full Chapter Advisory Board (CAB) can help propel a chapter and its members even further when it comes to membership experience and chapter achievement, including growth and retention goals. When each collegiate chapter officer and team can be fully supported by an advisor who is there to answer questions, offer insights, and teach leadership and communications skills, then a chapter can thrive. 

The Beta Mu Chapter at Salisbury University has a full Chapter Advisory Board, with all 12 advisor positions occupied. “It has been such a great experience seeing what each member of our CAB brings to the table to support our Sisters. Empowering the collegians to feel confident in their roles and decisions has been our number one goal. We have also leaned on each other for more than just advising, and it’s great to see how quickly everyone jumps in to help if a CAB member needs more support,” said Brittany Cooper Siegel (Beta Mu 2009/Salisbury). 

Advisor support for the chapter and its officers has led to them consistently meeting recruitment and retention goals, organizing and participating in large-scale philanthropic events, creating stronger relationships with Sisters, and positively impacting their campus and community. 

In honor of Advisor Appreciation Month, the Beta Mu CAB members are sharing their advising experiences and advice:  

Q. How and why did you get involved as an advisor? 

I had a close friend from my time in the chapter become an advisor and tell me all about her experience. She let me know when a new position became available and recommended that I apply! It’s been one of the best things to come out of my time in AΣΤ, getting to give back by advising the same chapter I was a part of. Not to mention, the other CAB members are so fantastic to work with. Some were my advisors when I was a collegian, and getting to form friendships with them has been amazing.

–Hannah Davis (Beta Mu 2017/Salisbury), Marketing Advisor 

I met one of the Beta Mu CAB members years ago when she worked with my husband. She eventually reached out to ask if I would be interested in an open advisor role. I loved the idea of expanding my Sorority experience by advising Sisters and working with alumnae from another chapter. I’m so grateful to the incredible CAB members here for welcoming me and making me feel at home so far from where I first fell in love with AΣΤ.

–Rachel Farris Lord (Gamma Zeta 2011/Frostburg), Continuous Open Bidding Advisor

Takeaway: Many of Beta Mu’s advisors were asked by CAB members to apply for an advisor position directly or were recommended to Headquarters by other CAB members. The Beta Mu CAB prioritizes cultivating relationships with chapter members and local alumnae to create a pipeline of support and potential future advisors.

Q. What does advising look like in your day-to-day life?

Since I am local to the college, my advising may look like grabbing coffee with the Vice President of Community Relations, hopping on a quick Zoom call, visiting a chapter event, or assisting during recruitment. However, the day-to-day involves answering text messages, reading an email with the exciting events the chapter is planning, or coaching and encouraging through a phone call. As an advisory board, we also often collaborate or update one another on topics that could impact another position or need input.

–Brittany Cooper Siegel (Beta Mu 2009/Salisbury), Community Relations Advisor

I live about two hours from Salisbury for my entire time advising. Therefore, most of my interactions with the chapter have been virtual. I usually interact with either the collegians or the other members of the advisory board daily. This has changed a lot since I first started advising, but I think that’s the nature of my role. I do try to make it down to campus for an in-person event or chapter meeting at least once a semester.

–Nichole Murphy Ramos (Beta Mu 2011/Salisbury), Operations and Finance Advisor

Q. What is your favorite part of advising?

I think my favorite part of advising is watching our collegians shine! Being able to connect with them about whatever they need is so special. I think my favorite thing is helping them plan their philanthropic events. It’s amazing to see their ideas come to life.

–Ally Feldman (Beta Mu 2016/Salisbury), Women’s Wellness Initiative Advisor

My favorite part about advising is coaching, problem-solving, and encouraging our chapter in any way that I can. I love helping our collegians plan alumnae events and find other ways to connect with our alumnae. My favorite memories have to be going to the National Conventions in Pittsburgh and Atlanta. I always had the best time meeting other chapters from around the country, and I grew super close to the advisors and collegians that attended with me. 

–Jessica Yeoh (Beta Mu 2007/Salisbury), Alumnae Engagement Advisor

Takeaway: Advisors are looking for ways to give back to their chapters and continue the AΣΤ experience as alumnae members. Regardless of the advisor position, each Beta Mu CAB member shared that advising had become an integral part of their life and something they get joy from daily. 

Q. What have you found to be the most challenging part of advising? How does the CAB work together on those challenges?

I think because I have been advising for so many years, and because this is my collegiate chapter, it has taken me some time to let go of the history and traditions that we used to have and to help provide the space for change and adaptation for the chapter’s members. It can be so easy to fall into, “Well, in the past, we used to do it this way…”, which can be perceived as right versus wrong. Working through that, both personally and as a CAB, has been an adjustment.

Over time, the CAB has committed to reminding collegians that this is their chapter, what once worked may not work now, and that they have the flexibility and freedom to change things. It has been a learning curve for us, and something we are constantly reminding ourselves of. We work hard to set our personal beliefs and expectations aside to allow space for collegians to create their sisterhood.

Just because the CAB isn’t crazy about an idea doesn’t mean the chapter can’t or shouldn’t do it – we hold ourselves accountable to not pass judgment or share our opinions, but rather share policies and procedures and remind collegians of the expectations. 

–Kate Gemeny Woolford (Beta Mu 2007/Salisbury), Chapter Advisor

Takeaway: It’s okay to continue to evolve as an advisor and not have all the answers right away. Whether you’re struggling to connect with collegians on a topic or overcome a personal roadblock, being an advisor helps you grow and learn on both a personal and professional level. There’s also continued education for advisors, just like there is for collegians and collegiate officers! 

Q. What is a challenge you helped the chapter work through?

In my role as the Member Support and Accountability (MSA) Advisor, I encourage difficult conversations and help guide collegians through the correct processes. I’m a social worker and clinical supervisor, so I know the importance of trust, commitment, courage, accountability, and goal setting.

Change takes time, and re-educating the MSA Team on providing accountability AND support to their Sisters is essential. A big contributor to healthy chapter functioning and chapter culture is a healthy MSA Team. My advising role allows me to provide support and encourage that accountability so that members can focus on the overall goals for chapter culture. I know our MSA team will let me know immediately if they need support or feel uncomfortable. This trust and communication help us move forward with confidence, knowing that we can rely on each other every step of the way through the MSA process.

–Tinsley Foster (Beta Mu 2016/Salisbury), Member Support and Accountability Advisor

Takeaway: When the chapter needs to work through challenges, good relationships between collegiate officers and CAB members are essential. Whether it’s asking for feedback on an MSA plan or working together to adjust to a new recruitment schedule, collegiate officers need to know that CAB members are there to support and help them as best they can.

Q. What helps the Beta Mu CAB work well together?

Working across the CAB is what we do BEST. It’s constant communication within the Beta Mu CAB. We have our group chat that is always blowing up, and that’s the way we all stay in contact. That works for us! I’ve heard of other chapters scheduling regular check-in meetings or having Facebook groups. But for us and how large of a CAB we are, it’s easiest to just use the group chat to keep communicating. 

–Nichole Murphy Ramos (Beta Mu 2011/Salisbury), Operations and Finance Advisor

We work so well together; it constantly amazes me how everyone is supportive and willing to step in and help when needed. The mentality is always “How can I support you?” even if someone’s plate is already full, which empowers everyone to feel like we can tackle whatever challenges come our way. It is so beneficial to have a full CAB because there is always someone to turn to and ask for help, whether it’s just for advice or assistance. I know my fellow CAB members have my back, and they know I have theirs.

–Hannah Davis (Beta Mu 2017/Salisbury), Marketing Advisor

Takeaway: Communication is key for CABs! Find the tools that work best for you and your fellow advisors, and feel encouraged to build personal relationships with them outside of the CAB work you do together. Beyond that, focus on keeping each other in the loop, collaborating often, and encouraging each other through difficult times. 

Q. Do you have any advice for members who are considering becoming an advisor?

Reach out and get more information! Part of our success in maintaining a full CAB has been using our relationships and sharing the “work.” It’s much less of a time commitment than most people realize, and in this day and age, virtual advising is just as impactful! CABs operate as a team and are happy to carry more when an advisor is experiencing a shift in priorities or balance. For us, just because it falls under one advisor’s scope NEVER means they can’t ask another one of us to step in and help. I think that’s the beauty of having more advisors – “many hands make light work.” 

–Kate Gemeny Woolford (Beta Mu 2007/Salisbury), Chapter Advisor

Don’t be afraid to get involved with other chapters! It can feel overwhelming to not have any ties to the school, chapter, or CAB—you might feel that you don’t know the answers to basic questions, but a good CAB is supportive and happy to share knowledge and resources. There are times when I can offer an outside perspective, and not knowing any collegiate members gave me an easy separation to advise without feeling any bias. Plenty of chapters don’t have a full CAB, so if you have the opportunity to get involved with one, look into it! 

–Rachel Farris Lord (Gamma Zeta 2011/Frostburg), Continuous Open Bidding Advisor

Takeaway: Getting involved as an advisor is so rewarding, no matter what chapter you work with! There are lots of chapters and CABs that could use additional support and knowledge, so reach out to your alumnae network and Headquarters to see how you can support a chapter near you.

Interested in advising?

There are almost 400 available advisor positions at chapters across the country!

You can give back to Alpha Sigma Tau and support collegiate members as they grow personally, learn more professional skills, and become better leaders. If you enjoy working with college students, advancing the mission of Alpha Sigma Tau, and ensuring our Sisterhood is the safest place for women to be on campus, consider applying to become an advisor today.