Susan Kelley, a sophomore chemical engineering major from Montclaire, New Jersey, is the philanthropy chair of Drexel University’s Delta Phi Epsilon. As philanthropy chair, Susan is involved with planning events to benefit the many philanthropies that DPhiE supports.
Susan knew before she came to college that she was interested in the once-in-a-lifetime experience of being a sister in a sorority. When Susan went through recruitment during the fall term of her first year at Drexel University, she was drawn to DPhiE after learning about the community service that DPhiE does. Susan said the sisters “made [her] want to be a better woman.”
The DPhiE sisters focus on volunteering and raising awareness for different causes. As philanthropy chair, Susan’s main responsibility is coordinating DPhiE’s ANAD Week, or Eating Disorder Awareness Week, in February. During this week, DPhiE hosts events in order to promote positive body images and awareness of eating disorders.
Another responsibility Susan has in her role is planning DPhiE’s pasta dinner that takes place every term to benefit one of their philanthropies, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Fitzy’s Run, which is in honor of a late DPhiE sister named Lauren Fitzgerald.
According to Susan, DPhiE is an amazing outlet for raising awareness for many causes. Before college, Susan had no idea what the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation did, but after working with DPhiE to raise awareness about the disease and to support the foundation, she now realizes how wonderful their work is. Susan says that DPhiE is a “group of girls passionate about helping and it can’t help but wear off on you.”
Susan said that one of the best parts of being philanthropy chair is being able to create and host fun events. This past spring, Susan and the former philanthropy chair planned and hosted Douse A Delta, where people came and paid fifty cents to throw a water balloon at the sisters. Over the summer, Susan also got to plan a fun movie night.
Although having her position has been a great experience, Susan said the most difficult part is “having to learn as [she] go[es].” The first event she organized, an Alex’s Lemonade Stand at graduation, landed on the same day as move-out day. This coincidence resulted in Susan being unprepared and late, but she learned from the experience.
Being a part of DPhiE and being the philanthropy chair has allowed Susan to continue her interest in volunteer work into college. Along with being involved with her sorority, Susan also mentors for FIRST Robotics, a high school club she used to be involved with. In her free time she also likes to knit and do arts and crafts.
Susan is also very passionate about cosmetics and perfume. She says that in a dream world, her job after graduation would be in the cosmetic industry in research and development because it would allow her to “[merge] a personal interest with a passion.”
Susan has a lot on her plate between organizing Delta Phi Epsilon’s events as philanthropy chair and being a young, vibrant college student, but such an intelligent woman can handle anything thrown her way. Next time you see Susan and the rest of the DPhiE sisters at the table by the Mario statue or at one of their events, be sure to go say hi!