Mason’s current Panhellenic president is nothing short of exceptional. Leigh Burte, a junior at George Mason University, definitely has her hands full juggling three internships, being an active member of her chapter and overseeing the Panhellenic council. When asked to describe her in a few words, her friends characterize her as someone who is driven, empathetic, compassionate and enthusiastic. Which are all amazing traits that someone in her position should strive to have. When thinking of a strong women to write a profile about, Leigh was the first person to come to mind. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know her over the last few months and she is someone who is incredibly dedicated to making the Panhellenic community much better than it already is. Maddie Avila says that “Leigh is someone with so much passion for everything she does, and is an incredibly kind and caring individual” and that statement alone is enough to show what a strong, confident woman Leigh is.
What are some things you want to accomplish as panhellenic president?
LB: “When I think of my goals as Panhellenic President, I think of three overarching goals. The first one is within the Panhellenic Community itself. I want to increase communication between the sororities and create more friendships between sororities. I hope to accomplish this through starting with creating friendships between the leaders in chapters. My personal goal is to be there for every Panhellenic Woman and to create a foundation of women who truly care about the Panhellenic Community. My second goal is within the four councils of Fraternity and Sorority Life. I would love to see Panhellenic support IFC, NPHC, and MGC initiatives. I think a really important aspect of supporting the other councils is education. I am hoping to create more programs that give FSL members a chance to really understand each other and know the difference between each organization. My last goal is to work on Greek Life reputation on George Mason’s Campus. I think in a lot of campuses; Greek Life is looked at very stereotypically. I want to show the school and the students that there is more to sororities than some would think. Through this I want to support clubs and organizations outside of Greek Life such as athletics, student government and all the wonderful clubs we hear about. At the end of the day, every student is involved in something they are passionate about and I want to support their passion.”
What made you want to join the Panhellenic community?
LB: “I wanted to join the Panhellenic Community because when I came to school I was alone and out of state and I wanted a home. I went through fall formal recruitment my freshman year in 2016 and I fell in love with my sorority: Gamma Phi Beta. When I was a sophomore, I applied for Vice President of Programming on Panhellenic Executive Council because I wanted to expand my resume and get involved. I also thought it might be fun to meet some people. After a week of my position, I met so many people and my interpretation of Panhellenic changed completely. Now I have women in Panhellenic I consider my best friends and I was able to meet so many amazing people in other councils. Throughout the year I fell in love with Panhellenic and my passion and love for the women in my community grew. Once I realized this love I decided to run for President and I am so honored to call myself Panhellenic President.”
Why do you think it’s important to have organizations on campus that empower women?
LB: “I think empowering other people is so important. It is something that I take to heart as President because it is my job to empower others every day. If you look at college campuses or even post-college life, I think everyone can agree that there are so many obstacles that face women. When you live in a world without equal pay, education oppression and discrimination, empowerment is so imperative. Without supporting each other, women would fall. In today’s society we need to stand together and fight. On campus, a sorority is a chance to empower not only the women around you but also yourself. The Panhellenic Community is so lucky to be diverse and have a variety of smart and talented women. Surrounding yourself with people who shine also make you shine. In college, you should be supporting everyone around you while empowering yourself. For sororities, that means raising money for Philanthropies like Circle of Sisterhood which raises money to put girls in school in third world countries. Or it could mean getting dinner with a new sister and gaining a best friend. Being in Panhellenic means that you have a platform where you can advocate for what you believe in. As President, I am just here to show you that you, as a woman, matter.”
When you’re not busy with school or panhellenic meetings what do you like to do for fun?
LB: “I am so lucky to say that Panhellenic has given me the most amazing people and I have found a family within the Greek Community. So if I am not in OSI you will probably catch me with my amazing roommates (yes all Greek!) watching a movie or with my friends who I have through my position and my passion for Greek Life. Besides that, I currently hold three internships so you can find me in Washington D.C. planning a wedding, working on campus for some events or running social media for a wedding planner which I love doing so much!”
How has your life changed since joining your chapter and the Panhellenic council?
LB: “My life has changed so positively since I have joined Greek Life. In all honesty I have to laugh at myself for being so cliché sometimes. When I first joined Gamma Phi Beta I was so shy and nervous. All I wanted was to find a home and eventually, I did! Friendship wise, I have found my family here in Greek Life and it is truly expanding every time I meet someone new (which is a lot). Greek Life gives you so many chances to network and I have always been passionate about a career in Events Management. I have been given best friends and internship opportunities. In fact, I also noticed my grades improved when I became involved in Greek Life because I developed a passion for what I am doing at school. As I mentioned before, I applied for Panhellenic Council for my resume and once I found passion in that, I was able to fall in love with my community. Ever since I have become President I have felt so humbled by those around me. I have learned so much from Greek Life about the world around me and myself. I am so lucky to see such amazing people in our community do wonderful things and it truly makes me proud to see how far I have come since coming through recruitment.”
What advice do you have for young girls and women who are struggling to find their place in the world?
LB: “One thing I always told myself was that it gets better. When I was younger (and still sometimes now) I still feel a little lost in the world. But, that is a part of growing up. It is okay to feel lost and to struggle; that makes you who you are. I would always recommend to surround yourself with a support team. Whether that’s a sisterhood like mine, a friend group formed by a club or even a therapist that helps you through some tough times, remember you are not alone. Find what you are passionate about and never lose sight. It is your heart and your passion that make the world special!”
Leigh is an inspiration to us all and the Panhellenic community and Mason are lucky to have her!