Caitlin Oberlin

Year of Graduation: 2012
Major: Marketing with a concentration in Finance and a Communications minor
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Greek life: Gamma Phi Beta
Interests/hobbies: Spending time with friends and family, Traveling, Skiing, Running
Campus activities: Panhellenic, Women and Business Club, Marketing Club, Peer Mentor for the College of Business and Economics, used to play Lax
Favorite place to eat near Lehigh: Tapas on Main
Least favorite class: Accounting
Favorite movie: My Best Friend’s Wedding
Favorite book: Water for Elephants
Favorite TV show: Homeland – part of it was filmed at Lehigh
Something no one knows about you (until now):
Linderman or FairMart: FairMart

Caitlin is a member of the Panhel Executive Board that is made up of senior members from Lehigh’s sorority population. The executive board works together to make sure all sororties stay strong on campus, while also planning other campus wide events such as Pink Week and Greek Week. The executive board is also in charge of running all Panhellenic meetings and formal sorority recruitment. The Panhellenic Council represents all sorority women on campus. The council is divided into two groups, eight executive officers and representatives from each chapter. The executive board is the governing body that oversees all inter-sorority affairs. Panhel is the main forum for women’s issues and is responsible for assessing the needs of the sorority community. The members coordinate sorority recruitment, inter-sorority relations, social events, community relations, Junior Panhel, and various other programs on campus. The Panhellenic Council works closely with the Infraternity Council, which represents the fraternities, to improve overall Greek life at Lehigh University. 

What is your position at Panhel?
VP Finance

Why did you choose to become involved with Panhel?
I loved my role on the exec board and going through new member recruitment with Gamma Phi but I really wanted to see how the entire Greek community interacted and coordinate activities with members from other chapters. I wanted to be a leader for the entire community.

What is the most challenging part about being on Panhel?
Separating myself from Gamma Phi and disaffiliating myself from the sorority. Now I have to think about what’s best for the Greek community.

Did you study abroad?
Yes – Barcelona last spring

What was your favorite part about your experience abroad?
Spending St.Patrick’s Day in Dublin and immersing myself in a completely different culture for 5 months and getting accustomed to the day-to-day customs.

What are your memories of rushing freshman year?
At one point gum dropped out of my mouth when I was talking to an older girl during rush.  Feelings of excitement and anxiousness but ultimately comfort and joy when I received my bid and feelings of welcome-ness.

Do you have any advice for new members?
Take full advantage of every opportunity and live every moment to its fullest. Cherish every time you have in the house whether its on the couch in the chapter room or getting ready to go out to a social event. Be involved on campus! You build such great relationships with people who you never would expect to by being active not only in Greek life but in clubs.

What are you going to miss most about Lehigh?
I think what I’ll miss most will be living in close proximity to all of my best friends and the day to day interactions with all those that are close to me. The relationships and the friendships I’ve made here.