Since 1979, Sigma Delta Tau has hosted the Leadership Consultant (LC) program in some form. The LC role is invaluable to the operations of the organization. Held by young alumnae, the LC position is a paid, full-time role with the National Office. LCs provide hands-on support to chapters across the country, virtually and in-person.
Consultants live a life of travel. They may briefly visit campuses to provide advice and support on chapter relations, or stay for a few weeks assisting with busy seasons like recruitment, philanthropy events, slating, and elections. Each day is different, even for all of the women holding the position in the same academic year.
As the 2025–2026 Leadership Consultant application opens, we asked the past LCs to weigh in on their experiences within this elite group. We identified some of the top takeaways from the position, both personally and professionally.
Adaptability
Sister Maria Allen Smith (Delta Epsilon–Emory) served in 2003–2004, and again in 2004–2005. She spoke to the direct experiences as a consultant that shaped her flexibility skill set.
“I learned to navigate diverse campus cultures, customize leadership approaches, and build effective relationships across varied chapter environments,” she said.

Chapter sisters and former consultants Kim Wagman Manin (Phi–Penn State) and Caren Silverman Safra (Phi–Penn State) said gaining such skills right out of college influenced their success as leaders and professionals.
Kim was an LC in 1986–1987 and 1991–1992. “My professional and numerous volunteer and leadership roles have always been about multitasking,” she said.
Caren, who was an LC in 1990–1991, agreed. “My ability to think on my feet and create relationships was instrumental to me getting a job at LexisNexis 28 years ago and I still use those skills,” she said.
Sister Anne Fassler Goldstein (Rho–Alabama) an LC from 1998–1999, also uses her LC skills daily. “I became independent, resilient, flexible,” she said. “I’m able to talk to anyone, walk into any situation and feel comfortable.”
Communication
Sister Alana Kasindorf (Beta Pi–Rochester) was an LC in 2014–2015 and shared multiple scenarios that strengthened her communication skills during her tenure.

“I visited two different but awesome chapters, dealing with tricky recruitment and risk issues,” she said. But even with challenging conversations, Alana bonded with the members and experienced gratitude.
“Being able to impact the lives of amazing women is [a] unique experience,” she said. “You don’t even know how much of a difference you can make until you’re in it.”
Speaking of impact, sister Mackenzie Lipman (Gamma Delta–American), an LC from 2016-2017 was influenced to apply because of Alana’s influence during campus visits Mackenzie’s senior year. She learned a lot about communicating as an LC.
“A large part of my role today is to form connections with people. Whether I am at the office, at an event, or just walking down the street I am able to speak with and connect to just about anyone,” she said.
Maria agreed. “I built effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels,” she said. “From facilitating weekly meetings with undergraduate presidents, to presenting strategic recommendations to the National Board.”
Confidence

Sister Bekah Forest (Psi–UMass) served as a LC from 2021-2023. The first year was traditional, and the second year was a residential experience at Delta Rho–FAU.
“Being an LC pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way,” she said. “It strengthened my confidence, taught me to embrace independence, and showed me that I’m capable of so much more than I ever imagined.”
Now, as a second year student in Law School, Bekah uses all of her LC skills. “The list could go on forever!” she said. “In job interviews, my time as an LC is extremely unique and differentiates me from other applicants.”
Alana also credits her professionalism to her LC year. “[It] allowed me to grow tremendously in my early twenties,” she said. “I felt far more confident than my friends speaking up in meetings and interacting with C-Suite members,” she said. “My grit and tenacity comes from the ‘figure it out’ mentality as an LC.”
Project Management

Leadership Consultants also frequently juggle multiple tasks at once.
“I independently managed multiple priority projects, created structured weekly schedules, and maintained productivity without direct supervision,” Maria said. “These skills were introduced, developed, and honed during my time as an LC, and they continue to serve me well.”
Mackenzie also learned to tackle anything as an LC.
“I am always ready and willing to pick up boxes, set up event spaces, welcome guests, pick up trash on the floor, and create graphics on the fly,” she said. “My attention to detail is unmatched due to my time as an SDT Leadership Consultant.”
Mackenzie said her colleagues love partnering with her as a result.
Travel Savvy

With so many days of travel, LCs are also skilled road warriors.
Kim’s LC experience taught her to pack, manage missed connections, and cope with lost luggage. The first time she lost her luggage is one of her favorite memories, along with a memory of helping folks board planes in bad weather, “to make friends with the pilots and flight attendants.”
Thanks to LC travel, Mackenzie said she can navigate any airport, flight, or delay. “I actually go to the airport hours early to hang out whenever I travel because I learned to love it so much!” she said.
Bekah credits her sleep prowess to being an LC. “I have the ability to fall asleep on a plane whenever I sit down!”
Sisterhood

The LC position also offers an incredible opportunity to develop skills like empathy, compassion, and appreciation for others.
Mackenzie traveled to 25 different schools and always felt welcome. “No matter what, I will be able to find an SDT woman and feel a sense of belonging and home.”
“My sisters are all over the country,” Anne said about experiencing sisterhood as an LC. “A connection is instantly made and you have another community!”
Sister Samantha Herman (Alpha Tau–George Washington) was an LC from 2014-2016, and expressed a similar sentiment for fellow LCs especially.
“Knowing you can pick up the phone to bounce ideas off of each other, share the exciting moments of a good recruitment, or connect …led me to understand the deep bonds that sisterhood forms,” Samantha said.

Bekah found the same connection in her LC team, particularly with sister Alex Chacon (Gamma Eta–USF). The two lived and worked together at Delta Rho–FAU.
“[Alex] is truly my sister. I am forever grateful this job brought us together,” Bekah said. Her favorite memory includes Alex and all of the sisters at the FAU initiation.
“Welcoming so many new sisters into SDT was incredibly powerful and it still makes me teary,” Bekah said. “The energy in the room, the shared excitement, and the deep sense of connection made it a moment I’ll never forget.”
Maria’s favorite LC memory was Gamma Lambda–Florida State’s reestablishment in 2005. “Every step felt like a labor of love,” she said. “Ensuring that future generations of women would have the opportunity to ‘shine as one.’”
The sisters of Gamma Lambda–Florida State were also the highlight of Caren’s LC experience in 1990. “I am still friends with many of them today,” she said, “And I ended up going to the FSU/PSU bowl game back in 1991 with them!”
For Caren, being an LC also influenced her long-time volunteerism. “I don’t think I would have volunteered for SDT in various roles for over 25+ years. I also don’t think I would truly know the value of a sisterhood without it.“
Beautifully, Mackenzie’s favorite LC memory includes quality time with Caren while visiting Delta Zeta–Rutgers Camden. Mackenzie had great experiences on campus before visiting landmarks in Camden and Philadelphia and meeting Caren for lunch. “It was such a well-rounded trip with an equal focus on getting the work done and experiencing the sisterhood.”
“The people are what make this job so great,” said Sister and Past National President Margaux Manley Lima (Alpha Mu–Miami), also remained involved with SDT since her LC tenure in 2002-2003. “Our sisterhood is bigger than our schools, or our chapters. It is global, and a gift we should leverage.”

Kim agreed. “Sisterhood and friendships are paramount for my life,” Kim said. “[I remember] feeling welcome and included at the very first school I visited.”
Many “beSDT moments” with sisters occurred while Kim was an LC, she said, especially the excitement of work weeks, opening multiple chapters in the SUNY system, and experiencing the initiation ritual each and every time.
Kim also offered a deeply personal benefit of her LC experience. “When my sister and husband each passed away, my sisters and friends stepped up and got me through the darkest moments.”
The deeper connection to sisterhood is an undeniable outcome of the LC position.
It Changed Everything
Aside from the many stories of skills and love, another amazing theme among the past LCs is the way the experience changed their lives for the better. For some, the changes were professional.
Sister Helen Gilbert (Tau–Texas) worked on the 1990–1991 LC team. There, she learned how to navigate life, talk to others, and sell the sorority experience, which propelled her into the private sector for 17 years, she said.
“I was an elementary education major, and I never taught a day in my life after my Consultant year. It helped me realize what I wanted to do and build the confidence to actually do it.”
Today, Helen is one of a handful of devoted Tau alumnae working closely with a collegiate interest group to reestablish the Tau chapter. “Being an LC is the reason I’m working with [the students] on this,” Helen said.
Mackenzie also pivoted from elementary education. “I went back to get my Master’s Degree in Higher Education and Student Development,” she said. “The transformative experience I had led me to where I am and I couldn’t be happier.”

Margaux’s trajectory was similar after her term ended.
“Being an LC cemented that a career in higher education was a right fit,” Margaux said. “It allowed me to explore and gain clarity on where I wanted to study.” Today, Margaux has a doctorate and helps women find their own career paths.
For Samantha, the LC role introduced a field she wasn’t even aware of before being an LC. “When I finished my second year, the learning and development field interested me,” Samantha said. “I wouldn’t have known the field existed.”
The experience paid off for her. “Today, I work in the learning development field for a firm of 180,000 people,” Samantha said.
For other former LCs, life changed both professionally and personally.
Kim was hired by a Consultant from a different sorority who understood what the job required. “This job enabled me to find my true calling in special events, communications, and marketing.”
She went on to befriend SDT sister Edie Eiseman (Pi–Iowa) who was also an LC. Edie and Kim introduced each other to their husbands. “The rest is history as we say!”

Alana’s life was also completely influenced by her LC position.
She chose to live in Washington, DC based on LC travel, and is still there nine years later. “When I was applying [for a job after the LC role], the first question was whether I had any recruitment experience,” she said. “My time as an LC allowed me to stand out amongst the rest.” Alana has now been promoted multiple times.
And, indirectly, her experience brought her love. “My fiance was an LC for his fraternity, and it was what we bonded over the most on our first date,” she said.
“It’s wild how one small decision, like signing up to be an LC, shaped the trajectory of both my professional and personal life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
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To apply for the 2025 opening, visit the online job description and application on our website. Any questions or concerns can be directed to chapterservices@sigmadeltatau.org.