The sorority experience is known for sisterhood, social engagement, and philanthropy. For the women of SDT, academic and professional development are equally important. Being well-rounded is a point of pride for our members.
Since 2023, a multi-year research campaign called Amplify Sorority* has conducted some research studies, interviewing both collegiate members and rising high school women about the value of sororities in today’s world. The results of the three completed studies offer important insight into the benefits of membership.
In the first study, potential new members were interviewed about what they’ll seek from college involvement. The women in Gen Z want organizational opportunities that offer them leadership development, mentorship, community service opportunities, career development, and networking. This article about members’ summer internships will illustrate how alive those qualities are in SDT.
Another Amplify Sorority study gathered data from current members. Compared to unaffiliated women, sorority women “generally have higher self-perceptions. They say they have a sense of purpose and are optimistic about their future.” Such positivity is attributed to community involvement – a common theme in sorority membership. The higher self-perception empowers members to chase their goals– professional opportunities included.
Finally, the research showed that third and fourth-year members need more customizable sorority experiences because their needs change as “their student experience is changing, focusing more on their future career aspirations.” Some direct ways chapters can meet the needs of juniors and seniors is through highlighting professional development, and calling on juniors and seniors to role model career readiness and exploration. The sisters who tell their stories here are great examples of role modeling.
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This summer, many of our members are growing, learning, and contributing to a variety of industries through internships. By modeling leadership, service, career development, and networking, they’re strengthening their senses of purpose, and leading the way for future sisters to pursue careers in their desired fields.
Several chapter members provided insight into their summer internships. In addition to showcasing the amazing things our women are accomplishing, we also hope to demonstrate to younger members, or potential new members, just how well-rounded, smart, and resourceful the network of SDT sisters is.
Skyy Ferry – Legal Assistant
Sister Skyy Ferry (Delta Rho–FAU) is experiencing her first internship as a Legal Assistant at Daniel Sagiv Law Firm in Boca Raton, FL. She enjoys gaining hands-on experience, learning how legal concepts apply in personal injury law, and helping others during vulnerable times.
As the Chapter President for Delta Rho, Skyy said she learned, “leadership, professionalism, compassion, and strong work ethic,” which serve her well in her internship.
“As President, I’ve learned how to manage responsibilities, connect with others, and stay dedicated; all of which translated directly into my work at the firm,” she said.
Skyy said the cases require careful attention and critical thinking, which makes her work complex, challenging, and rewarding. Another reward is making new friends. “One of my favorite parts has been forming meaningful friendships at the law firm, especially with another intern who’s in Sigma Kappa at FAU,” Skyy said. “It’s a reminder of how strong our Panhellenic community really is.”
“Delta Rho helped me build leadership and interpersonal skills that were instrumental in landing this internship and thriving in it,” Skyy said. She encourages her sisters to get involved and gain experiences within the chapter.
“Use those experiences to build your confidence, and don’t give up,” she offered. “You’re more capable than you think.”
Lindsay Griesman – Fundraising & Development Intern
Sister Lindsay Griesman (Alpha Xi–Boston) is in New York City for the summer, interning with the Lymphoma Research Foundation as a fundraising and development operations intern. She discovered the internship on Handshake and went through multiple rounds of interviews to earn the role. “I not only felt passionate about the organization but drawn to the mission,” she said.
Her past internships at BU Hillel and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) helped her feel prepared for the work this summer.
She said Hillel’s small team taught her to use her local connections, and at LLS, she focused on the planning side of fundraising as well as marketing and branding initiatives. “Both of these internships helped build my organizational and communication skills,” she said. “I’ve been able to form strong connections with my coworkers and apply strategies from previous positions to my current one.”
In addition to her other leadership roles, Lindsay also called on her SDT experience to be successful. “My big project is building out the collegiate fundraising sector of the Foundation,” she said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the experience and skills I’ve gained from my role as VP Philanthropy & Service in my chapter.”
Lindsay said in addition to those necessary skills, SDT also taught her the importance of philanthropy, giving back, spreading awareness, and supporting causes. She said the sisterhood also taught her, “how to approach new faces and create new bonds,” even when she feels intimidated.
“One of the biggest challenges for me is making one on one calls to supporters and donors of the Foundation,” Lindsay said. “I always wanted to work in donor outreach, but I didn’t realize how nervous I would get.” She said her supportive team helps her move beyond her comfort zone and gain confidence on calls.
Lindsay pays the supportiveness forward to sisters. “Stay curious and don’t underestimate yourself. We tend to be our own biggest critics, but you are capable of so much more than the voice inside your head says,” Lindsay said.
“When I started my search, I questioned if I was qualified or ready, but I realized that internships are about learning and showing that you are open to new things.”
Lindsay said fear of rejection is real, but taking risks leads to reward. “I was rejected from other positions before I was offered my current one, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” she said. “You belong in these rooms and you matter.”
Yardena Rubin – Sustainability Intern
Sister Yardena Rubin (Gamma Tau–Columbia) is interning at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) this summer as a Sustainability Intern. She found the position through a combination of networking and LinkedIn. Yardena found her supervisor on LinkedIn, and reached out to learn more about his role. “After that conversation, I was invited to get involved, and it evolved into a structured internship,” Yardena said.
Yardena’s main project is conducting a climate vulnerability assessment. “It looks at how climate risks could impact patient care, staff well-being, hospital operations, and overall community health resilience,” she said. “It’s been eye-opening to understand that climate change isn’t just an environmental issue, but also a direct public health challenge that affects vulnerable populations like cancer patients.”
The work is challenging. Yardena said balancing the mission of providing the best possible patient care while minimizing environmental impact requires innovation.
“It’s a steep learning curve, but it’s pushed me to think critically and be creative in how I approach problem-solving,” she said. “Knowing that my research could help protect patients, support healthcare workers, and contribute to a more resilient healthcare system feels incredibly meaningful and impactful.”
Last summer, Yardena interned with the New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA), where she focused on communications and advocacy for clean energy policy. Both internships taught her a lot, and so has her experience as Chapter President.
“I have learned how to manage competing priorities, coordinate with a wide range of people, and communicate effectively in both formal and informal settings,” she said. “These leadership and organizational skills have translated directly into this internship, especially when I’m collaborating with different teams, presenting findings, or managing timelines for complex projects.”
Yardena said SDT also taught her how to form strong relationships, which is key in a large organization. “I’ve found that the best opportunities come from a simple conversation or expressing genuine curiosity about someone’s career path,” Yardena said. “Don’t underestimate the value of your experiences in SDT, whether it’s leading events, managing a team, or staying organized. These are all highly transferable skills that employers notice.”
To Yardena, proactivity and intentionality are key in an internship search. “Tailor your applications to highlight not just what you’ve studied, but how you’ve applied it through leadership and service,” she said.
Sophie Small – Virtual Engagement Intern
Sophie Small (Alpha Nu–Wisconsin) embraced a big change to accept her first internship as a Virtual Engagement Intern at Morgan Stanley in Alpharetta, Georgia. She moved across the country alone. “I’m from Boston, MA, and go to UW-Madison, and they had me move to Georgia,” she said. “Until a sorority sister moved down last week, I only knew colleagues, which was a hard transition.”
For the last two summers, Sophie worked as a seasonal teller at a bank, which helped her get her feet wet in the finance world. “We’re in the wealth management division, working in a support role for financial advisors, doing their digital marketing, financial planning, outreach, and communications,” Sophie said. “I have made so many connections, and really love the company culture.”
Sophie learned about and earned the role through Handshake. “I am very much a people person, and I was worried, not having a business major and never having worked in financial services before, that I would be out of place,” she said. “I randomly happened to realize that a mentor I’ve found this summer is a Syracuse SDT alumna! There are sisters everywhere.”
Aside from having a sister as a role model, Sophie also called on skills she learned from serving as the Standards Chair to be successful in her internship. “That role gave me so many professional skills, like how to present, how to navigate tough conversations, how to manage my time, and how to step up as a leader,” she said. “I am able to be a successful intern due to my time in that role.”
As her experience nears its end, Sophie just passed a challenging regulatory exam and is reminiscing on the risks she had to take to get her to Georgia.
“Although it has been an adjustment, I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Sophie said. “Ten weeks isn’t very long in the grand scheme of things, and I love the job. I never would have known how good it would be if I wasn’t willing to take that risk.”
Sarah Strolger – Advocacy Intern
Sarah Strolger (Alpha Tau–George Washington) is a rising junior serving as an Advocacy Intern at a DC nonprofit called A Wider Circle. She applied through the Humanitarian Internship Pilot Project (HIPP) at GW, which pairs participants with humanitarian organizations.
The HIPP program selected its first cohort from a competitive pool of 182 applicants. Sarah is one of only 20 who got accepted. She has enjoyed working with vulnerable populations.
“A Wider Circle works to fight poverty in the DC area, and one way they do that is by providing professional clothing, free of charge,” she said. “Meeting some of our clients at the Professional Development Center is the best part of my experience as I get to know the clients and hear their stories.”
Not all stories are easy to hear. “Some of my biggest challenges are hearing about the struggles from families with young children,” she said. “A lot of the families come to A Wider Circle looking for furniture for their kids.” Sarah said, “Families suffering from ‘furniture poverty’ often go without essential furniture like beds, couches, and even cooking supplies.”
She said she hears stories about children sleeping at school because they don’t have beds, which is difficult. “But it reminds me why these organizations exist and why I want to continue helping those in need.”
Sarah credits her experience as a member of the philanthropy committee in helping her develop skills for this summer. “One key skill I’ve learned through that position is effective communication. One of my big projects this summer is to present an activist curriculum to interested youth, so having clear and effective communication with the youth has been vital.”
In offering advice to sisters looking for future internships, Sarah said to take a chance on opportunities, even if they’re not a perfect fit.
“My major is International Affairs and when I was accepted to the HIPP program, I was hoping to be paired with an international humanitarian organization,” she said. Instead, her offer was for A Wider Circle, which is a local cause. “I realized I was still making the difference I wanted to on a local scale, and I haven’t regretted my decision since.”
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For each of these women, the theme of leadership in SDT was a pillar in their success. It’s important to note that while most ofthese members had official titles, leadership opportunities exist throughout the organization. Every member is encouraged to explore her own unique leadership style with whatever qualities and strengths she brings to the table.
Overall, these sisters’ stories are a clear example of the “shine as one” tagline. Each individual woman is contributing to her community and causes she cares about in her own way. Together, all of the leadership, skills, and contributions help Sigma Delta Tau to make the world brighter. Keep it up, sisters!
*Source: Amplifying Sorority Research website. To learn more, visit here: https://foundationfe.org/womens-research/