Since 1993, the Delta Gamma sorority has been chartered at Ohio University, striving to bring sisterhood to Athens by bolstering the leadership skills of members through Anchor Academy.
Mallory Borino, director of marketing and communications for Delta Gamma, wrote in an email about Delta Gamma’s history of sisterhood.
“Delta Gamma was founded to create a safe and empowering community for women on college campuses,” Borino wrote.
From Feb. 14-16, the executive members of OU’s Delta Gamma are traveling to Columbus to partake in Anchor Academy.
“The purpose of Delta Gamma’s Anchor Academy is to provide attendees with the opportunity to develop their leadership capacity and hone other professional skills critical to effective leadership,” Borino wrote.
Katy Ternova, a sophomore studying journalism, is vice president of member education for Delta Gamma and will attend Anchor Academy for the first time.
For the past few years the event has been held online, however, this year members will be able to attend in person and meet other Delta Gamma sisters from different universities. Delta Gamma pays for the hotel the executive members stay at and will host a total of nearly 700 Delta Gamma leaders in their three Anchor Academy sessions.
“This is our first time attending Anchor Academy in person in a few years,” Ternova said. “It’s been online because of COVID.”
Although it has previously gone under a different name, Anchor Academy has been held every other year since 2013, with a short break in 2021 due to the COVID-19.
The current executive members of Delta Gamma were just recently sworn into their roles in January. This trip allows those executive members to gain a better grasp on their roles and responsibilities.
“We all go and we get to learn more about our positions and what that entails,” Teronva said. “We get to meet other vice presidents from other Delta Gamma chapters, it’s kind of like a networking trip in DG.”
Anchor Academy allows executive members from other DG chapters to collectively come together, to learn from each other and to grow.
“I’ve never had an opportunity to travel to a city to meet a bunch of girls that are all doing the same thing as me,” Ternova said. “I’m really looking forward to meeting other vice presidents, member educators and other chapters.”
This year at Anchor Academy, advisors will also be able to attend for the first time. Heather Ingris, OU’s Delta Gamma advisory team chairman, was a part of the Delta Gamma chapter at Kent State University from 2013-15. As an advisor, Ingris ensures the chapter is following all the rules and procedures.
“Helping them along their experience within the chapter, making sure that they grow as women, that they do the right thing,” Ingris said.
Ingris said Anchor Academy helps the new executive members get a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
“It’s a good way for our newest officers, who just came in in January to see that being a leader in our chapter isn’t just what’s written on paper when you take the position,” Ingris said.
Anchor Academy gives the opportunity for advisors and executive members to discuss different avenues of leadership to better the sisterhood of Delta Gamma.
According to Borino, attendees of Anchor Academy express positive feedback for the event. The attendees enjoy meeting other Delta Gamma members from different schools and strengthening their leadership skills. Attendees also like coming up with fresh ideas to come back to their chapter with.
As vice president member educator, Ternova is excited to discover different ways to engage new class members.
“I hope to learn more strategies and tips to get our new member more fully indulged in what it means to be a Delta Gamma,” Ternova said. “I just hope to learn more about how to be successful in this position.”
Anchor Academy presents executive members with an immersive learning experience, allowing these members to expand their leadership abilities.
“Genuinely, I think every single girl in this chapter is very genuine and always has each other’s best interest at heart,” Ternova said. “I think that makes us really special because we all just really care about each other.”
