We’re launching a multi-part series this summer called #MeetTheMus, where we’ll introduce one of our Phi Mu Foundation Trustees each week, and give you an inside peek at what drives their passion for the lifetime development of Phi Mu women.

Our Trustee spotlight for this week is Delicia Arnold!

What made your collegiate Phi Mu experience special?

As an only child, I was so excited to finally have a bunch of sisters! To make it even better, my chapter always treated the Phis like queens and made us feel so special and welcome from moment one.  This made the bond within the entire chapter incredibly strong.

What (or who) influenced you to give back to Phi Mu as an alumnae volunteer?

I was somewhat thrust into a volunteer position at the University of Tennessee when I moved to Knoxville and got involved with the alumnae chapter to simply meet some people in my new town. However, as Chapter Adviser for Kappa chapter, I met and began to know Mary Young, Dr. Cathy Sessums, and Kathy Williams and my Phi Mu life was forever changed. These women became my dear friends, mentors and cheerleaders. In turn, they introduced me to many other incredible women that have also had very positive influences on me to continue to give back and ultimately led me down this road to serving as Trustee for Phi Mu Foundation.

How has your journey in Phi Mu impacted the woman that you are today?

It has built on and strengthened the values taught and instilled in me by my mom, and also as a Catholic. Phi Mu continues to encourage me to adapt to different people, different styles, and different issues. I believe that as long as you stay involved, Phi Mu is a life journey that continues to make all of us the best woman we can be.

What legacy do you hope to leave for Phi Mu through your work with the Foundation?

I hope to shape Phi Mu Foundation into something that is a natural part of the journey from beginning to end for every Phi Mu. We always say you only get out of Phi Mu what you put into it and I believe that this is true. If we all made continuous giving of time, treasure and talent part the journey, imagine the things we could do!  I want Phi Mu sisters to see and experience their dollars at work and to put the ‘fun’ in FoUNdation!

What would you tell a young alumna about why she should invest with the Foundation?

Giving to Phi Mu Foundation allows the Phi Mus after you to continue to enjoy the journey. Your contributions allow us to continue to help sisters in need, provide programming to develop great leaders and Phi Mu legends, provide scholarships for members to continue their education and preserve our history for all time. Continued giving to the organization that gives us so much allows Phi Mu and all of as members to make a mark on the world collectively.

What is your favorite Phi Mu tradition?

I always loved the candle lights for lavalieres, pins, and engagements. While serving as Chapter Adviser, I said something one day to the Kappa Chapter President about how much I loved the tradition … and right after I found out I was pregnant, she decided to do one for me! I was the first person to start it, so on the “Going to the Chapel” round, the candle went ALL the way around and when the last person handed it to me, I blew it out and said I’m pregnant with a girl! It was very special and thoughtful.

What is your favorite song on the radio right now?

Body like a Back Road by Sam Hunt

What book is on your summer reading list?

I am not a big reader, but I LOVE movies and just getting out and having fun!

Delicia is married to her husband John and has a daughter Abbey Clare.  They have four dogs – three Weimaraners and one Miniature Schnauzer.  She loves to play tennis, travel and be on the water … and most of her time is spent between family, being a taxi and mom to Abbey Clare, and Phi Mu!

Your contribution to Phi Mu Foundation is helping to shape chapter and campus leaders, and empowering women with the opportunity to pursue a higher education. Take a minute and see how funds from Phi Mu Foundation are making a positive impact on women across the country! 

As members of Phi Mu, each of us has a special place in our hearts for Wesleyan College and the city of Macon, Georgia.

It was home for a brief while to our Founders, Mary Ann DuPont Lines, Mary Myrick Daniel and Martha Hardaway Redding, as they pursued a higher education at the first institution in the world chartered to grant college degrees for women. To just make the trip to Macon from their hometowns must have been an incredible feat itself! Mary Ann had the longest journey to Macon from Florida; it’s assumed her family brought her by covered wagon, taking several weeks to make the trip to Georgia.

We’re incredibly fortunate that within in our organization, many volunteers have dedicated their time to preserving Phi Mu’s rich history, especially Annadell Craig Lamb, ∆A; Mary Jane Bennett Johnson, ΓΔ; and Edith Brady, ΓΓ. Through their efforts, Phi Mu has a well-documented history through two history books, and is preserving relics in the Philomathean Room in the Cannonball House in Macon and the Heritage Museum at Phi Mu National Headquarters in Peachtree City. But … you may not realize that another Phi Mu sister is playing a pretty special role at Wesleyan College right now, helping to preserve their history, and that of the Philomathean and Adelphean Societies.

Meet Wesleyan College Archivist Virginia Blake, Pi.

Upon graduation from the University of Maine, Virginia Blake attended graduate school at the University of South Carolina where she began her studies of Library and Information Science. During her first year at USC, she began a graduate assistantship with the South Carolina Political Collections, which archives materials and oral histories documenting South Carolina government and political activities at the local, state, and national levels, primarily since World War II. This experience piqued Virginia’s interest in archives and historic preservation, and led to her career as the official Archivist of Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia … known fondly to Phi Mus everywhere as the birthplace of the Philomathean Society.

We had the chance to meet with Virginia during a recent visit to Wesleyan, and asked her a few questions about what it’s like to work at a place that’s not only rich in its own history, but also so deeply connected to her Phi Mu sisterhood.

PMF:     Wesleyan College is special to Phi Mu because it is where we were founded over 160 years ago … but why is Wesleyan College special to you, and how has being a Phi Mu influenced the work you do?

VB:         I really love working with the students. Working at an institution that was the very first chartered to award women college degrees is incredible. As I was learning more about the traditions and history here at Wesleyan, it was easy to see why women choose this school. And being a Phi Mu makes this experience even more special, allowing me to understand the importance behind many of Wesleyan’s long-held traditions. Phi Mu certainly plays a part in Wesleyan’s history and I truly feel like it’s something that needs to be preserved and shared.

PMF:     The mission of the Phi Mu Foundation states that historic preservation is one of the key supporting factors in the lifetime development of women. How has the Phi Mu left an impact on Wesleyan College?

VB:         For Phi Mu’s founders to be among those who received degrees here in the 1850s is a big deal! We should absolutely be sharing that information with our members to make sure they understand that not only was Phi Mu founded at Wesleyan, but our Founders were pioneers of their time. We’re constantly having Phi Mu visitors to Wesleyan, and I always like reminding them of that special piece of information.

PMF:     Wesleyan College is an all-women’s college, and is home to the oldest female fraternal organizations. How does the rich history of this campus reflect its current status and traditions?

VB:         Wesleyan is very focused on sisterhood and their traditions are important to them. The women here take classes on sisterhood and spend time studying issues that are impacting females around the world. Although there are no sororities on campus, many traditions that began with the Philomathean and Adelphean Societies (like having big and little sisters) are still relevant to today’s Wesleyan student.

PMF:     What insight would you lend to our members about the value of historical preservation, how keeping our history alive affects our membership and the importance of forming connections between all members?

VB:         I would encourage everyone to spend some time to get to know their own personal history. For Phi Mu sisters, it’s important for us to know where and how our sisterhood started. To think our organization started with just three women on a small college campus in Georgia and now has turned into something that has connected hundreds of thousands of women is fascinating! Passing down our history is a language that translates across many generations; it keeps our values intact, and also reminds us of the many reasons why we joined Phi Mu in the first place.