Q&A with Sherri Bolen and Brooke Wilson

Theta Chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Today’s interview is with Sherri (White) Bolen, alumna of the Theta Chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Since installing the Delta Omicron Chapter at Eastern Illinois University in 1985, Sherri has spent much of the last 30 years serving the Theta Chapter as a volunteer, CKA and housing corporation member. Sherri is joined by Brooke Wilson, alumna and former vice archon of the Theta Chapter.

Sherri, you’ve been an advisor since the 1980s. Why did you decide to start?

SB: One of the reasons I chose to give back is that I was fortunate to have some incredible role models of leadership in my Theta Chapter sisters, specifically Pam Downey [Grand Archon, 2009–2011], Jennifer Gentry and Mary Mirabelli. Their commitment to giving back after graduation really set the standard for me.

Throughout these interviews, a common theme has been that people were inspired to be an advisor because of someone who inspired them as an advisor, which is really nice to hear. Sherri, are you still working with the Theta Chapter?

SB: I installed the new chapter in 2013, and I was advisor for seven years. Right now, I’m on their advisory board. We have a new chapter key advisor this year, Sara Deskins, and I'm working closely with her to make her feel comfortable in her role.

Brooke, can you tell me a little bit about why you decided to join Phi Sigma Sigma? Did you hold any leadership roles in the chapter?

BW: I went through formal recruitment. I always knew that being a part of Greek life was something that I wanted to do; it was just a matter of picking which one. And recruitment at Phi Sig’s Theta Chapter was just exceptional. There's a warmth in the room that you can't really put a finger on, and I picked up on that immediately. I knew pretty early in the recruitment process that Phi Sig was where I wanted to land, and I'm really glad I did. 

I held a few roles during my time as a collegian. I was vice archon, environmental chair and, I think, the alumnae homecoming chair.

Can you tell us a bit about how you met and worked with Sherri?

BW: I don't even remember meeting Sherri. Sherri was just so integrated into the executive board when she was CKA. She’s famous. Everybody knows who Sherri is. She advised our executive board very well. I think the first one-on-one interaction I had with Sherri was probably when I was vice archon, but everyone in Theta knows who Sherri is.

Sherri Bolen was chapter advisor while I was archon of Theta Chapter in 1990. She was always positive, supportive and full of energy. She provided guidance in such a kind manner and, honestly, I relied on her so much. We had to prepare for a visit by the Grand Archon and Sherri helped ease our collective anxiety over the occasion. The event was well organized and turned out great. We couldn’t have accomplished that without her. She always made sure she was visible and present as an advisor even though she had a busy life herself. Her presence during this time was invaluable to me and to our chapter. —Resmi (Jacob) Schrieber

Sherri, is there anything you'd like to share from when Brooke was on the e-board?

SB: We went through a bit of a tough time with scholarship. During that time, many members weren't taking scholarship seriously. We put our heads together and decided to put scholarship on e-board as a visual to all the members that scholarship is indeed important to e-board as well as to the entire membership. And it worked. As a matter of fact, the following year, our scholarship soared as a chapter. 

BW: That was one of the reasons why we were so lucky to have Sherri — it never even occurred to me as vice archon that I could change the makeup of the executive board. Sherri taught us it was possible and the process we needed to follow to make it happen. It’s so helpful just having an advisor to pitch ideas and think of things that we didn't even know were an option. 

SB: We ended up changing the constitution to add scholarship to the executive board.

Sherri, is there an accomplishment during your time as an advisor that you're particularly proud of?

SB: One of the things I'm particularly proud of is that after we restarted the Theta Chapter in 2013, we have taken quota plus for each recruitment.

That’s amazing. Why do you think that is?

SB: To go back to what Brooke said earlier about the recruitment at Theta Chapter, there is a warmth about it. Women come in not as numbers, but as personalities and friends and women that we want to get to know. Through our recruitment process, I think women feel comfortable with the chapter, and we take pride in that. It's not just a hurried, rushed process. It's friendly. It's warm. It's inviting.

How have you both stayed connected post college? Brooke, are you still involved in Phi Sigma Sigma or with the Theta Chapter?

BW: I'm on the housing board now, and Sherri still gives us advice and makes sure that we have a semblance of what the energy in the house is and what members want, which is super helpful for us. We're so lucky to have her support because I live in Chicago, so I can't be in Champaign knowing what the members want or need.

Sherri Bolen was the CKA during my time with Theta Chapter. I moved into the house as a second semester freshman and quickly got to know the girls in the house, along with Sherri. I served on e-council as the one in charge of formals and semi-formals. After I served on e-council, I knew I wanted to continue and serve the chapter as membership recruitment chair. Sherri was a fabulous leader, mentor and cheerleader of mine as I served two terms on the executive board as MRC. She was constantly checking in with my team and me, and helping us every step of the way. She was always complimenting us and showing appreciation for our work and dedication to the chapter. She was a fabulous problem solver and always had advice on how to tackle any bump in the road as we were working through the long nights during recruitment season. Aside from our relationship on the executive board together, Sherri was a great mentor in my professional field as a fellow teacher. Sherri was always invested in my educational path to become a teacher and always wanted to know about my classes and school experience. I always felt she wanted to know me better, and support me along the way. Theta Chapter has always been so lucky to have a helping hand so close to the house that is always available in times of need or celebration. Thank you, Sherri, for all of your love and dedication to us! LITP —Sydney Lehmann

Sherri, you've been involved with the Theta Chapter and Phi Sigma Sigma for 30 years. What keeps you coming back? Do you have any advice for the members who are reading this who want to get involved and find different ways to get involved?

SB: Becoming an advisor is a rewarding way to transition from the college years into a lifetime of sisterhood. So much of the advisory and support work can be handled remotely, making it even easier to give back.

Helping to develop the next generation of Phi Sigma Sigma leaders gives true meaning to our motto, “Once, Always.”

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Interested in learning more about available volunteer opportunities? Please email us at volunteer@phisigmasigma.org.

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Brooke, now that you’re a few years out of school, have you found that your time as a Phi Sigma Sigma collegian has helped you professionally?

BW: Looking back on it, it's really interesting because sisterhood is obviously something that's very important to me. I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of, but I did not realize how being on e-board would give me very practical life skills. 

Sherri helped me manage people for the first time in Theta Chapter. That's something that at 19 years old, a lot of people can't say that they did. I learned how to redline a contract — something that a lot of people don't learn until they're much older. It's surprising how often things like that come up where it's clear that helpful professionally to get those skills early and be able to practice. 

Now I work in incident management and crisis management. Obviously the crises are different when you're in a sorority, but there's a lot of people management and things like that, that Sherri really held my hand and helped me navigate for the first time, which was great.

Is there anything either of you would like to mention that we didn’t already cover?

SB: I really wanted to highlight that helping to develop the next generation of Phi Sig leaders gives true meaning to “Once, Always.” 

“Once” is your collegiate years and “Always” is your lifetime of sisterhood.

BW: When I look back on my time as a collegian, I just remember how much fun we had. Yes, the work is very serious and very important, but we just had so much fun together. When you spend that much time together, thank goodness we all got to be friends. We just laughed so much together. You have to go into it with a light heart; you can't constantly worry about everything. I think we kept that balance very well, and I remember it fondly.

SB: It's so interesting, Brooke, because I've worked with a lot of collegians over the years and those words are what they say, too — "I look back, and I just see all the fun we had together.” I think that's what makes a sisterhood. It's the fun that you're having and the relationships that you're making.