Official Kappa Lambda Xi

We are an organization of ethnically, racially, economically, religiously and professionally diverse women. We strive to improve the quality of life for collegiate women and the community by recognizing each woman's unique qualities and by building upon them, which is why our motto is "Unity in Diversity."

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Happy International Women's Day! As the world celebrates women, we would like to celebrate one of ours!

Let us introduce you to Jessica Pickens. She is currently an Alpha Chapter member at the University of Maryland. She crossed into our sisterhood Spring 2014.

"I joined KLXi because I felt that the women in KLXi were really interested in getting to know me. Each person I met in KLXi while rushing was very unique and different and that was ideal for me because I knew that there was so much I could learn from such a diverse group of women. I also joined because I felt that what made me unique would be welcomed and embraced by the sisters of Kappa Lambda Xi.

I am psychology major in my junior year, here at the University of Maryland. I currently work as a research assistant at the Center for Addictions, Personality, and Emotion Research. I am also a research assistant for students in the Counseling Psychology PhD program, here at the University of Maryland. I am really passionate about issues surrounding women and their rights. I am especially interested  in issues concerning violence against women, so I currently volunteer at a Family Crisis Center, which provides services like counseling and housing for survivors of domestic violence and their children. After completing undergrad I hope to enter graduate school and pursue a career in clinical social work. 

I enjoy being outdoors, reading, traveling, playing the violin, and exotic foods and music. I am an only child, my favorite animal is an elephant, and my favorite colors are blue and green."

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This Sunday we'd like to introduce to you to Michelle! She's one of the ladies who founded our sorority on October 7th, 2003.

"Hey ladies! You may know me as Michelle Gill but I am now Michelle Spence. I got married in September 2013 to a wonderful man name Weymouth (Wey). Since then I have received a Masters degree in Health Administration and will be completing my MBA this Spring. I am the Practice Administrator for Bayside Pediatrics in Annapolis, MD. For fun, I like to travel, take photos and dance like nobody's watching. I miss playing basketball and wish I had a pet because I love animals. 

My crossing name is TwiX "because it's all in the mix." I am Indian and Peruvian, so I am a big fan of our motto, "Unity and Diversity." I have served on the KLXi exec board from 2003-2013, which does not make me old just seasoned. I am honored to be a founding mother of Kappa Lambda Xi and hope to meet every single sister one day!"

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We're really enjoying sharing our sisters with you and we hope that you're enjoying getting to know us. Today, we'd like to introduce you to Jenna. She's an Alumna of our Alpha Chapter. She crossed Fall 2010.

"KLXi came into my life at the perfect time. I was a sophomore & had had a difficult freshman year with few friends. I felt I was just one in a school of thousands & even though there were so many people there, I didn't belong. 

Like a lot of the girls in KLXi, I had never intended on joining a sorority. My limited knowledge of what a sorority was came from the media's portrayal: white, cookie cutter, conventionally beautiful women who wore letters & acted inclusive. I discovered I was hugely misinformed when I wandered around a "Meet the Greeks" event, looking for a service fraternity. A lovely woman from the KLXi table saw my lost & overwhelmed look, called me over & answered all my questions. I instantly fell in love with everything about KLXi & called my mom telling her how excited I was & how I wanted to be a part of this amazing organization. Eventually I would & that wonderful woman who helped me would become my big. 

I love KLXi because there isn't a typical member. We are multicultural & we mean multicultural. I have established lifelong friendships with a diverse group of woman. Besides the cultural diversity, personalities range as well. No two KLXi women are alike. 

KLXi has really shaped my college experience. I was able to be active in our philanthropy, juvenile autism, which was a significant draw to the sorority, as volunteer work is important to me. Outside of KLXi, I volunteered at a local animal shelter throughout my college career. I also took service trips to Native American reservations.

I graduated the University of Maryland with a BS in Geographical sciences & a minor in US Latin American Relations. Currently I am serving with Americorps at an amazing organization called LIFT.

I can't wait to see what the future holds, but I know it will always have KLXi & my amazing sisters in it!

I hope to watch this organization continue to grow & leave its mark on more & more amazing women."

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We hope that you're enjoying the beginning of your year! We would like to introduce you to Diana. She crossed Spring of 2012.

"Hello! My name is Diana Kim. I crossed into Kappa Lambda Xi in Spring 2012. Since I have joined, I have held positions as social chair, fundraising chair, and new member educator. I am currently holding a position as President on the Multicultural Greek Council executive board. I joined this organization because of the diversity - everyone was from a different and unique walk of life that I could learn from. I have gained some of my best friends from this organization. I am excited to see Kappa Lambda Xi's growth in years to come!"

She also wants to add that " I love tattoos, reality television, and jelly beans."

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We took a little bit of break last weekend so that everyone could focus on their families. We hope you had a lovely holiday season and we're wishing you the best in 2015!

On this Sunday, we'd like to introduce you to Jess. She crossed in the Alpha Chapter Rho line of the Spring 2013 semester.

"Hey! My name is Jess and I'm a senior architecture major. Even though I have realized that I do not want to become an architect, after I get my degree I do plan on staying in the design field. I'm really good at whistling, not athletic at all, and am allergic to almost everything outdoors. I enjoy Tim Burton movies and musicals, binge-watching TV series on Netflix, travel, nail art, and baked goods (baking them, but specifically consuming them). I've never been the type of person to fit in a stereotypical box, and neither are the ladies of Kappa Lambda Xi. I have met some amazing, intelligent, caring, beautiful, hilarious, and quirky women in KLXi who I have made lifelong bonds with. The experience that I have had in KLXi has caused me to grow so much and I truly believe that I am now a better person."

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As our Jewish sisters celebrate Chanukah and our Christian (and their different denominations) prepare to celebrate Christmas, we'd like to celebrate one of our sisters. 

We'd like to introduce you to Lily. She crossed into the Alpha Chapter with the Delta line.

"In 2005, I met a group of girls that I really liked and bonded closely with many of them.  Since then, I have had the opportunity to meet new girls and become a big and then grand-big and now I don't even know how many times "grand-big" to some amazing ladies.  Even though my life has taken me away from Maryland to graduate school in Ohio and now life in Illinois.  I have remained really close with my sisters.  It's this bond that I was attracted to back in 2005.

I am all over the place with the obsession.  One day it is fashion and beauty products, which lead me to far too many subscription boxes.  Then I wanted to learn about the latest gadgets so subscription to various magazines and reading blogs.  However, I have remained faithful to my love of food and travel.  Thankfully I have friends, especially KLXi sisters, who share the same passion. As is evident in our Instagram feeds, so many pictures of food! The only downside to travel is having to leave at home my dog Cam. Yes I am a dog person and not only because I am allergic to cats."

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It's a chilly December Sunday in Maryland and we'd like to introduce you to Sara. She's a current Alpha Chapter member who crossed into our sisterhood Spring 2014 with the Tau line.

"Hi! I'm Sara and I'm a current active member of Alpha chapter. I'm a junior middle school math and science education major and hope to teach or work with kids in some capacity upon graduation.  I joined KLXi with the hopes of making friends and really immersing myself in the diversity that UMD offers.  For fun I love to crochet, bake and play softball or swim!  I also love to travel and seeing all 50 states is on my bucket list (I've been in 19 so far!).  Oh, and I LOVE BALTIMORE SPORTS!"

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It's Sunday and we'd like to introduce you to Devon-Elizabeth Snodgrass. She crossed into the Alpha Chapter of KLXi in the Fall of 2009 and is part of the Kappa Line.

Get to know Devon-Elizabeth:

"Since graduating in 2011, with a BA in Government and Politics, I’ve had the opportunity to travel and further my education. I recently returned from getting my Master’s in London. I received so much support and communication from my sister’s while abroad and just having that extended KLXi family thinking about me and sending little care packages was tremendous. The generosity and commitment of KLXi sister’s is one of the things I am most proud of.

A bit about me, I love hats and fascinators and therefore have my own milliner to call upon whenever I need a Downton Abbey recreation. I also am slightly obsessed with the British Isles although my attentions have migrated away from the English and further north to the Scottish Highlands. I’ve been to Scotland four times now but can’t wait for trip number 5! I knit and cross-stitch and hope to one day conquer all domestic skill sets, you know like how to sew on a button.  I’ve had a pet cockatiel named Paris, after the city not the person, for 12 years. She’s got incredible personality for someone so small and a temper to boot."

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Another Sunday, Another Sister! We'd like to introduce you to our Sister Katie Chen. She crossed into our Sisterhood with the Xi line during the Fall 2011 Semester.

"Hi! My name is Katie Chen. I love baking, crafting, going on adventures, hiking, dancing, reading, meeting new people, doing new things, and watching everything on Netflix. My goal next year is to travel to a new place in the United States each month and I would like to adopt a German Shepherd in the distant future. My favorite movies are the Lord of the Rings and my dream travel adventure is to New Zealand!"

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Every Sunday, we're hoping to introduce to you to one of our Sisters! This Sunday we'll start with Anne:

Anne crossed into our Sisterhood with the Gamma line during the Spring of 2005. Anne is an operating room nurse living in Milwaukee, WI. She was born and raised in Milwaukee and decided to go to UMD for its strong Government & Politics program. After graduating in 2008 she moved to Sydney, Australia where she lived for 3 years with her now husband, Tom. She started nursing school there but ended up moving back to Wisconsin to complete her degree. She lives with her husband, two crazy cats, two adorable bunnies, and a rotating assortment of foster animals! In her spare time she enjoys reading comics, cross stitching, and watching sci-fi tv and movies.

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Congratulations to the newest additions to the Kappa Lambda Xi sisterhood! We can't wait to create wonderful memories and lasting relationships.