Empowering Alpha Gams to Impact the World

Empower, Alpha Gam’s premier leadership program, shapes the way our leaders impact the world. Designed to provide a path for personal, professional and leadership growth, Empower brings members across North America together for a transformative experience, building confidence and connections while strengthening affinity to the Fraternity.

From January to May, selected collegiate participants gather in small virtual cohorts to explore the Five Practices of Exemplary Leaders. Each month they focus on a new practice, discussing opportunities to use t--heir new skills as leaders in their chapter and community.

With the intention to support sisters in all stages of membership, Empower also provides meaningful opportunities for alumnae. Each cohort is led by an alumna facilitator who shares how the leadership practices appear in their careers and personal lives. Serving as a facilitator provides alumnae a full-circle experience where they can reconnect with Alpha Gam and strengthen their facilitation and mentorship skills.

“For me, being a collegiate advisor and now moving to the Volunteer Service Team, I see Empower as a way to keep a connection with the current generation of college students and learn different perspectives. I can really be a part of somebody's true journey in watching them grow and evolve,” said Molly Rattagan, Delta Rho-Sonoma State University and Advisor Support Committee Chair.

Empower Institute

Each year, the program concludes with the Empower Institute, an inperson experience where participants and facilitators come together to connect, celebrate and apply what they’ve learned in a capstone activity. Using the exemplary leadership practices, each participant develops an action plan for a real leadership project they will implement after the program.

This year’s projects ranged from improving chapter operations through recruitment to programming and recognition efforts directed toward community-oriented initiatives. Notable projects include partnering with community stakeholders to donate books to a local elementary school and enlisting partners to host a Mental Health Awareness Week on campus.

Recent Empower participant Jazlyn Cantu, Kappa Epsilon-Texas State University said she experienced self-doubt when she first became a leader and didn’t feel as though she could speak her mind. “Through Empower, I’ve built confidence in myself. I now know that I wouldn't have been chosen to be a leader if I didn't have the ability to lead,” Jazlyn said. “I've also been able to learn how to start speaking my mind, challenging the process and bringing different ideas to light.”

This year, 70 participants attended the Empower Institute from May 16-18, 2025, hosted at the Beta Delta Chapter House in Bloomington, Indiana. The weekend featured team-building activities, a keynote by Dr. Daryl Appleton, Gamma Zeta-University of Memphis, on the power of delegation, and even a trivia night. Inspired by the keynote, participants reflected on how they can apply delegation practices in their lives to lead successfully and maintain a balanced well-being.

Reinvesting In Members

Empower provides a unique and lasting ripple effect in Alpha Gamma Delta and our communities. Graduates of the program have gone on to serve as Fraternity staff, Leadership Consultants, advisors, Foundation donors and members of the Volunteer Service Team.

“I believe overall, the Empower program shaped my leadership by allowing me to challenge myself and understand different leadership perspectives,” said Annie Winkler, Zeta Pi-St. Joseph’s University. Annie participated in Empower in 2022-2023, is a former Leadership Consultant, a Recruitment Specialist and a member of the VST.

“It is imperative to understand how different leadership approaches and philosophies may interact with one another, and how to grow to lead with empathy and care,” Annie said. “I could not recommend this program enough, and I hope all Alpha Gams are inspired to grow in their leadership skills.”

To further develop our leaders, Empower introduced the Peer Mentor program in its second year, where former participants are selected to return as co-facilitators alongside alumnae. Peer Mentors lead small group discussions, collaborate with staff and bring their unique experience as student leaders to support their peers.

Riya Dama, Tau-University of Toronto, said the most meaningful part of being a Peer Mentor was to give back to the organization she has belonged to for so long. “I've learned a lot of skills from Alpha Gam and Empower. It's great to apply those into this program as a Peer Mentor,” Riya said.

Join us!

Are you ready to grow as a leader or reinvest in those who are? Applications for the 2025-26 Empower program opened August 1 and close September 30.

Join us in the new year to grow Alpha Gam’s future leaders! Nominate a sister or submit your application to participate at alphagammadelta.org/empower/.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE ALPHA GAMMA DELTA FOUNDATION AND ITS GENEROUS DONORS WHO PROUDLY SUPPORT FRATERNITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS LIKE EMPOWER.