All Our Triumphs

 Epsilon Gamma-North Georgia alumna Blair Mixon recently had her Southern beauty and charm heralded in the annual posting of the 50 Most Beautiful on Capitol Hill. Hundreds of staffers are nominated based on their stories and personalities as well as their looks, and the final selection is published in the online newsletter The Hill. In an article titled “Grits,” Blair shares how girls raised in the South enjoy the regional delicacy served with bacon and cheese. The humorous article also touches upon Blair’s career from her studies in international relations and French to an internship in Rep. Joe Wilson’s (R-S.C.) office to Rep. Paul Broun’s (R-Ga.) staff and her current position in Rep. Michael Burgess’s (R-Texas) office. To read the article, go to www.thehill.com.

Dr. Jane E. Rovins, Gamma Nu-Miami/Ohio, has been appointed executive director of the new Integrated Research on Disaster Risk program, which is co-sponsored by the International Council for Science, International Social Science Council and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. IRDR is a 10-year international research program located in Beijing, China, at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Center for Earth Observation and Digital Earth. Prior to her appointment, Jane served as associate professor at the American Military University and as a senior planner with a private-sector company providing hazards mitigation and emergency management training. She also worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency on mitigation and responses to events such as Hurricanes Katrina and Ivan. Jane earned a doctorate degree in international development, specializing in disaster management, from the Tulane University Law School in New Orleans. She has lived and worked in West Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.

 Epsilon Alpha Patricia Ruma Spence is the chairman of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh, the major donor society for her alma mater, Missouri University of Science & Technology. New members are asked to “pick up the Shillelagh” to preserve, protect and propel Missouri S&T’s mission of educating students to solve the problems of a technological world. Tricia, who is currently pursuing a doctorate degree at Pennsylvania State University, also serves KD nationally as an alumnae chapter development specialist and locally as a member of the Beta Theta-Penn State chapter advisory board and the Epsilon Alpha chapter capital campaign committee.

Pamela Nix Elms, Sigma Phi-Georgia, was named to the Jacksonville (Fla.) Business Journal’s list of “40 Under 40,” a group recognized for having achieved a high level of responsibility in their careers and in the community. Pamela is the director of marketing for Downtown Vision Inc., where she manages the organization’s initiatives to market the city’s downtown, and a member of Visit Jacksonville’s Multicultural Tourism Committee, PRSA, the Chamber of Commerce, Junior League, the Public Library Foundation and the 2010 Cowford Ball Committee for the American Cancer Society.

Rachel Packer, Eta Lambda-Franklin & Marshall, is a recipient of a Knowles Science Teaching Fellowship that will enable her to pursue a master’s of education and a certification in secondary biology from the University of Maryland/College Park. In addition to providing funding for tuition and materials, Rachel says the Knowles Fellowship has given her a support network of other teachers who are as passionate as she is about the teaching profession, especially in the areas of science and math. For more information, visit www.kstf.org.

Sigma Kappa-Ohio State alumna Alicia Corabi Covert, left, and Shannon Fitzgerald, Epsilon Tau-Clemson/Kappa Alpha-Florida State, work together at the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission in Washington, D.C., where they serve as attorney-advisors to administrative law judges. Among other duties, they perform legal research and writing for cases that arise under the Mine Act. Alicia and Shannon also serve on the Alpha Rho-Maryland chapter advisory board.

Isabel Perry, Beta Phi-West Virginia, is the author of “Make Learning Fun,” a series of workplace safety puzzle books. She also brings her style of learning to groups around the country where she speaks on safety in the home, workplace and on campus and delivers “management nugget” seminars where participants learn interpersonal and work-related skills. For more information, visit www.thesafetydoctor.com.

Pat Winkel McCaleb, Zeta Omega-Memphis, is president of two organizations that raise funds to enrich the local Memphis, Tenn., community through grants and scholarships. The Josephine Circle Inc. endows six scholarships and up to 20 noninterest loans that are given annually to students studying health sciences. The Germantown Arts Alliance provides grants that help to promote, enrich and celebrate the community’s cultural arts environment. Pat previously served as 2009-2010 president of the Germantown Performing Arts Guild that supports the performing arts center by providing housing for visiting artists, receptions for patrons, assistance with children’s education programs and fundraising through the annual gala. Pat is the office administrator at Kappa Delta National Headquarters.