Chicago, Ill., June 22, 2016 – Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc. has appointed three new members to the National Board of Directors (NBOD) this month. These three new members will serve as the Recording Secretary, Director of Alumnae Affairs, and Programming Director.
Joining the NBOD are Valerie Vargas of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Lambda Chapter, Jennifer Baquedano of Northern Illinois University, Theta Chapter and member of Phi Delta Alumnae Chapter, and Maria Amador of DePaul University, Epsilon Chapter and member of Phi Alpha Alumnae Chapter. “I am ecstatic for these ladies to join us for this fiscal year, I know they are going to contribute greatly and have already shared wonderful ideas” states Irma Amparo Ortiz, National President.
Valerie Vargas, the new Recording Secretary, served on the NBOD as the Membership Intake Director for the 2014-2016 term. As Recording Secretary, her goals include making pertinent information readily available to the body with our new website, as well as create systems to support absentee voting and national bylaw proposals.
Jennifer Baquedano is currently a Birth-Three Program Monitor for the State of Illinois at Erikson Institute, and also serves as Sisterhood Chair for Phi Delta Alumnae Chapter. As Director of Alumnae Affairs, she plans to support all existing entities in their development, as well as form networking events to allow connections between alumni and current undergraduates.
Maria Amador is currently an Assistant Principal at William H. Taft High School and served on the NBOD as Alumnae Director for the 2001-2002 term. As Programming Director, she anticipates to strengthen and improve the programs that we provide for undergraduate and alumnae sisters and work closely with National Event Chairwomen.
With three new board members, the National Board of Directors is now comprised of twelve women. The 2016 National Board of Directors is listed below:
Irma Amparo Ortiz, National President
Andrea Elizabeth Keller, Vice President
Laura Soria, Financial Director
Valerie Vargas, Recording Secretary
Cynthia Gonzalez, Marketing Director
Jennifer Baquedano, Director of Alumnae Affairs
Jeanette Bonilla, Membership Intake Director
Kathy Portillo, Academic Director
Maria Amador, Program Director
Tania Figueroa, Philanthropic Director
Priscilla Marrero, Expansion Director
Reina Salcedo, Director of Undergraduate Affairs
About Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc.
Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc. (Gamma Phi Omega) is a Latina-oriented organization founded on the campus of Indiana University April 17, 1991. Gamma Phi Omega strives to unite sisters in the principles of achieving academic excellence, serving the communities in which we live and learn, preserving the sacred bond of sisterhood among women, and uplifting and advancing a cultural awareness among Latinos and those in our global communities. Gamma Phi Omega is committed to the values of diversity and inclusion in order to attain and maintain excellence within our sisterhood providing women an equal opportunity without regard to race, age, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status or disability. Gamma Phi Omega is a proud member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations.
