The Heart of the House

I recently had the privilege of sitting down with our House Mom before she retires. Mom Jodi shared some of her favorite memories about Tri Delta. This room holds a lot of memories. Mom Jodi's door has always been open and she always gives the best advice. She's always ready to hear about what's new in our lives and supports us through every trial and triumph. Mom Jodi has been such a big part of the Delta Iota chapter for the past five years, so I wanted to share some fun memories that she shared with me.

Mom Jodi pledged Tri Delta at the University of Arkansas in August of 1971 when the University of Arkansas campus felt like a small, tight-knit community of 8,000 students. When asked about her favorite memory from her collegiate days, she didn't hesitate. She told me a few stories about how the younger pledge classes would harmlessly prank the older pledge classes throughout the year.

“We would sneak out of the house in the early morning hours, get in cars, drive around the house waking everybody up and making a racket,”

From helping girls navigate the highs and lows of college life, Mom Jodi became a steady anchor in our hardest moments. Relying on her background as a school teacher, she learned how to handle the heavy stuff with grace and care. But the challenges were entirely eclipsed by her favorite part of the job.

“Without a doubt, the girls,” Mom Jodi said. “Just getting to know them has been so fun. I feel like I know people all over the United States now. I’ve gotten so close to so many girls that I think I will always be in touch with.”

If there is one piece of advice Mom Jodi wants to leave with the chapter, it’s her personal motto: Go for the adventure!

“When you’re my age and you look back, you’re not going to remember that you got two extra hours of sleep and skipped that class. Get up and go do something fun. Wait in line for those tickets. Get up early and go on that hike with your friends. That’s what you’ll remember. You won’t remember sleeping in. And as for grades? If you don’t have straight A’s, it isn’t going to kill you,” she teased. “What matters is that you had a great experience.”

Mom Jodi, thank you for looking out for us, listening to us, and teaching us to go for the adventure. We will miss you terribly, but we promise to stay in touch. We love you to the crescent moon and back! Happy retirement!