Meet Lori Cox and Mallory Meissner, conference assistants for the 2011 Mortar Board National Conference

Lori Cox graduated with a bachelor’s in business management from Texas Wesleyan University in 2011. She served as president of the Quadrangle chapter during the 2010-2011 academic year.

Home: Paradise, Texas

Mortar Board chapter: Quadrangle chapter

Favorite Mortar Board moment: Tapping our advisor Dr. Moore as an honorary Mortar Board member. She was so surprised and happy. We all cried many happy tears that day!

Most recent achievement: Graduating!

What you have done, would like to do, or already do that no one but you knows about: I would like to start a corporation that provides employment and housing opportunities for the homeless, battered women and people with disabilities.

Hobby: Sailing, deep sea fishing and interior decorating

Last book(s) read: Marketing: Planning & Strategy by Subhash C. Jain

Most-used web site(s): Simpletruths.com and Google.com

Five adjectives that describe you: Encouraging, funny, cooperative, thoughtful and optimistic

How your college experience changed your life: My college experience has given me a new level of confidence in myself.

Advice you would give to new chapter leaders: I first would like the chapter leaders to know that organizing meetings and events, or at least having a tentative schedule, is very important.  Participation is key to a successful chapter and it involves all members taking part in the activities. Find ways to establish relationships with members. Establish committees--creative ideas come from here! Delegate tasks to keep cohesiveness among the chapter. You can get so much more accomplished with a lot of people involved as opposed to a select few in the chapter doing all of the work. Best of all have fun through it all!

Mallory Meissner graduated with a bachelor’s in finance and dance from the University of Alabama in 2011. She is currently an MBA student at the university.

Home: Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Mortar Board chapter: Hypatia chapter

Favorite Mortar Board moment: Being chosen to serve my chapter as vice president and being selected to serve Mortar Board as conference assistant for the 2011 Mortar Board National Conference.

Major student activities: The Blackburn Institute; The XXXI Women’s Honorary; The Anderson Society; Blue Key; Crimsonette: University of Alabama Million Dollar Band; and Pi Beta Phi Sorority

Most recent achievement: Interning for the city of Tuscaloosa’s planning and development department, where I assist in the recovery from the tornado of April 27.

What you have done, would like to do, or already do that no one but you knows about: Establish a non-profit for arts or health education programs

Hobby: Dance, baton twirling and baking

Last book(s) read: Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift

Most-used web site(s): Google.com

Five adjectives that describe you: Strategic, dedicated, analytical, activating and determined

How your college experience changed your life: My college experience helped me discover what I am passionate about where I want to be in the future,

Advice you would give to new chapter leaders: Capitalize on this amazing opportunity. Mortar Board affords its members many opportunities to excel within scholarship, service and leadership. As a chapter leader, hone in on these individual pillars of the organization and promote them within your local college and community. For scholarship, award excellence and encourage others to succeed. For leadership, strive to be the best leader you can be whether as a chapter officer or a distinguished active member of Mortar Board. For service, decide on one theme for the year and work diligently to make a difference. There is so much that a Mortar Board chapter can achieve within their year of active membership. Take advantage of this opportunity and make Mortar Board the catalyst to your future successes.