Meet the 2014-2015 Aretias Executive Board

Raquel Valls, Haumea-Aretias

Aretias Director

aretiasdirector@gmail.com

Raquel Kristina Valls became a sister in Fall 2003 while attending the University of Central Florida, where she later graduated with a degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice. Raquel held various positions on the chapter  and district level. In November of 2006 Raquel joined the National Governing Council as the National Officer of Expansion, a position she would hold for five years, followed by two years as the National Officer of Membership. Most recently, she completed a term as the Assistant Director to District VII. Raquel was a member of the Hi’aika Step & Stroll team for several years and has guided five lines of prospective members to become sisters. She has served on various committees for hosting Conventions, reevaluating the constitution, revamping membership,  and hosting the 30th STAR Formal. She has served as a representative for the National Multicultural Greek Council and has served on the NMGC Membership Committee since 2011. Raquel was recognized as Supernova of the Year in 2007 and was awarded the Aretias Scholarship in 2011.

In December of 2013, Raquel completed the Master of Social Work program at Florida International University. She has dedicated the last 9 years to social service, working with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, the homeless and the mentally ill. In 2012, she launched a baking and decorating business that allows her to express her creativity and passions in a whole different way. Above all, she is a proud mother to an energetic and charismatic three year old who continues to remind her how beautiful both life and motherhood are day after day.

Audie Torres, Genesis-Aretias

Aretias Assistant Director

aretiasasstdirector@gmail.com

Audie R. Torres is a founding sister (Fall 2003) of the Genesis Chapter at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU). She graduated from KU in 2005 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. In August of 2013 she obtained her M.S. in School Business Leadership from Wilkes University. She has worked in higher education as Assistant Director of Multicultural Services, then moved on to become an Account Analyst for the Grants Office at a school district which she was fiscally responsible for local/state/federal funds . She is currently the Supervisor of Child Accounting at the same school district, where she is responsible for the registration, attendance and reporting of approximately 14,000 students and reconciles invoices for approximate 2,000 students in charter schools.

During her undergrad years Audie held various executive board positions as a sister of MSU such as treasurer, community service chair and Unite Greek Council representative.  As an alumna she served District III (Pennsylvania) in various roles; Assistant Director, Director, Treasurer, Interim Secretary, Assistant District Officer of Membership, District Officer of Membership and helped expand MSU in Pennsylvania. She last served as the Officer of Risk Management for the 2011-2013 National Governing Council and is excited to take up the new challenge of being the Assistant Director of the Aretias Chapter.  Mu Sigma Upsilon has allowed her to combine her passion for multiculturalism and education, to serve her community and become a mentor.

Carolina Velasquez, Aretias

Aretias Secretary

aretiassecretary@gmail.com

Carolina P. Velasquez became a sister of the Aretias Chapter in Spring of 2008, while attending Lehigh University as a graduate student.  She attained her BA in Sociology, with minors in Women's Studies and Criminal Justice.  Over the past six years, she has provided continuous support to District III (Pennsylvania), was a Big for Lazuline, Assistant Officer of Membership for Aretias and NGC Officer of Community Affairs. In the last year, she was Officer of Membership for Aretias and a Big for the reviving line of Dhyani.

Outside of the Mu world, Carolina works as a Parents As Teachers Educator and a part-time Therapeutic Staff Support for children within the Autism spectrum. When she is not working, Carolina enjoys traveling, baking, and spending time with her family and friends, most especially with her Godson Johan.

Olivia Rodriguez, Siksika- Aretias

Aretias Treasurer

aretiastreasurer@gmail.com

Olivia Rodriguez Tsampis became a sister in Spring 2001 at the Siksika Chapter of William Paterson University. She has held executive board positions at every level (from Chapter President, to Alumnae President and Vice-President, District Director, NGC Vice-President, NGC Community Affairs, NGC Officer of Retention, and finished her term as NGC President in 2013.)  Olivia served on committees to host the MSU banquet from 2002 to 2007 and Conventions from 2005 to 2008. She has been highly involved with membership as Officer of Membership eight times (four times for Siksika, three times for Xurima and once for Bodhati), Assistant Officer of Membership (first Aretias line and twice for Siksika) and a Big sister three times (Emeritus, Mosaic and Aretias). Olivia has also served multiple terms as Alumnae Advisor for Siksika and Xurima and was a proud member of the National Step Team from 2002-2005.

Olivia has always been very involved with community services ranging from awareness walks to Special Olympics events and contributing at the Hillside Food Bank. She also donates generously towards several charities.   Her service contributions earned her the first Individual Sister Community Service Award in 2003. She has also been recognized as Alumna of the Year in 2003, was awarded the Graduate Scholarship in 2007 and was President of her chapter the year Siksika was awarded Chapter of the Year.

Away from MSU, Olivia is a high school math teacher and an adjunct professor at a community college. Education is very important to her as she loves to guide the youths of today to pursue a great career in the future. Olivia also has an eight-year-old son, Diego, a two year-old daughter, Ysabel, a loving and supportive husband, Ioannis and a precious dog, Snoopy.

Tanairi Lozada, Nysa-Aretias

Aretias Officer of Membership

aretiasmembership@gmail.com

A freshman in college, Tanairi Lozada experienced various racial prejudices in Fall 2003. As much as she wanted to leave, she was urged by school administration to find something that would forever make a difference in Oneonta and leave it's mark of diversity. In the Spring of 2005, Tanairi Lozada became a founding sister (#2) of the Nysa Chapter at the State University of New York, College at Oneonta in Central New York. Finding and joining MSU solidified her ideas and passion for the sisterhood. Since becoming a sister, Tanairi has consistently held positions at the undergraduate level, on boards and committees that have helped guide our organization towards improvement. Now taking on the role of Aretias Officer of Membership, Tanairi hopes to bring her expertise in recruitment, membership and expansion to assist the chapter and it's members.

Professionally, Tanairi has a diverse background in media, social work, and fundraising. Recently she has taken a new journey as a Flight Attendant.

Cynthia Rodriguez, Haumea-Aretias

Assistant Officer of Membership

aretiasasstmembership@gmail.com

Cynthia Rodriguez became a founding sister of the Haumea Chapter in Spring 2003. She was an active undergrad and helped establish the original Hi'iaka Step Team. She held position as Social Chair, Public Relations, Office of Membership (Uli’anana line) and Alumni Advisor at the Haumea Chapter. As an alumnae she was District VII Officer of Membership in 2006-07, Assistant Officer of Membership for the Yazi Chapter founding line, Officer of Membership for the Cheveyo Chapter founding line and Officer of Membership for the Itawa line of the Kimimela Chapter. One of her greatest accomplishments as a sister is creating the original Greek Seasons event at the Haumea Chapter in 2005.

In May 2013, she graduated with her Master of Social Work degree from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in New York. She is currently a college advocate and community organizer, focusing mainly on city and state level policy around social justice.

Melany Cruz Rodriguez, Jhansi-Aretias

Aretias Historian

aretiashistorian@gmail.com

Melany Cruz Rodriguez became a sister Spring 2013 as part of the Zenobia revival line of the Jhansi Chapter at The Pennsylvania State University, main campus. Earning multiple bachelor degrees from Penn State ranging from Business to Agriculture, Melany graduated May 2014. Although a sister only for a short period of time, Melany has served as Chapter Vice President and outside-chapter roles such as Expansion Officer for two Midwest schools, District retreat planning committee member (Fall 2013), and now is taking on the position of Aretias Historian. Currently she is a Supply Chain Associate for Dow AgroSciences in Indianapolis, IN. One of her favorite aspects of MSU has been the opportunity she has been granted to gain unlimited MSU knowledge from sisters near and far. Melany hopes to continue learning from sisters all the while exploring herself as a leader within our organizations for the years to come.