Gamma Pi Lectureship Series

In celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, Dr. Paul Martin honored his wife Dorothy “Dotty” Garrett Martin, Eta-Akron, by establishing the Delta Gamma Lectureships in Values and Ethics. Paul and Dotty’s alma mater and the home of Delta Gamma’s oldest active collegiate chapter, the University of Akron, was the site of the inaugural lectureship. The Dorothy Garrett Martin Challenge was started with three $50,000 grants. Led by Dr. Karla Treckel Mugler, Gamma Epsilon- Kent State, then Executive Director Maggie Hess Watkins, Alpha Xi- West Virginia, Maureen Sweeney Syring, Nu-Idaho and the Martins, they worked together to develop their vision “to establish a venue on college campuses where values and ethics could be discussed in an open format,” into a viable program. The outcome of this was the Dorothy Garrett Martin Lectureship in Values and Ethics that we have today. 

After, a lectureship had been established on nineteen campuses, and one at Convention, growth came to a halt until a Gamma Pi alumna, Debbie Downard, petitioned Executive Offices to reopen the program to allow a lectureship series to begin at Roanoke College. During a Founders' Day celebration in 2015, Debbie announced her founding of this program and, with a generous donation, challenged the chapter to raise a total of $100,000 to begin this series. After just one year, with the help of alumnae and other donors, Gamma Pi has met this goal. 

Always free of charge to collegians, university volunteers and employees, as well as invited individuals, this unique program is a source of greatpride to the Delta Gamma Foundation in reinforcing its mission: The Delta Gamma Foundation fosters lifetime enrichment for members, promotes Service for Sight, and partners with the Fraternity to ensure the future of our sisterhood. Gamma Pi is excited to bring speakers to the Roanoke community to continue this mission and hopes to continue to raise funds to bring these speakers to the area.