Ann Drake, Beta Omicron/Iowa, has a vision for women’s leadership that extends beyond any one profession. Through scholarships and her commitment to bringing women together, Ann has created opportunities not only for education, but also for connection.
In 2021, I became part of that vision when I received an Ann Drake Scholarship through Theta Foundation as I returned to school to pursue a law degree. I knew the scholarship would help ease the financial burden of continuing my education. What I did not know was that it would introduce me to another form of sisterhood.
The Drake Scholar community brings together women supported through several scholarship programs, including those associated with AWESOME (Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management, and Education); Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management; and Theta Foundation. While many of Ann’s initiatives reflect her career in supply chain and business leadership, this community connects women across professions, experiences, and aspirations.
Those differences are part of the community’s strength. My path toward education law looked different from that of many fellow scholars. Yet, I have come to look forward to conversations with women outside my profession whose experiences offer new ways of thinking about leadership and purpose. Seeing familiar faces after a year apart and still feeling that connection is part of what makes these gatherings meaningful.
My first Drake Scholar retreat was in Chicago in 2023. This year, I attended my third, held at the Women’s Leadership Center at Williams Bay, WI. Founded by Ann, the Center dedicated its new campus in July 2026 as a place where women leaders can come together to generate ideas and help shape a better future. The setting is itself an expression of her vision. Designed by Jeanne Gang and her firm, Studio Gang, the campus draws on its wooded surroundings overlooking Geneva Lake. Its three buildings accommodate different kinds of gathering, with spaces for collaboration, conversation, reflection, and time in nature. The design gives physical form to Ann’s belief in the possibilities that emerge when women have a place to think and create together.
At last year’s retreat, I was asked to speak about my “why.” I spoke about sisterhood, both in Theta and in this community. I also spoke about my father: His last question to me before he passed away in 2010 was, What is your passion? Knowing what I am passionate about has brought me far and continues to guide my progress. This year’s retreat helped me feel more confident that my path does not need to be straightforward to be meaningful.
One conversation that particularly resonated with me centered on defining success for ourselves. Rather than relying on titles or external validation, we can set goals around what we want to learn, how we want to grow, and where we hope to contribute. That perspective creates room to recognize an unmet need, take a chance on an opportunity, or discover a new direction.
Ann demonstrates that willingness on a much larger scale. What inspires me about her is not only her generosity, but also her entrepreneurial approach to creating the world she believes is needed. She identifies opportunities to support women and then builds something around them (i.e., a scholarship, a network, or a place to gather).
When she spoke during the retreat, Ann acknowledged the progress women have made while reminding us that there is still much to do. She shared her commitment to contributing in the ways she can and challenged us to consider how we will contribute too. For me, one response begins with relationships. I left the retreat recommitted to reaching out to people from different parts of my life and tending to the networks that have supported me. Those connections are not simply resources to call upon when we need something. They are relationships that deserve our attention, encouragement, and participation.
As a scholarship recipient, Theta Foundation donor, and facilitator for Theta Foundation programming, I have experienced several sides of that commitment. Supporting Theta Foundation is one way to help members pursue their education, develop as leaders, and contribute to something larger than themselves. Ann’s example shows how far that support can extend. A scholarship helped me pursue a degree, but the community around it continues to challenge and encourage me. It has given me another place to explore my father’s question alongside women who are pursuing answers of their own.
That is the sisterhood I hope we continue to build within Theta and beyond: one that makes room for different paths, encourages us to act on our passions, and asks each of us to help create possibilities for someone else.