INDIANAPOLIS – The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), one of the largest advocacy organizations for women, is proud to announce the recipients of two awards that recognize individuals for dedicated service to the interfraternal community
2023 Distinguished Service Awards–Patricia Eleanor Barber and Julie L. Johnson
NPC honors Patricia (Tricia) Eleanor Barber, Alpha Gamma Delta, with the 2023 Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes an individual for lifelong service to the interfraternal community or NPC. In 1989, Barber was first elected as Alpha Gamma Delta’s NPC Delegate (the organization’s representative to the larger Conference). Since that time, she has held a variety of leadership roles with NPC, including service on the Extension Committee, Judicial Appeals Committee and as College Panhellenics Chairman. During her service as College Panhellenics Chairman, she led the committee towards recruitment-driven, personal conversation and “no-frills recruitment.” Holding various other committee and service positions throughout the years, Barber continues to serve the Panhellenic community by serving as an area advisor and as a member of the Recruitment Committee.
“Tricia has given faithful, continuous, and creative service at all levels to Alpha Gamma Delta, and this service is intertwined with service to NPC,” said 2021-23 NPC chair Cheri De Jong. “We are thankful for her service and the innumerable ways that she has served our Panhellenic community with distinction.”
NPC also honors Julie L. Johnson, Kappa Delta, with the 2023 Distinguished Service Award, for her commitment and dedication to the Panhellenic community. With years of dedicated service to the Panhellenic community, Johnson has proven herself as a pivotal force in advancing the principles of sorority across the nation. Johnson has served NPC for two decades, providing innovative approaches to recruitment and retention. In addition to this award, Johnson has been awarded for service to the Panhellenic movement by Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma and the Southern Greek Leadership Association (SGLA), along with the receipt of Kappa Delta’s Order of the Diamond for exemplary service to the fraternal movement.
“Julie has provided remarkable service, insights and guidance to our community,” said 2021-23 NPC chair Cheri De Jong. “Her commitment to fostering young women, empowering growth and determination to adhere to our collective values has served NPC and campuses across the country with distinction.”
2023 NPC Interfraternal Partner Award–Dr. J. Patrick Biddix
NPC honors Dr. J. Patrick Biddix, Jimmy and Ileen Cheek Professor of Higher Education at University of Tennessee–Knoxville, with the 2023 Interfraternal Partner Award, which recognizes an individual who has played an important role in the Conference’s advancement during the past two years. Dr. Biddix has led several research projects for the Conference over the years, but his most recent work has focused on measuring belonging, diversity and well-being among collegiate sorority members. His work has a direct impact on NPC and its member organizations as they continue to enhance the sorority experience for today’s students.
“Dr. Biddix has been a true partner to NPC during the past several years,” said NPC Chief Executive Officer Dani Weatherford “His insights, based on academically-sound research with collegiate sorority women, have given us the ability to see the impact the sorority experience is making on current collegiate women and compare the findings to larger subsets of students.”
The award recipients were determined by the 2021-23 NPC Board of Directors. All award recipients have been invited to be recognized in person during the 2023 NPC Annual Conference, October 19-21, at Hyatt Regency DFW Airport.
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About National Panhellenic Conference
NPC is the trade association for 26 national and international sororities and is one of the largest organizations advocating for the sorority experience. Through its advocacy, NPC highlights the importance of women’s-only spaces and showcases the transformational power of the sorority experience. For more information, including a complete list of NPC sororities, visit npcwomen.org or find NPC on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
About the National Panhellenic Conference Foundation (NPC Foundation)
Established in1995, the mission of the National Panhellenic Conference Foundation is to support the priorities and initiatives of the National Panhellenic Conference. The NPC Foundation does so through prudent investment and disbursement of funds that enables the Conference to better advocate for and support the sorority experience. (npcwomen.org/foundation)
