Each month, Omicron Delta Kappa recognizes one of its alumni advisors, faculty advisors, or circle coordinators in appreciation for their service and devotion to the Society.
The February 2023 Omicron Delta Kappa Advisor of the Month is Valerie J. Guzman. Valerie has been much involved with the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa since her initiation in 2005. In addition to being a long-time circle coordinator for the GVSU Circle, Valerie served as the local arrangements chair for the 2016 O∆K Biennial National Convention and Leadership Conference. She was also active with the circle at the University of Miami when she was employed at that institution. In addition, Valerie served two terms on the National Advisory Council and was a member of the Society’s Research and Curriculum Development Committee.
Professionally, Valerie serves as the director of student life at Grand Valley. She earned her undergraduate degree at Central Michigan University. As a student, Valerie was involved with new student orientation and her social sorority. She earned her graduate degrees, including her Ed.S., from GVSU. In addition, Valerie is a certified StrengthsQuest Educator. She developed the Strengths curriculum used by the Society at its various drive-in workshops and conventions.
The January 2023 Omicron Delta Kappa Advisor of the Month is Cynthia A. Uviedo (Trinity University, 2012). Since becoming a founding member of the Trinity University Circle in 2012, Cynthia A. Uviedo has supported the collegiate members by serving as its circle coordinator for the last decade. During the time that Cynthia and Faculty Advisor Jamie Thompson have worked with the Trinity Circle, it has received numerous honors. The circle was recognized as a Circle of Distinction each year from 2012-15. It received the Presidential Circle of Excellence Award in both 2016 and 2017, and it was most recently recognized in 2018 with the Membership Growth and Stability Award.
In addition to her circle responsibilities, Cynthia is also a long-time member of the Society’s Development Committee. She has served on the Mission Committee and the National Advisory Council. Professionally, Cynthia is currently the director of annual giving programs at Trinity. She earned her undergraduate degree with a major in communication from Trinity. Cynthia received her Master of Public Administration degree from the George Washington University. She is active with the San Antonio Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has been involved with the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce earlier in her career.
The December 2022 Omicron Delta Kappa Advisor of the Month is Courtney Worsham (University of South Carolina – Columbia, 2008). Courtney is the long-time faculty advisor for the Chi Circle. During her years as an advisor, the circle has received Superior Circle and Circle of Distinction honors. The Chi Circle always has a great presence at the Society’s conventions and conferences. She is the current chair of the National Awards Committee and is also presently serving on the Mission Committee.
Courtney earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, and she received her master’s degree from Winthrop University. In addition to being a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Courtney is an initiate of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. She has served USC for more than 20 years, including various roles in marketing for intercollegiate athletics and residence life and housing. Currently, Courtney is a lecturer at the Moore School of Business and the marketing internships director.
The November 2022 Omicron Delta Kappa Advisor of the Month is Michael K. Bergler (University of California Riverside, 1994). Mike’s involvement with Omicron Delta Kappa spans nearly 30 years, starting with his service as the founding president of the University of California Riverside Circle. He subsequently served as UCR’s faculty secretary before leading the effort to charter circles at Chapman University and Concordia University Irvine (CUI). Mike has served the CUI Circle as both its faculty advisor and circle coordinator. The Concordia Circle has received several recognitions as a Circle of Distinction and/or Superior Circle. It received the Presidential Circle Award in 2014, 2016, and 2017. Mike is also a past recipient of the Meritorious Service Award (2001) and was named the Outstanding Faculty Secretary for Province XIII in 2000. Mike has also served as a faculty province director, on the General Council, and as the faculty director representative to the National Board of Directors
Mike is the executive director of advancement operations and donor stewardship at CUI and has been with the university since 2004. He launched his career in alumni and family relations at the University of California Riverside (UCR) by capitalizing on his student affairs background as student body president, resident assistant, and assistant director of orientation. He held subsequent positions at Chapman University and the University of California, Irvine. Mike received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UCR.
The honoree for October 2022 is Montressa L. Washington (Johns Hopkins University, 1995). Montressa was first elected to the Omicron Delta Kappa Board of Trustees in July 2021 and was appointed the faculty advisor for the Shenandoah University Circle later that year. At Shenandoah, Montressa is the co-director of the university’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and an associate professor of management in the School of Business. Previously, she worked in management consulting for 17 years, specializing in change management, technology adoption, and business transformation before transitioning into academia. She enjoys mentoring and coaching students about career choices as well as nominating high-performing students to join Omicron Delta Kappa.
Montressa holds a doctorate in management from Case Western Reserve University, a MBA in international business and marketing from Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor’s in English from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Zonta International, and Leaderships Maryland and Howard County.
The honoree for September 2022 is Peter Rojas (Merrimack College, 2021). Peter is a relatively new advisor for the Merrimack College Circle. He was initiated shortly after being named the college’s director of student involvement and his appointment as its new circle coordinator. Today, Peter is the college’s assistant dean of intercultural initiatives. Prior to his roles at Merrimack, he served in administrative positions with Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Florida International University, and the American Digital Diversity Initiative.
In addition to earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Peter has a master’s degree in higher education administration from Florida International University. As an O∆K leader, he attended both the 2022 Circle Advisor Training Workshop and the 2022 National Leadership Conference. Peter has been an active volunteer for Phi Alpha Iota Fraternity, Inc. and professionally served as the organization’s director of chapter services for many years. He has also been an active member of several professional associations, including NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors.
The honoree for June 2022 is Leslie A. Werden (Morningside University, 2008). Leslie has served as both a circle coordinator and faculty advisor for the Morningside University Circle. In addition to local circle involvement, Leslie has written and edited articles for The Circle. In addition, she served on the National Advisory Council (2018-20), where she also chaired the Program Subcommittee in year one and the Circle and Membership Standards Subcommittee in year two. Leslie is the 2019 recipient of the Society’s Robert L. Morlan – Robert Bishop Outstanding Circle Advisor Award. She is currently a faculty/staff trustee and the immediate past chair of the Mission Committee. Leslie is a member of the Board Nominations Committee, and her term on the board will conclude in June 2022.
At Morningside University, Leslie is a professor of English and rhetoric. She has served the university as its First Year Writing Director, Chair of Writing and Rhetoric, and Chair of English/Spanish/Rhetoric prior to taking on the role of Department Head of Humanities. Leslie has been the faculty representative to the Morningside University Board of Directors and a member of various committees such as Promotion and Tenure, Curriculum Policies and Assessment, Advising, and Faculty Development.
The honoree for May 2022 is Ralph E. Johnson (Florida State University, 1982). Ralph has served as the long-time circle coordinator for the Washington Adventist University (WAU) Circle. During his tenure, the WAU Circle received Circle of Distinction honors in 2017. Ralph has also been a member of the Society’s Scholarship Review and Selection Committee, and he is a 2022 recipient of the O∆K Eldridge W. Roark, Jr. Meritorious Service Award. He obtained his B.S. from the University of Alabama, his master’s from Florida State, and his Ph.D. with a major in higher education administration from the University of South Carolina – Columbia.
In addition to being the circle coordinator at WAU, Ralph serves the university as its Vice President of the Center for Student Life. His professional and civic activities include the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), president of the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA), treasurer of the SACSA Foundation, and chairman of the Alpha Phi Alpha Education Foundation Board of Directors. He is past chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and a member of the Board of Directors for the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) in Higher Education, currently serving as the organization’s president.
The honoree for April 2022 was Brooke Lecky Supple (University of Maryland, College Park, 2001). Brooke the long-time circle coordinator for the Sigma Circle at Maryland. Professionally, she is the assistant vice president and chief of staff for the vice president for student affairs at Maryland. Brooke is a 2016 recipient of O∆K’s Eldridge W. Roark, Jr. Meritorious Service Award. She also received the Society’s Robert L. Morlan – Robert Bishop Outstanding Circle Advisor Award in 2018. In addition to her service at the circle level, Brooke has been a member of the 2018-19 National Advisory Council and a member of the Society’s Volunteer Engagement Committee. She obtained her B.A. from the University of Virginia, her M.Ed. from Vanderbilt University, and her Ph.D. with a major in education policy and administration from the University of Maryland.
