Kennesaw State’s chapter of sorority Phi Mu recently welcomed its first African-American president, a senior with a passion for leading and helping others.
When KSU student Bailey Brown opened her sorority bid in the fall of 2016, she knew immediately that one day she wanted to be president of KSU’s Phi Mu chapter, Theta Epsilon.
Just two years later, in December 2018, Brown became the first African-American president, not just of her chapter, but of any Panhellenic sorority at KSU.
“Since I’ve become a sister of Phi Mu, I’ve become a better version of myself,” Brown said. “My sisterhood has given me more love, joy and happiness than I could have ever asked for. I have grown into a stronger and more confident woman because of my chapter.”
While Brown has many passions, she said that her involvement in Phi Mu has remained a top priority since she first joined. Brown explained that not only has Phi Mu taught her how to be a strong leader, but it has also encouraged her to work more passionately towards her goals in all areas of life.
Prior to making her mark as Theta Epsilon’s president, Brown was the public relations director for her chapter. She said her time in this position helped her learn more about her fellow sisters, and in turn, prepared her for her role as chapter president.
“My main focus as president is that everyone shares the same joy and fulfillment as I feel in Phi Mu,” Brown said.
Through Phi Mu, Brown discovered another of her greatest passions, helping kids through Children’s Miracle Network of Atlanta and KSU Miracle. The work Phi Mu does within KSU Miracle stood out to her so much during recruitment, that she joined its finance committee in her first year. A year later, Brown became a morale captain for the organization.
“[Miracle at KSU] has given me the opportunity to get more involved with my philanthropy on a more personal level,” Brown said. “Since becoming a morale captain, I have been able to have a more hands-on experience with Miracle and it has fueled my passion and love for the kids.”
Had she not have joined Phi Mu or gotten involved with KSU Miracle, Brown said that her life would look much different than it does today. Being involved is extremely important to her, so without the group of like-minded and kind-hearted girls that she has come to know through Greek life, Brown said it would have been much harder to get the most out of her college experience. This is why she encourages anyone considering rushing at KSU to do it with a heart for new experiences.
“Do it and don’t be afraid to have an open mind because you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take,” said Brown.
Brown hopes that her legacy as Theta Epsilon’s first African-American president is one that encourages individuality and self-expression. Not only does her new role display the importance of diversity throughout all of Greek life, but it also shows that no matter who you are, with resilience, determination and a fierce drive to pursue greatness, anyone can be a leader.
“I want to show others that anything is possible through hard work and dedication, and inspire people to become more involved in any organization that they are a part of,” Brown said.
And as far as how her time in Phi Mu has prepared her for life after college, Brown answered simply, “Nothing seems impossible to me.”
Students interested in learning more about Phi Mu at KSU can follow them on Instagram @phimuksu.
