The Delta Zeta national council recently elected Deborah “Raz” Raziano, Nicholls alumna and director of alumni affairs, as national president during a national meeting at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. As president, Raziano is the general supervisor of the entire Delta Zeta organization, including the hundreds of Delta Zeta chapters in the nation she is also presiding officer over the national convention and national council meetings.

On the eve of her inauguration, Raziano and three past national presidents of Delta Zeta dined on Miami campus where Delta Zeta was founded.

“We had a very special dinner,” Raziano said. “It was at that time that they (gave) me the president’s badge, so that made it very special.”

According to Rena Clarke, Raziano’s presidency means a great deal to Nicholls. Clarke said Raziano’s role as president may bring more national recognition to the University.

Raziano said: “In 1999, we did hold the college chapter of directors conference here at Nicholls. Everyone got to see all of the wonderful things that we’ve got to offer at Nicholls and to the community. I would hope we could one day have something here at Nicholls.”

Clarke said: “Having a national president on your campus really reflects the quality of students that you have. For (Raziano) to be indirectly in charge of all of (the Delta Zeta chapters in the nation) is really telling of her abilities and position on this campus.”

Raziano attended Nicholls from 1969 through 1973, graduated in January of 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education.

“All I did was student teach,” Raziano said. “I never taught school; I graduated, went straight to traveling the nation with Delta Zeta and then came back and started working here.”

“I enjoyed my whole four and a half years as an undergraduate of Nicholls State University,” Raziano said. “I think that my membership in Delta Zeta only enhanced my overall experience as a Nicholls student.”

While attending Nicholls, Raziano held various offices in Delta Zeta such as social chairman, vice president for pledges and pledge trainer for the university chapter. After traveling nationally with Delta Zeta after graduation, Raziano returned to Nicholls and became alumni director as a paying job while remaining a volunteer for Delta Zeta.

“I basically worked with the chapter and served with the national rush committee,” Raziano said. “From that point, I went on to become a province collegian director where I was in charge of the Delta Zeta chapters in Louisiana and Mississippi.”

After being collegian director, Raziano served as national director for membership services on the Delta Zeta national council; she then became the national vice-president for college chapter operations.

“When I pledged Delta Zeta, it wasn’t because our colors were pink and green, because our mascot is a turtle or because we were founded at Miami University,” Raziano said. “That was part of it, but that wasn’t the most important part of it. (It was) the women I met (and) the sense of caring. Delta Zeta is rich in tradition and steep in history; it’s a people-driven organization.”

Raziano said fraternities and sororities do not exist strictly for partying and terrorizing campuses and communities. She said many fraternities and sororities do many good things for the community.

“Being a member of a sorority or fraternity is not just for the four years that you’re in school; it’s a lifetime commitment,” Raziano said. “If you don’t know anything about the Greeks, visit with them and see what they’re all about. I just think that being a member of a Greek organization just makes the overall college experience complete. Going to class, that’s just one part of it. I think there is also a social and cultural part of (the college experience).”

Leah Talbot, English sophomore from Thibodaux and Delta Zeta, said it makes her proud to know that Raziano comes from the Nicholls chapter and everyone is excited about it.

“(Raziano) has done a lot for our sorority and across the nation,” Talbot said. “I think (her presidency) says something about the type of women that come from Nicholls and their sense of dedication and upstanding. I’ve known (Raziano) since I was little, and she’s always been a wonderful asset to Nicholls.