Deborah Raziano, director of Alumni Affairs, was re-elected as the Delta Zeta national president for the 2006-2008 biennium at the 47th national DZ convention held in Phoenix, Ariz. in June. Raziano, known as Raz, has been the DZ national president since January 2004 and is ultimately responsible for leading the organization, which holds a national conference every biennium. She oversees all the areas in the sorority and visits other campuses to start new DZ chapters. She also makes sure everything in DZ runs smoothly.
“It feels good to be re-elected. I feel energized about having two more years to work with our members,” Raziano said.
There are 161 DZ chapters nationally, consisting of over 200,000 alumni and collegiate members.
Raziano said her position is an opportunity to promote Nicholls nationally because she travels to many places throughout the United States to give speeches. Raziano also said the University supports the fact that her job is good for promoting Nicholls, which helps her because she has to take leave when she travels.
Raziano has been involved with DZ since the fall 1969 when she pledged at Nicholls.
“I took the lifetime commitment very seriously,” Raziano said.
Raziano said her fondest memories as a member of DZ at Nicholls are of the close bond of sisterhood and friendship she felt between all of its members. She said she is still in touch with some of her DZ friends whom she considers her “nearest and dearest friends.”
Some of her fondest memories as a student stem from living in Ellender Hall and playing jokes on other people, Raziano said. Another fond memory she recalled was of students going out and having a good time on Thursday nights. Raziano said back then the University was smaller, so everyone had the opportunity to get to know each other.
Raziano traveled to campuses all over the United States as a national field representative from 1974 to 1980.
“The opportunities I was afforded at Nicholls and with DZ make my life complete,” Raziano said.
Raziano said when she pledged DZ, it was not because its colors were pink and green, its mascot was the turtle or it was founded in Oxford, Ohio. Although those factors did contribute to her decision, Raziano said the most important part of her decision to pledge DZ was the women she met and the bonds they shared.
“I credit Nicholls for giving me the opportunity to blossom as a leader, which in turn allowed me to develop my leadership skills to bring me where I am in my life,” Raziano said. “I am proud to be a Nicholls graduate and to be able to have such an important role and opportunity as a volunteer for DZ.
