Welcoming Special Initiate Molly Downing

Exactly 11 months to the date after extending a special offer of membership to an outstanding new member, Zeta Tau Alpha has made good on its promise.

On Feb. 26, 2020, ZTA Executive Director Meghan Parker and Senior Director of Harm Reduction and University Relations Kyle Pendleton took Dr. Molly Downing to lunch in Indianapolis. Molly developed much of the content for the Generation Rx drug abuse prevention program ZTA chapters use and introduced the program to ZTA collegians at National Leadership Conference 2017. As far as she knew, the purpose of the lunch meeting was to review the data and results of the program within our chapters.

Instead, Meghan asked Molly if she would like to become a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and be initiated at Convention 2020 in Atlanta. As Kyle recalls, “Meghan was in the process of asking her, and when she realized where the conversation was going, she got a big grin on her face and said ‘YES!’ before Meghan had even finished with details.”

Of course, you can see how this story, like many that began before March 2020, needed to be put on pause when the COVID-19 pandemic altered all our lives two weeks later. In April, National Council canceled the in-person Convention and replaced it with a virtual Sisterhood Celebration. The Convention tradition of a Special Initiate and Molly’s ZTA membership were on hold.

In October, the National Ritual Committee and officers of Alpha Theta Chapter (Purdue University) produced a reverent virtual version of the Initiation Service. Since then, 2,510 members from 111 chapters have been initiated in five virtual services.

On Tuesday, Jan. 26, Molly became the newest member initiated virtually. Having earned her undergraduate degree at Purdue, she chose to become an initiate of Alpha Theta Chapter. Joining her online to experience the service were members of National Council and the ZTA Foundation and Fraternity Housing Corporation boards, two former National Presidents and several staff members. Following the service, the Zetas and Kyle joined her on Zoom for a celebration.

“While we wish we could have initiated you in front of 800 of your new sisters last summer, we are grateful for technology that allows us to initiate you tonight,” National President Alicia Patten Williams told Molly. “Your initiation represents our appreciation for your assistance in helping us teach safe medication practices for life. We believe you exemplify ‘Humble Heart’ leadership, which we describe as being gracious and kind while being motivated by knowing your hard work will impact individuals in a positive way.”

Molly earned her Ph.D. in pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. She is currently a senior lecturer in the College of Pharmacy and associate director of the Higher Education Center for Alcohol Misuse and Prevention and Recovery at The Ohio State University.

Generation Rx is a partnership between the Cardinal Health Foundation and The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. It both addresses the misuse of stimulants, opioids, and sedatives and teaches the importance of safe medication practices for life. The program presents educational material with a mix of short, informative videos and reflective questions in a non-threatening environment through a harm reduction lens. The knowledge and skills gained in the workshops have connected with not only collegiate members but also with many alumnae who have found the information impactful.

Zeta Tau Alpha thanks Molly for her contribution to the health and safety of our membership. We welcome her into our sisterhood. She joins other doctors, authors, composers, attorneys, civic volunteers, opera singers, local television personalities, breast cancer survivors and staunch advocates for our philanthropy who have become Special Initiates since the first Model Initiation at the sixth national Convention in 1912.