Senior Mary Trier founded MU’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Pi last spring. Since then, the society has inducted 200 men and women.
Sigma Alpha Pi is part of the National Society of Leadership and Success, which was established in 2001. It has expanded to more than 415 schools and has more than 355,000 members.
The society’s mission is to “build leaders who make a better world,” according to [its website](http://www.societyleadership.org). Trier said she was browsing the website and found it very inspiring.
“Mary Trier got involved with the national society and saw a need for a leadership society on campus,” said Sarah Rosselet, SAPi publicity chairwoman.
Rosselet decided to get involved with SAPi because she wanted to build on her leadership skills.
“I wanted to experience planning and leading events, and I wanted to become part of an organization that was new on campus,“ Rosselet said.
Rosselet said SAPi provided opportunities to become an executive member.
Meetings are held Tuesday evenings, but the society also hosts other events that are open to nonmembers, such as community service events.
SAPi President Carlie Lavallee said the society will have two profit shares and two community service events this semester.
“We do have three speaker broadcasts a semester that anyone can attend,” Rosselet said. “They feature famous authors, politicians, even celebrities, and they give great motivational speeches and advice.”
Carly Fiorina, a business executive and the first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company, spoke on March 18.
“We invite students to join every semester, but you can also petition to join if you’re not invited,” Trier said.
The full membership process includes attending an orientation followed by leadership training, three success-networking team meetings and three speaker broadcasts, Trier said.
“Members do not have to have any special talents, and we do not look for a certain personality type,” Trier said. “The most important thing someone can do when going through the membership process is to have an open mind, want to succeed and get involved and, most of all, to have a passion for improving their own leadership skills.”
