Location

The Boston Sheraton Hotel is nestled in the historic Back Bay neighborhood directly connected to the Prudential Center and the Hynes Convention Center. To maximize our convention experience for all, we have secured room blocks at two different hotels – the Sheraton Boston Hotel and the Hilton Boston Back Bay. These two hotels are directly across the street from each other, so there is no time lost getting to all our convention activities! Individuals will be placed in either the Sheraton or the Hilton based on registration date, filling the Sheraton rooming list first. We will prioritize placing chapter delegates (i.e. collegiate delegates and advisory board delegates) together in the same hotel property.

All convention activities and events will be held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. There will not be any convention events at the Hilton Boston Back Bay.

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Speakers & Special Guests

Prepare to be inspired by our keynote speakers, Colby Award Winners and Honor Initiates! 

Lindsay Czarniak, Delta Rho 

Lindsay Czarniak is an Emmy award and Gracie award winning broadcaster known for her work across the sports industry including FOX NFL and NASCAR, CBS’s Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), and NBC’s coverage of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Previously she spent six years at ESPN anchoring SportsCenter and other programs.

Lindsay’s podcast “Lunch with Lindsay” dives deep into the stories that connect us all through conversations with high profile guests and pairings of athletes, musicians and newsmakers including country music star Eric Church, NASCAR standout Chase Elliott and NBA all-star Chris Paul. Her recent work includes hosting partnerships with events like the Indy500 and horse racing’s Triple Crown through America’s Best Racing.

Prior to joining FOX sports, Czarniak worked at ESPN from 2011 to 2017, anchoring “SportsCenter” and contributing to Sunday NFL Countdown as a reporter and host in the field. During this time, she became the first woman to host the network’s coverage of the Indianapolis 500 on ABC.

Czarniak began her career in Atlanta, GA at CNN. She began her career as an on-air news reporter for WAWS/ WTEV-TV in Jacksonville, Florida, before transitioning to cover sports at WTVJ in Miami and FOX Sports’ Speed Channel as an ARCA RACING SERIES pit reporter. From Miami she moved to WRC, the NBC affiliate in Washington, DC where she worked for the legendary George Michael as a sports reporter/anchor and fill in host of “the George Michael Sports Machine”.

Czarniak grew up learning about horse racing from her father, Chet Czarniak, who began covering the sport for USA Today in the early 1980’s.

Czarniak graduated from James Madison University in 2000 with a major in journalism and a minor in studio art. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children.

This speaker is brought to you by the Marylou and John D. Turner Lecture Series Fund from the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

Fran Hauser

Fran Hauser is passionate about leveling the playing field for women. She does this through her investing, writing, and speaking. Fran has invested in over 30 female-founded companies across consumer tech, CPG, media & publishing, and wellness.

She is the best-selling author of The Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career You Love Without Becoming a Person You Hate which has been translated into six languages and was named “Best Business Book of the Year, 2018” by Audible. Fran’s new book, Embrace the Work, Love Your Career is quickly becoming the go-to for women seeking more joy and fulfillment in their career.

Fran regularly speaks at conferences and organizations to help women build careers they love while staying true to themselves. Much of her current work is informed by 15 years spent in media, where she rose through the ranks at Time Inc. to President of Digital. She lives outside of NYC with her husband and two sons.

This speaker is brought to you by Dr. Jean K. Elder through a generous gift to the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

Colby Award Winners

The Colby Award, named in honor of Colby College where Sigma Kappa was founded in 1874, is presented at each national convention to Sigma Kappa alumnae in recognition of their career achievements. Nominees for this award must be nationally known in their area of expertise. For this reason, the Colby Award is the highest honor bestowed upon alumnae members by the national organization. Fields considered include but are not limited to arts, literature, public service, business, industry, education, science and athletics.

Leslie Claybrook

A native of Luverne, Alabama, Leslie Claybrook is a graduate of the University of Alabama where she was a four-year letter winner for the women's basketball team and a three-time selection to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Claybrook received a master's degree from Mercer University while serving as an assistant women's basketball coach.

Leslie Claybrook currently is the General Manager for the Birmingham Squadron, the G League affiliate to the NBA New Orleans Pelicans. In her current role, she manages all aspects of business operations including corporate partnerships, ticket sales, marketing, promotion and public relations. Prior to The Birmingham Squadron, she served as the President of CrossRoads331, a consulting business for the athletics industry. She previously was an Assistant Commissioner at the Southeastern Conference from September 2011 to October 2020. At the SEC, she was responsible for the oversight of women’s basketball, soccer and softball, including ticket sales and corporate sponsor engagement. She collaborated with major television networks on contractual obligations, schedules, talent, and tactical execution of coverage for the regular season and SEC Tournaments and events. Claybrook also collaborated strategically with athletic administrators, coaches, SEC staff and outside constituents in developing a COVID-19 Return to Competition Plan and teamed with the SEC Council on Racial Equity and Social Justice to develop the “TOGETHER. It Just Means More” campaign on racial equity and social justice developing resources and strategies for campuses, national engagement, and change.

Prior to arriving at the SEC office, Claybrook served as Senior Associate Athletics Director/ Senior Woman Administrator at Rice University, the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance at Samford University, and in a similar role at Birmingham Southern College in Alabama.

In her spare time, she has been actively involved in refereeing basketball at the high school, collegiate, WNBA, G League and international levels. Her expertise allowed her to represent USA Basketball as a referee at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. She is also a member of the Pat Summitt Foundation Board, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Women Leaders in Sports. Claybrook participated in Rice University Leader’s Program and Birmingham’s Project Corporate Leadership Program.

She is married to Perry Robinson who is the varsity volleyball coach at Pelham High School. They have one daughter, Lillian who is an eight grader at Vestavia Pizitz Middle School.

Jamie Valvano

Jamie Valvano is an ordinary person transformed by extraordinary circumstances. She witnessed a remarkable victory when her beloved father, legendary basketball coach Jim Valvano, realized his lifelong dream of winning the National Championship in 1983. Years later, however, her family was devastated when Jim was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Jamie was in the audience during his famous 1993 ESPY speech when he announced the establishment of the V Foundation. After graduating from North Carolina State University, Jamie proudly worked as an educator for over a decade. She also was a fundraiser at the V Foundation for Cancer Research in its formative years. She helped establish the organization that has now awarded over $330 million to cancer facilities nationwide. Jamie continues to share personal insights with audiences as a public speaker, drawing from her experiences as an 18 year cancer survivor, educator, and mother. She constantly pushes others to embrace their unique vision and discover their own extraordinary lives.

Honor Initiates

Stevie V. Tran

Stevie V. Tran, Esq. (she/her) is a practicing attorney dedicated to serving the fraternity/sorority community, focusing on the unique needs of culturally based fraternal organizations. She authored one of the first articles on transgender inclusion within fraternal organizations, and she provides guidance on all matters related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Stevie is humbled and inspired to be selected as an Honor Initiate of Sigma Kappa. When she stepped onto campus at age 18, she was clueless about how fraternal values would forever change her life. Now at 37, Stevie believes that joining a Sisterhood will only further empower her in life, and she is more serious than ever about committing to the values of Sigma Kappa. She lives in Madrid, Spain, with her cat, GoGoCatty.