Alta is the Director of Stewardship at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she sits on the donor engagement team. Her role involves thanking donors for their contributions, managing giving societies, and handling donor reporting. Alta is from New Orleans, but she moved to Denver, where her mother was from, and completed high school and college at Colorado State, studying history. She then attended graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin, where she met her husband, a sixth-generation Texan, and has lived in Texas for almost 20 years. She is mom to a 9-year-old daughter who is a ballerina, guitar player and aspiring scientist.
Currently, Alta serves as Tri Delta’s alumnae chapter coordinator (ACCo) for Region 8, covering Texas (excluding El Paso) and Oklahoma. Alta has held several volunteer positions within Tri Delta, including serving on the Alumnae Expansion Task Force and as chair of the Lifetime Membership Expansion Committee. She also held various alumnae chapter roles in Austin and San Antonio for a decade. In San Antonio, she was vice president, planning events like Founders’ Day, Pansy Breakfast and monthly get-togethers. She later became president of the San Antonio Alumnae Chapter for two years. She has seen all facets of alumnae chapter operations, including building and revitalizing the Austin Alumnae Chapter and engaging its members.
Fun Fact
Alta is named after her great-grandmother, whom she never met. She passed away when her mother was just 8 years old. Out of seven children, 36 grandchildren and 80 great-grandchildren, she is the only one named Alta after her!
What made you decide to volunteer for Tri Delta?
“My inspiration came from my collegiate experience. The Fort Collins alumnae chapter was incredibly involved. They were a great group of women from all over the country, always open to conversations and mentoring. I still remember sitting in our chapter house great room, with all of the alumnae around the fireplace at our pledge meeting. They wore sweatshirts from their various alma maters and shared their life experiences, explaining how Tri Delta was intertwined into their lives. Seeing women in all different stages of life, connected by this one thread, made me want to be part of that moving forward, especially knowing I wasn’t going to stay in Colorado. When I had the opportunity to start volunteering, it felt natural—it was the thing to do. Tri Delta is not just for four years but for life. Our chapter had Pansy Pals, where pledges received letters from alumnae, and they did a great job of making it real that it wasn’t just four years.”
What do you get most out of volunteering?
“I feel strongly about the alumnae experience and chapters and love getting to help all of them! There’s always a different challenge, and I learn new things about Tri Delta every day. I love still being part of that world, maintaining connections and meeting women through Tri Delta—some of the coolest people I wouldn’t meet otherwise. Professionally, I’ve always worked in higher education, so having a direct connection to alumnae of the organization and their collegiate institutions is fascinating, and I love hearing their thoughts. When I moved to a new place, having a Tri Delta community to land and build connections with was especially important. Volunteering keeps Tri Delta fresh in my mind, with pieces of our ritual always present. Truth, self-sacrifice, and friendship are guiding principles in my life, and volunteering reminds me to embrace bravery and kindness. It’s always there, even when you don’t realize it.”
What is your most memorable experience as a volunteer?
“When I was chapter president for San Antonio, we were preparing for Founders’ Day and Pansy Brunch, and we were looking at the oldest members of the chapter for the Diamond Circle degree. One member, Lila Banks Cockrell, Southern Methodist, and four-time Mayor of San Antonio in the late 70s and 80s, was a significant figure in the city who had never received her Diamond Circle recognition. I reached out to her – at this time, she was 96, and invited her to our Founders’ Day event. She graciously accepted and attended, where we presented her with her Diamond Circle pin. She spoke about her experiences, including having dinner with the Queen of England, and how Tri Delta had supported her throughout her political career. It was so touching, and I’m grateful we had the opportunity to celebrate her before she passed away. My second favorite memory is when my sister, Collette Valliant, became an alumna initiate during the pandemic. It is so much fun being her blood sister and her Tri Delta sister.”
What advice do you have for other Tri Deltas who are thinking about volunteering?
“I firmly believe that Tri Delta meets you where you are, and there isn’t just one way to volunteer. There’s a place for everyone in their volunteer capacity. Whether it’s taking on a leadership role or simply running a book club once a quarter, every contribution is valuable. Tri Delta has given us more than we realize, and reflecting on the lessons learned shows how it impacts our lives today. Being able to give back is a privilege, and if you can find the time to fit it in, it is worth it.”
Come work with Alta! We have a volunteer opening in Region 8 for an alumnae specialist. Or raise your hand and plan a happy hour or book club for a local alumnae chapter. Interested in finding out more about volunteering in Tri Delta? Email Julie Haskell at jhaskell@trideltaeo.org.