Baker University alumna Diane Blackwelder will take over as the national president of Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity, Inc. in June.

Blackwelder graduated from Baker University in 1970 and joined Baker’s Omicron chapter of Alpha Chi Omega in 1966.

“I had a very good experience as not only a student at Baker University, but also as a member of a sorority within the greek community,” Blackwelder said. “Great experience, (a lot) of opportunities to grow and expand my own skills and just to help serve and be part of a group and organization. I always felt that there were more opportunities and just good things that can happen beyond the undergraduate college campus in the real world.”

Blackwelder began her Alpha Chi Omega work experience at the national level in 1986, when she served as a trustee of the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation. During that time, she was the chair of the foundation for four years and was also involved in initiating the foundation’s first fundraising campaign.

She then served nine years as a member of the national Panhellenic conference delegation of Alpha Chi Omega.

She was elected as a national vice president in 1996 and served two terms. She then returned to the position in 2008 and will serve until June, when she will take over as president.

“That’s eight years as a vice president. When you add all those years together, they were not all at the same time, but sort of on a continuum,” Blackwelder said. “That has helped prepare me and given me what I will call institutional knowledge and exposure, and a lot of good connections in background from a lot of different audiences to step into this position and work with our good fraternal friends and organizations.”

Blackwelder is not the first Baker University alumna to serve as the national president of this organization.

“This is the third (Omicron) alumna to serve as the national president. Some chapters have never even had anyone serve (as the national president),” Leigh Gutterman, Baker University’s Alpha Chi Omega co-adviser, said. “So, I just think it says a lot about, not just about Alpha Chi Omega, but Baker University itself. Being such a small campus, there are so many opportunities for greek members, especially, to be involved within the campus and in the community.”

The president is a volunteer position that will enable her to oversee all of Alpha Chi Omega’s chapters.

“I don’t have to do the counting of the coins, but (the national council) is the elected group that is accountable for the state of (Alpha Chi Omega) and making policies, and setting vision and a direction for where Alpha Chi Omega wants to go and needs to go,” Blackwelder said. “I will be looked to for guidance on our strategic plan.”

Those who are familiar with Blackwelder believe she is fit for the position.

“I think that (Blackwelder) has obviously put in a lot of hard work and lot of time into Alpha Chi (Omega),” Lindsay Vise, Baker University’s Alpha Chi Omega co-adviser, said. “She is definitely deserving of being our national president.”