Meet Grace Radke and Izabella Valdez: Our February Leading Women

Grace and Izabella have served the past few months as directors on the 2025 RAMS Steering Committee! Now that the RAMS season has come to a close, hear more about their experiences on the committee and in Theta below!

Name: Grace Radke

Major: Strategic Communications and Graphic Design

Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas

What are your career and life goals?

I am hoping to get a job as an art director for an advertising agency in Chicago post graduation in May! I love getting to find connections and create inspiring visuals and campaigns that make people feel valued and seen! I think there is a special power in advertising that can be expressed through creative visual expression that allows people to connect, not only with products, but with other people!

What is your favorite part about your major and why did you choose it?

I love having a double major in both Strategic Communications and Graphic Design because I get to explore more artistic avenues within the visual arts program, learning about ceramics, woodshed, sculpture, and so much more.

What organizations or hobbies are you passionate about?

RAMS is by far the organization I am most passionate about on campus! I joined last year on the PR team, and it has been really rewarding being able to transform the inner workings of the PR team and really use my talents in communications to help grow RAMS!

You are one of our Thetas on the “Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis” Steering Committee this year! What do you love most about being on the RAMS Steering Committee, and what made you decide to apply for it?

I originally applied because of an older Theta, Grace Bredding, who was a director when I was a sophomore. She encouraged me to apply! I have absolutely loved every moment of being on RAMS; it is truly the people that make the organization what it is. From our SteerCo to our clients, it is clear that these are just good people wanting to do good things!

How have your experiences in Theta changed you?

Theta has connected me to almost every organization that I am a part of. Either through older Thetas encouraging me to apply or from being on Exec my sophomore year, Theta has opened doors for me on Mizzou’s campus and beyond!

What does Theta mean to you?

The people in Theta have become my best friends - My Theta friends have truly shown my lifelong friendships. Whether it’s the people I live with or the friends I have met through organizations, my Theta friends show up for me in all areas of my life, and are the most dependable people I know.

Do you have any advice for underclassmen?

My advice to the underclassmen is to talk to the upperclassmen! I know it can be scary as a freshman, but everything I learned each year came through the advice of the girls above me in Theta. If I needed advice on a class or about a problem in my life, I looked to the girls who I looked up to in Theta! Maddie Hall is a great example of this for me; she helped me along my path in school as she is also the same double major as me, and we have become great friends. We’ve even stayed connected after her graduation. I have also taken advice from older Thetas when it comes to organization and job applications. Now, as a senior, I hope to be able to have the same impact on our freshmen and help them along as they decide what to become involved in!

Do you have a specific favorite Theta memory?

One of my favorite Theta memories was getting to jump in the fountain after our last day of Preference as a senior! Our whole MC ran around campus together, then jumped in the fountain after finishing our last recruitment. It was a really special moment after spending so much time with each other, helping recruit our last class, and really soaking in one of our last Theta memories after spending the week reflecting on all of our amazing memories!

Name: Izabella Valdez

Major: Spanish and Biology

Hometown: Warrensburg, Missouri

What are your career and life goals?

I aspire to become a pediatric surgeon in a Spanish-speaking region, combining my passion for healthcare with the opportunity to work with kiddos in a culturally rich environment.

What is your favorite part about your major and why did you choose it?

I chose to major in Spanish and Biology because they combine my passion for medicine with my desire to connect more deeply with my heritage. These fields not only set me on a path toward a healthcare career, but they also allow me to communicate with my abuela on my dad’s side and strengthen my connection to my cultural roots. What I love most about my majors is the sense of community they provide.

What organizations or hobbies are you passionate about?

One of the most meaningful organizations to me is RAMS. Over the past four years of college, it has not only grown alongside me but has also become like family — offering comfort while constantly pushing me to reach new heights. I have truly been honored to take on the role of Director from this past season. With each passing year, my love and appreciation for RAMS has only deepened.

Do you have any advice for underclassmen?

My advice for underclassmen is to strive for more. Try new things and push your boundaries. This is the time to find who you are, in the most non-cliche way possible.

Do you have a specific favorite Theta memory?

One of my favorite memories in Theta was Senior Year Bid Day, where I had the special honor of welcoming my best friend, Sammy Marquis, home on Stankowski after her Pi Chi journey. As we shouted our chant together, I felt an overwhelming sense of connection to my chapter — truly united with everyone and filled with pride to be a Theta.