@ Work with Sarah Argiero
Being Chi Omega's housemother/adviser/sister gives new meaning to the word multitasking for this busy graduate student.
Like most graduate students, Sarah Argiero keeps a demanding schedule. Aside from taking classes, she's a member of various student organizations, an intern for the Office of First Year Experience Programs, and, of course, makes time to enjoy Bloomington's culture.
But what sets Argiero apart from the typical grad student is what she does at the end of the day: manage 113 female undergrads under one roof.
Heather Brogden
Graduate student Sarah Argiero (right) is the housemother for Chi Omega.
Argiero became Chi Omega women's fraternity's housemother this year, just a few months after receiving her undergraduate degree from Michigan State, where she was a Delta Gamma.
The path to motherhood for Argiero came about as a requirement for her master's program. The Higher Education and Student Affairs Program asks students to hold an assistantship during their time at IU. When a listing for housemother came up for Chi Omega, Argiero thought it was the perfect fit.
"I was looking for a position that would allow me to work with Greek life and the Greek experience," she said.
Though her title is technically "housemother," Argiero wants the women of Chi Omega to think of her more as an older sister in an advisory role. After all, she is not that much older than the girls, which also means she understands what it's like to live in a Greek house today.
She says her own experience of living in Delta Gamma at Michigan State was similar to what life is like in Chi Omega at IU, although the Chi O house is larger.
"It doesn't feel much bigger though," she added. "The house itself is big but knowing the girls makes it smaller."
Argiero said that she's received plenty of support from the sorority and that everyday life at the house runs pretty smoothly. But there are times when Argiero must deal with a parking problem or the occasional heating and cooling issue, which means reviewing maintenance requests and scheduling repairs.
"Dealing with maintenance issues is the part I least enjoy," she said.
Understandable. Between going to classes, working as an intern, participating organizations such as the IU Student Personnel Association, Student Activities Office, Social Issues Peer Education Program, the Greek Assessment Awards Program and facilitating the Greek values-based leadership retreat IMPACT, an air-conditioning problem may seem like just one more task on an already lengthy to-do list.
But Argiero accepts the responsibility as a housemother and also can relate to the day-to-day tasks that all students encounter, including those in Chi Omega.
"I'm really busy," Argiero said, "But then again, what college student isn't busy?"
