From Washington, D.C., to Hollywood and back again, Penny has lived a life filled with curiosity, courage and a deep love for storytelling. Raised in a family that valued education and leadership, Penny always knew she wanted to aim high. When it came time to choose a sorority, her mind was already made up. Tri Delta’s reputation for excellence and strong women sealed the deal.
In 1959, Penny was initiated into Tri Delta’s Alpha Pi Chapter at the University of Maryland and immediately found driven women, meaningful friendships and a community that pushed her to be her best.
“Tri Delta was about sisterhood and achievement,” Penny says. “Being surrounded by women who had goals and supported each other made all the difference.”
Penny splits her time between Cincinnati, where she is close to family and grandchildren, and Ocean City, Maryland. She still loves to travel, still reads The Trident and still believes deeply in the power of women lifting each other up.
Career Journey
Penny earned her master’s degree in mass communications with a focus in radio and television production from American University and set her sights on a career in media.
But it was one bold move that changed everything. As a newlywed working on her thesis, Penny read a Washington Post article about Connie Stuart, who had just been named First Lady Pat Nixon’s chief of staff and press secretary. Inspired, Penny wrote Connie a letter. That letter led to a phone call, then an interview and eventually a job in the White House.
Penny became the Radio and Television Coordinator for Mrs. Nixon and later served as her Deputy Press Secretary. For four unforgettable years, she worked in the East Wing of the White House, coordinating media, planning state dinners and events and managing entertainment for visiting dignitaries. “Bob Hope, Johnny Cash—you name it,” she says. “I was pinching myself.”
She also served as a press advance, traveling internationally to Liberia, Ghana and the Ivory Coast to prepare for Mrs. Nixon’s historic trip to Africa. Penny worked closely with ambassadors, wrote event scenarios and helped manage the logistics of international diplomacy. One trip even ended with her landing back in the U.S. on President Nixon’s birthday, where he personally greeted and congratulated his wife on the success of the trip.
Penny’s work did not go unnoticed. She was later recognized as one of the most outstanding young women in Maryland and was honored by the Association of University Women Under 35. She also contributed research to Heath Hardage Lee’s “The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: The Life and Times of Washington’s Most Private First Lady,” helping preserve an important piece of history.
Today, Penny and former colleagues are working to protect the White House’s East Wing from demolition—a full-circle moment for someone whose career helped shape its legacy.
Advice for Young Women
Penny doesn’t sugarcoat it—balancing ambition, family and personal goals is hard work. But she firmly believes that it’s worth it.
“You don’t have to choose between having a family and having a career,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be either-or. The balancing act is real, and it takes constant reevaluation, but you should always reach for the highest place your talents can take you.”
She worries about messages telling young women they don’t need education or careers. “You have lots of choices. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do. No one ever told me I couldn’t—and that made all the difference.”
As a five-time cancer survivor—having faced ovarian cancer, breast cancer twice and melanoma twice—Penny is living proof of resilience. Her mantra remains simple—keep going, keep aiming higher and trust yourself.
Penny embodies so much of what Tri Delta stands for: ambition, courage, sisterhood and service. Her story reminds us that sometimes, all it takes is one bold step—one letter, one conversation, one leap of faith—to open doors we never imagined possible.
