Meet Betsy Grabel Jackson, Texas Beta

Pi Beta Phi recognizes Texas Beta Betsy Grabel Jackson with the 2024 Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg Crest Award for her efforts in community service.  

How has your involvement with Pi Beta Phi influenced or shaped your approach to leadership? 
I was always a confident person, but Phi Beta Phi gave me even more confidence and inspiration to pursue higher goals and strive to succeed in every aspect of life, both personally and professionally.    

What advice would you give to other Pi Phis who aspire to make a positive impact in their communities/ professional fields?   
Community: Get involved in your community through a non-profit or other organization that is personally meaningful to you and your interests. I got involved with Tulsa Cares because my older brother passed away from AIDS in 1988, so it is very personal to me. Because of this connection, my work with the agency is much more meaningful and impactful for me, the agency and the communities it serves. 

Professional: No one will ever fault you for working hard.  Finish the tasks you take on, and you will get noticed. 

In what ways do you believe your experiences as a Pi Phi have uniquely prepared you for your professional role?   
Pi Phi taught me to be flexible and that you do not always “get your way”. This has helped in both my legal career and my work in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, community with various nonprofit agencies. Truly listening and considering others’ ideas makes you a better leader.     

What motivates and inspires you to continue your efforts in community service/your career? 
​Community: The memory of my older brother continues to inspire me and the work I do with Tulsa Cares and other nonprofits. 

Professional: The legal field is dynamic and always changing. This constantly creates new challenges and opportunities to effectively and efficiently represent my clients.  

"Pi Beta Phi has taught me..."
To be my genuine and authentic self. Trying to make people believe you are someone you are not never works in the end, and it is exhausting to try. 

What is something you wish you would have known sooner in life?  
Listening is the key to being successful. By listening to what others have to say before you speak, you not only benefit from their ideas and perspectives, but you also avoid the environment in which others only say what they think you want to hear.    

What do you love most about your work/giving back?
Work: It is extremely gratifying when a client expresses genuine gratitude and appreciation for my work on a project and how that work helped their business or the transaction succeed.   

Giving Back: I love seeing the actual results of my work with the various nonprofits in which I am involved, whether it is donating funds for a new program, helping the program grow and succeed in its mission or simply providing legal advice on a pro bono basis. 

How do you measure personal success? 
Being fulfilled in my purpose and having a positive attitude towards the adventure that is life. 

Published September 2, 2025