By Dr. Lori Hart, Director of Educational Initiatives, Holmes Murphy Fraternal Practice

My son had a rough start to college this past summer. On July 1, he reported for duty to the United States Coast Guard Academy. I hugged hard and watched him march away to begin a career in the military.

The Rear Admiral Michael Johnson, the 43^rd Superintendent, met with all the parents that day and I remember what he said:

• Less than 1% of Americans serve in the military. We place the safety of our country with less than 1% of the people. That is powerful.
• This summer will be the hardest summer of your child’s life.
• Week one, we will medically test them and some of them will be medically disqualified (meanwhile, I looked around the poor parents and wondered who it would be, because it wasn’t my child…).
• Weeks two, three and four we will introduce stress, we will ramp up the stress, we will then teach leadership and introduce perseverance under stress.
• Weeks four, five and six, we will work with them on the college transition.
• Write to your kids because you will have no other contact.

I am from a military family; I value people who serve our country, and I appreciated the transparency of Superintendent. Until day five, my phone rang. It was my son. He was medically disqualified for his eyes.

In the next 72 hours, he had to make adult decisions about his plan. The one question I asked him was, “What do you want to do with your life?” and without hesitation, he said, “I want to serve my country as a military officer.” 

Prior to reporting to USCGA, he received some good coaching from an Army Officer who told him to hold on to his Army ROTC scholarship and not “hit no” on the button in case something happened. In doing his research, he quickly learned the eye and vision requirements differ between the U.S. Army, Coast Guard, and maritime academies due to the unique demands and standards of each service. And after a call with the Army ROTC Lieutenant Colonel, it was confirmed his eyes would work just fine for the Army.

How many parents get to watch their child get sworn in to two different military branches in the same year? The second time was during halftime at Neyland Stadium with 100,000 people watching, which was cool!

This past fall, he started talking about joining a fraternity and it was part of his weekly conversations. While I am not a helicopter parent, I also know the precarious balance of ROTC, a full scholarship and adding fraternity on top of that. In January, he joined a fraternity. The day he joined, my first email was to the chapter advisor. My second email was to a colleague at the national headquarters. What Coast Guard Rear Admiral Johnson reinforced for me is that we should all be willing to be transparent about expectations, and I wanted people to know my expectations of fraternity: to build relationships and safety.

My son had a few minor bumps; however, he was able to hold his power and speak up, and he is happy to be initiated. His new member experience was a positive one, but he expected that, the fraternity offered that, and a thirty-year Chapter Advisor supported and reinforced that. Within less than two weeks of being initiated, he is now Risk Chairman proving the apples doesn’t fall far from this tree!

WHAT IF….every time a new member class comes together that we ask our undergraduate leaders to take a nod from the Rear Admiral: the President and New Member Educator should stand up in front of the new members, members, and parents to walk through the process, to let the men know their initiation date, to detail what IS expected and what is NOT.

Transparency would serve us all well within our chapters and organizations because it requires leaders to be honest, to be truthful, to tell the new members joining what is expected of them and then the new members have the opportunity to live up to that expectation. I believe the chapters who practice this today – and there are many – experience brotherhood in ways other chapters do not. They retain members, dues are paid on time, events are safer and lifelong friends are made.

The next time I am working with a fraternity chapter, and they want to “fix” things, I am going to start with their ability to be transparent, and I hope you will, too. Transparent leadership cultivates a culture of openness, and mutual respect—which are foundational to an organization focused on safety and building healthy relationships.

The North American Interfraternity Conference has selected 13 undergraduate fraternity men to serve as members of the 2025-2026 IFC Advisory Council. These students have held numerous chapter and campus leadership positions and currently serve their respective Interfraternity Councils.

The IFC Advisory Council presents a unique opportunity for undergraduate fraternity members to engage with industry leaders, helping to influence and shape the fraternity experience. They will assist with developing IFC resources, inter/national policy and mentoring other IFC officers. Service begins with orientation in mid-May and concludes after one year.

Caleb Askelson

Theta Chi, Iowa State University

Leadership Experience: IFC President, IFC VP of Philanthropy, Chapter President, International Chapter Advisory Board

Brennan Belanger

Sigma Nu, Louisiana State University

Leadership Experience: IFC President, Chapter Alumni Relations Chair

Wyatt Carlson

Sigma Phi Epsilon, University of Missouri

Leadership Experience: IFC President, Chapter President, Chapter Secretary, MizzouThon Dance Marathon Leadership Team Member, Mizzou Engineering Ambassador, Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor

Robert Gosser

Kappa Alpha Order, University of Colorado Boulder-Independent

Leadership Experience: IFC President, Chapter President, Chapter Mental Health Chairman

Maxwell Hamill

FarmHouse, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Leadership Experience: IFC President, IFC Director of Philanthropy and Community Service, Chapter Director of Philanthropy, UNL Executive Vice Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board, NHRI Leadership Mentor

Cooper Hillman

Beta Theta Pi, Kansas State University

Leadership Experience: IFC President, Chapter President, Order of Omega President, Chimes Junior Honorary Vice President,
Student Senator, Kansas State Foundation Lead Student Gift Officer

Parker Huizinga

Phi Gamma Delta, Oklahoma State University

Leadership Experience: IFC President, IFC Director of Recruitment, IFC Compliance Officer, Chapter Philanthropy Chair, Chapter Social Committee, OSU Presidential Leadership Council, OSU College of Education and Human Sciences Ambassador, Eagle Scout, Wishes For Water Non-Profit, Emerging Leaders Alliance

Keeten Levin

Pi Kappa Alpha, Texas A&M University

Leadership Experience: IFC President, IFC Vice President of Membership Development, IFC Director of Marketing, Chapter Internal Vice President, Chapter Philanthropy Chairman, SGA Development Commissioner, Student Senator, Association of Former Students at Texas A&M Student Ambassador

Abishek Nirmal Kumar

Delta Sigma Phi, Michigan State University

Leadership Experience: IFC President, Chapter Vice President of Recruitment, City of East Lansing University Student Commission – IFC Chapter Delegate, MSU Libraries Student Advisory Committee – IFC Representative, Elenchus Undergraduate Philosophy Journal Editor

Dylan Seamster

Theta Chi, North Carolina State University

Leadership Experience: IFC President, IFC Standards Board Member, FSL Ambassador, Chapter Public Relations Chair, Chapter Recruitment Chair, Chapter Formal/Mountain Weekend Chair, Chapter Standards of Excellence/Alter Award Board Member, Association of General Contractors

Michael Short

Beta Theta Pi, University of Louisville

Leadership Experience: IFC Executive Vice President, Chapter Vice President of Finance, Chapter Scholarship and Academics Director, SGA Student Activities Board, SGA Director of Marketing, Fryberger Greek Sing Vice Chair, RaiseRed Dance Marathon, Order of Omega, Beta Alpha Psi Business Fraternity, UofL College of Business Student Council, Student Marketing Association 

Joseph Traskaski

Theta Xi, Bradley University

Leadership Experience: IFC President 2025, IFC Director of Finance, Chapter Treasurer, Chapter Philanthropy Chairman, Chapter Director, Phi Chi Theta Business Fraternity President

Jade Zazzara

Beta Theta Pi, Boise State University

Leadership Experience: IFC Chief Public Relations Officer, Two-term Chapter President

Indianapolis, April 22, 2025 – The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and Foundation for Fraternal Excellence (FFE) jointly announce a significant staff leadership transition. 

FFE Executive Director Ashley VanDewark will be stepping down from her role to join Tri Delta’s team as the Chief of Staff. With the vacancy created by her departure, Will Foran has been appointed to the role of FFE Executive Director. 

VanDewark has been a valued member of the NIC/FFE team since 2017. During her tenure she implemented major changes for FFE including the adoption of a new brand; growth of flagship programs; the successful completion of the Foundation’s first strategic plan; maintained and developed meaningful connections through the NIC/FFE Alliance Partner program; and was instrumental in leading the Amplifying Sorority Campaign (ASC). 

Since 2022, Foran has served the NIC as Chief Operating Officer. Throughout his nearly 20 years on the NIC team, he has worked closely with fraternity/sorority life professionals, institutional administrators, NIC member organizations and the Governing Council, the NIC Campus Support team, as well as industry stakeholders and partners to enhance and elevate the fraternity experience for the future.  

 “I have had the honor of working closely with Ashley over the past eight years as Alpha Chi Omega Foundation’s chief development officer and member of the FFE board. It was evident the day we met that she was personally invested in my success — and I know others have felt that same support from her. She is passionate about the success of FFE, and her leadership has helped the organization accomplish great things to move the industry forward. I wish her nothing but the best!

“Change is hard but creates opportunity. I believe that Will will continue to move FFE in a positive direction with the support of a professional staff well-equipped to deliver best-in-class programs and services for our member organizations and Alliance Partners. I am excited about the new opportunities created for our staff and FFE,” said FFE President Marsha Grady. 

With this shift in leadership, Russell Best, who has served as a Vice President of Campus Support since 2022, has been promoted to the role of NIC Chief Operating Officer and will oversee the Campus Support team and the NIC’s Engage initiative.  

Desiree Paulhamus has also accepted the role of FFE Assistant Executive Director in which she will continue to oversee FFE’s flagship programs — Seminar, Summit, Advance and Aspire — industry survey data collection and assume VanDewark’s role in supporting ASC fundraising efforts.  

Additionally, Hillary Brewer will now serve as Chief Communications Officer of the NIC and FFE. She will continue to support the strategic communication initiatives of both entities and assume VanDewark’s role supporting the ASC Research Committee. 

Lastly, a new role will be created in the coming months to strengthen and enhance communications and public relations with the goal of further sharing the value of the fraternal experience.  

Foran will begin transitioning into the FFE Executive Director role effective immediately and can be reached at will.foran@foundationfe.org; VanDewark’s last day as a member of the NIC/FFE team will be on May 16. 

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The North American Interfraternity Conference is the trade association representing 60 inter/national men’s fraternities. The NIC’s member organizations boast more than 6,000 chapters located on more than 550 campuses in the United States and Canada, with approximately 250,000 undergraduate members and nearly 4.2 million alumni. 

The Foundation for Fraternal Excellence is comprised of more than 65 men’s, women’s and co-ed fraternal educational foundations and operates to advance the various needs of the dynamic industry. FFE provides operational support for new and emerging fraternal foundations, working hand-in-hand with various fraternal communities and the NIC to strengthen and improve the entire fraternity/sorority experience through culture of care, connection and research. 

At Greek University, we believe in the leadership of fraternity and sorority members. Since 2015, our award-winning speaking and consulting team has changed behavior in the long term and created safer campuses by leveraging the leadership in fraternities and sororities with an optimal balance of challenge and support. Our favorite moment? Watching all the ‘ahas’ go off in student’s minds as we help them solve problems with our campus keynote presentations, leadership conferences, workshops, research, and books. This form of student engagement correlates positively to student learning, student success, retention, and degree completion. To learn more, please visit greekuniversity.org.

Client Relationship Story:

Dr. Michael Ayalon and his team at Greek University are determined to help end hazing, among many other initiatives to help grow fraternity and sorority life and help to protect our members and guests over the next decade. In the first quarter of 2025, Dr. Ayalon took a new and more intimate approach to hazing prevention in the form of interactive chapter workshops versus the more traditional keynote presentations. Hazing prevention workshops included Alpha Delta Phi at the University of Chicago, Zeta Beta Tau at Penn State University, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Michigan State University. The chapters analyzed the origins of hazing, described why hazing happens, reviewed the progression of hazing-related media coverage over the last decade, summarized the new federal hazing laws covered in the Stop Campus Hazing Act, identified campus reporting mechanisms, practiced bystander intervention strategies, and produced substitute activities that promoted brotherhood.

Client Feedback:

“Dr. Michael Ayalon recently delivered a powerful and eye-opening hazing prevention workshop for the brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at Michigan State University. Grounded in the findings of his recently defended dissertation, ‘The Early Warning Signs of Hazing in College Fraternities and Sororities,’ Dr. Ayalon’s presentation was both comprehensive and deeply engaging.

“The session offered critical historical context around hazing, explored its continued presence in campus culture, and—most importantly—equipped attendees with actionable strategies to drive meaningful change. Dr. Ayalon skillfully guided participants in identifying early warning signs of hazing, understanding key federal legislation such as the Stop Campus Hazing Act, and creating alternative chapter traditions that foster brotherhood without harm.

“The interactive nature of the workshop encouraged reflection and dialogue, allowing our members to assess what is working well within the chapter, what areas need improvement, and how Sigma Alpha Epsilon can take a leadership role in hazing prevention efforts at MSU in the coming year.

“We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Ayalon for sharing his time, knowledge, and encouragement with our chapter. His insights and practical guidance have already begun influencing positive cultural shifts among our members. The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive — describing the session as valuable, relevant, actionable, inspiring, and engaging.

“We wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Ayalon to any organization or campus community seeking to make a lasting impact in the areas of hazing prevention, leadership development, and organizational culture change.”

– Steadman Boston, Director of Risk Management for Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity

Key Findings of Dr. Ayalon’s Research:

• Inconsistencies in hazing definitions, activities, and organizational values.
• The necessity of building trust and ensuring early intervention.
• Limited funding and capacity within Fraternity and Sorority Life offices.
• A lack of comprehensive data within the profession.
• The emotional burden placed on Student Affairs professionals.
• Hazing laws are being circumvented by outsourcing case resolutions.

Implications for Institutional Policy:

• Increased awareness of federal hazing laws.
• Encouraging students to report hazing incidents.
• Establishing hazing prevention task forces with campus-wide representation.
• Creating transparency in hazing reports across universities and national organizations.
• Developing a national database for fraternity/sorority members to advocate for change.
• Allocating more resources and staffing for Fraternity and Sorority Life offices.
• Implementing hazing prevention education in K-12 schools.

Benefits of Membership in Fraternities and Sororities:

• Significant, positive direct relationships with student engagement
• Strong positive indirect relationships with self-reports of learning
• Higher levels of interaction with people different from themselves
• Providing a proven student retention tool for institutions
• More likely to be engaged in community service
• More student-faculty interaction

Getting More Information on the Latest Research:

Greek University interviewed student affairs professionals from all over the country at both private and public institutions. Download “The Early Warning Signs of Hazing in College Fraternities and Sororities” here.

Making an Impact:

Sharing the latest research on hazing prevention with our members is important. Students don’t often understand the definitions of hazing, bystander intervention techniques for their campus, replacement activities, or why the hazing activity does not actually get them the solidarity they seek in their chapter. Our team of hazing prevention experts have done chapter workshops over the last six months for various fraternities that have changed their new member process as a result. One undergraduate member from Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Michigan State said, “He is a very passionate and engaging speaker. I think many brothers in our chapter where changed from the conversation.” Another undergraduate member from the same chapter said, “We learned many things about what’s actually happening which helped me open my eyes and realize it. We also were very interactive and we worked together.”

Our team of speakers and consultants are ready to help your members, whether that be at your conventions, leadership conferences, or even on a chapter level. Visit our website for more information: greekuniversity.org