Indianapolis, Oct. 16, 2017—Melissa Kish has developed and facilitated student programming across the fraternal and higher education community for more than 10 years and will soon bring this breadth of experience to the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) education team.
Joining staff Nov. 13 as Director of Education and Leadership Development, Kish will manage curriculum design, delivery and assessment for the NIC’s premier and long-standing programming. She will also help shape and execute new programs like PRIME: The Summit of IFC Presidents, being held for the first time in January 2018.
Melissa’s knowledge of today’s college student and fraternity men will further help the NIC use education to instill meaningful and lasting cultural change in fraternity communities,” said NIC President & CEO Judson Horras. “We look forward to continually elevating future leaders under her perceptive and ardent direction.”
Kish comes to the NIC from Indiana University, where she has served as Associate Director, Leadership & Inclusion and Fraternity & Sorority Life since 2013. During her time at IU, she created the Hoosier Leadership Program and oversaw the fraternity/sorority community of 75 chapters, including four councils—Interfraternity Council (IFC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) and the Panhellenic Association (PHA)—and over 8,200 students. Kish also previously served as Coordinator and then Assistant Director of Informal Recreation and Special Events at the University of Alabama, where she developed leadership curriculum for campus recreation, athletics, academic schools and housing programs in addition to facilities management responsibilities. While at Alabama, Kish received the Jack Baire Award for Exceptional Leadership and Service.
Extensive volunteer experience has contributed to Kish’s keen understanding of the higher education environment and developmental needs of fraternity and sorority members. She has facilitated more than 25 different student leadership programs for organizations including the AFA, Leadershape, and NIC, and several member fraternities like Zeta Beta Tau, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Phi and Phi Gamma Delta. She recently won the Campus Partner of the Year Award from Zeta Beta Tau and was honored with the Sigma Phi Epsilon Volunteer Excellence Award in 2013.
I am a product of the exceptional leadership programs from the NIC and know the impact they can have on individual students, chapters, and communities,” Kish said. “I truly believe the work being done at the NIC is important, innovative, and meaningful. I am excited to join this amazing team and create and enhance experiences that will advance fraternity and sorority on our college campuses.”
Kish is a two-time graduate of Ball State University where she earned her master’s in May 2007 and was a leader for the Indiana Zeta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi. She remains an active Pi Beta Phi volunteer as a Leadership and Nominating Committee Member and Critical Conversations Facilitator, and has worked with 22 chapters and their universities as a Collegiate Risk Management and Policy Specialist. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for Girls, Inc. of Monroe County, Indiana.
