Indianapolis, Oct. 19, 2017—Archie Messersmith will join the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) team as the first-ever Director of Health and Safety on Oct. 30. He will lead the implementation of the enhanced NIC health and safety standards, partnering with campuses and fraternities to carry out the Social Safe pilot and address critical issues on college campuses today.

Archie is a thought-leader in programming and best practices that encourage fraternity men to take an active role in their own safety and the safety of their peers,” said NIC President & CEO Judson Horras. “The NIC strongly believes student leadership is the most powerful force for positive change. Archie will lead the establishment of an effective framework that empowers students to shift campus culture.”

The NIC’s bolstered standards bring NIC organizations together in continued partnership to eliminate alcohol abuse, hazing and sexual misconduct, among other public health issues on college campuses. Messersmith’s experience will blend policy, research and education in these areas of concern into a pilot program that emphasizes collaboration among campus professionals, Interfraternity Council (IFC) officers and chapter members.

Messersmith comes to the NIC from Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity staff, where he has directed member safety, risk management operations, expansion efforts, university partnerships, and alumni/volunteer services and support in several roles over the past five years. Before joining staff, he served as a fraternity volunteer for more than a decade, assisting with the overhaul of Sigma Phi Epsilon’s new member programming and advising chapters. Messersmith was honored with SigEp’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2010 for his exceptional commitment and contributions. He also previously worked in the Illinois State University Dean of Student’s Office as Assistant Director of the Programming Unit, overseeing the University Program Board, Welcome Week, and other major student-led events. He was recognized by his peers for excellent support, receiving the Outstanding New Professional Award in 2011 and Outstanding Faculty/Staff Advisor of the Year Award in 2012.

During his time on Sigma Phi Epsilon staff, Messersmith led the creation and launch of the fraternity’s standalone sexual assault prevention curriculum “Got Consent?” and was a co-developer of the “Live Your Oath” campaign. He also served as the curriculum developer and lead facilitator for the organization’s inaugural Member Safety Team, a group of alumni/volunteers tasked with bringing member safety education to undergraduates around the country. Seen as an expert in student health, safety and risk management, he was regularly invited to work with IFCs and peer organizations on planning for similar programs. He also served on the faculty of the first-ever Title IX Institute hosted by the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) and Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA).

Every time I have the privilege to work with students and I see the lightbulb come on, it makes everything we do worth it,” Messersmith said. “The NIC is embarking on an enormous task of working with not just individual chapters, but entire communities to change the culture from the inside. I am honored to be standing alongside such a great team at this pivotal time in our industry and excited about the impact our work will have.”

Messersmith joined Sigma Phi Epsilon at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, and earned a master’s in college student personnel administration from Illinois State University. He is a current member of the AFA Foundation Board of Directors, Fraternity Executives Association (FEA) and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

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.

Sept. 15, 2017—Today, our thoughts and prayers are with Max Gruver’s family and the Louisiana State University community. Our team will be in Baton Rouge this weekend to assist the community during this difficult period.

Last spring, I shared my reflections about the Uncomfortable Truth of working with students today. Recent examples remind us that more rules, policies and enforcement by adults alone isn’t enough to change campus culture. We must utilize the most powerful force for positive change—student leadership, but we need to take strong action to provide guidance and an effective framework for that leadership and governance.

This is why the 66 fraternities of the North American Interfraternity Conference came together at our recent Annual Meeting of Members to pass new, critical health and safety standards that will build upon fraternal prevention efforts and programs.

We had hoped to share this news under different circumstances, but now more than ever, it is important that members and campus partners are aware of the steps fraternities are taking to address key issues facing our communities.

Three important new measures are outlined below:

IMPLEMENTING MEDICAL GOOD SAMARITAN POLICIES

Nothing should stand in the way of students calling 911 when they or anyone else needs help. A Good Samaritan Policy, which many universities also have in place, encourages students to call for emergency services when someone needs medical attention. By September 1, 2018, each NIC member fraternity will adopt and implement a medical Good Samaritan policy.

RAISING THE BAR FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAMMING

Preventing alcohol abuse, hazing and sexual misconduct takes comprehensive efforts grounded in education. By establishing a more robust baseline, we can better ensure all fraternities are educating their chapters and members using best-practice programs around health and safety. By September 1, 2018, NIC member fraternities will implement annual baseline health and safety educational programs for all chapters. This enhances previous NIC health and safety education standards already in place.

ADDRESSING ALCOHOL ABUSE

Alcohol abuse is a serious public health problem on college campuses, and fraternities must provide greater leadership in this area. This is why fraternities came together to support a pilot program that empowers the NIC to work with campuses to achieve the following goals:

• Remove dangerous hard alcohol from the fraternity experience
• Provide a more balanced, academic-centered fraternity experience
• Foster safer social events for members and guests

This pilot approach blends policy rooted in research, best practices in educational programming, enhanced procedures to make events safer, and a commitment to measure the efficacy of these interventions through consistent assessment. Most critical—this approach also acknowledges that positive change happens when it’s embraced by all stakeholders at the local level through collaboration and customization.

In fall 2017, the NIC will identify pilot campuses, develop Social Safe procedures, and secure an assessment partner. In spring 2018, the NIC will work with a limited group of pilot campuses to implement these new standards and measure their effectiveness. Reach out if your campus would like to be considered for study.

We are all in this together, and I firmly believe that people united around a common purpose can do greater good together than on their own. We appreciate your continued partnership and look forward to working with you during the 2017-2018 school year, and beyond.

Judson Horras
NIC President & CEO

Indianapolis, July 10, 2017—Two skilled interfraternal professionals will soon add their knowledge for fraternity excellence and operations to the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) Campus Support team.

HELEN LAHRMAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF CAMPUS OPERATIONS, MIDWEST

Beginning August 1, Helen Lahrman will serve as Vice President of Campus Operations for the Midwest, where she will focus on undergraduate development, alumni engagement and council effectiveness in partnership with campuses in the region. She will work from her home in Dallas, Texas, where she will be accessible to the campuses she serves.

Lahrman comes to the NIC from The University of Iowa, where she served as the Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life Programs. In this role, she oversaw the ever-growing Iowa fraternity and sorority community comprised of 53 organizations, four councils and 4,000 students.

Helen’s expertise in working with and developing high-performing councils will be an incredible asset to the Campus Support team,” said NIC President & CEO Judson Horras.

Lahrman previously held the positions of Coordinator of Greek Life and Community Engagement at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma, as well as Greek Life and Leadership Advisor at University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). While at Northeastern, she assisted in developing the campus Multicultural Greek Council and revitalizing the National Pan-Hellenic Council. In 2014, she received the Rising Star Award by a vote of fellow staff members.

I firmly believe in the direction the NIC is heading,” Lahrman said. “I’m looking forward to the fast-paced work environment and building relationships with IFCs, alumni and member organizations.”

Lahrman earned a Bachelor of Arts in public relations and marketing from Franklin College, where she became a member of Pi Beta Phi and played varsity basketball. She earned a Master of Arts in educational leadership from UCCS.

Lahrman also has extensive fraternal volunteer experience. She currently serves as a Pi Beta Phi international officer and previously spent six years advising collegiate chapters. She is a member of the Delta Upsilon Men of Merit Committee, an active member of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA), and a past Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI) facilitator.

DYLAN HOWSER, VICE PRESIDENT OF CAMPUS OPERATIONS, BERKELEY

Through a unique partnership with the University of California, Berkeley Administration and Interfraternity Council (IFC), Howser will facilitate stronger fraternity relationships with Berkeley community residents, provide dedicated IFC support and develop an Alumni IFC to bolster support for all chapters.

The NIC is excited to have Dylan lead this five-year partnership with Berkeley’s key stakeholders as they undergo significant community culture building,” Horras said.

Howser’s work will build upon his relationships within the Berkeley fraternity community, where he has worked for three years as the LEAD Center Coordinator for Fraternity & Sorority Advising and Leadership Development. He advised IFC fraternities and assisted in developing curriculum on diversity, risk management and prevention, and new member education.

I am excited about this new collaborative role with the IFC at Berkeley, so I can continue to serve them in their efforts to create a more safe and inclusive experience,” he said. “I believe NIC 2.0 is one of the best vehicles to help move this community forward as it has many talented professionals and volunteers, and I look forward to learning from them.”

Howser earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Millikin University, where he was IFC President. He earned a Master of Education in college student affairs from The Pennsylvania State University, where he co-advised the IFC and the Panhellenic Association as a graduate assistant. Howser is a member of Delta Sigma Phi and has experience facilitating the NIC’s UIFI and IMPACT programs, as well as LeaderShape, the CalGreeks Leadership Summit and the Intersect Conference.

REP. PATRICK MEEHAN (R-PA.) AND REP. MARCIA FUDGE (D-OHIO) INTRODUCE THE REPORT AND EDUCATE ABOUT CAMPUS HAZING (REACH) ACT

Contact:
Heather Kirk, Chief Communication Officer
heather.kirk@nicfraternity.org

WASHINGTON, July 13, 2017—Officials from the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. (NPHC), National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), National Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Panhellenic Association (NAPA), National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC), and Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA), issued the following statements today endorsing anti-hazing legislation introduced by Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., and Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio.

The Report and Educate About Campus Hazing (REACH) Act would require colleges and universities to disclose information about hazing on campus in their annual crime reports. It would also require any college or university that accepts federal funding to provide hazing prevention education to all students.

This united support for the REACH Act comes from all the fraternal “umbrella” organizations, which collectively represent more than 140 fraternities and sororities, as well as the association that provides development to professionals who work with fraternities and sororities.

Statement from the National Panhellenic Conference

“Students have long had access to accurate and timely information about security issues on campus, and they deserve the same transparency about incidents of hazing,” said Dani Weatherford, NPC Executive Director, on behalf of the organization’s Board of Directors.

“No single piece of legislation can eradicate hazing on campus, but it can ensure that students, administrators and parents have access to the tools and information they need to hold organizations and campuses accountable. The battle against hazing is not a problem for fraternities alone, but a call-to-action for all campus-based organizations – including the sorority community. We stand with elected leaders, campus officials and students nationwide as committed partners in this fight.”

Statement from the North American Interfraternity Conference

“Research shows hazing prevention is best accomplished through comprehensive measures, including proactive education, transparency and accountability around standards,” said NIC President and CEO Judson Horras. “The North-American Interfraternity Conference backs the REACH Act because it focuses on these critical strategies. NIC member fraternities stand united in providing positive, hazing-free, meaningful rites of passage that strengthen and develop young men.”

Statement from the National Pan-Hellenic Council

“The Council of Presidents of the National Pan-Hellenic Council commends the bipartisan leadership of Rep. Pat Meehan and Rep. Marcia Fudge and supports the objectives of the REACH Act,” said Dr. Paulette C. Walker, Chair of the NPHC Council of Presidents and National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

“The organizations of the NPHC are resolute in the commitment to nurture the ideals of sisterhood and fraternalism and uphold the dignity and self-respect of all persons seeking membership in the respective organizations,” said Jennifer Jones, NPHC President. “Hazing is antithetical to this commitment. NPHC organizations collaborate with universities regarding hazing concerns and believe that university-sponsored hazing education and annual reporting of hazing incidents will be important tools in a more comprehensive and proactive approach to combat hazing.”

Statement from the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations

“Many of our members—first- and second-gen students—are sent to college by parents unfamiliar with the traditions that occur at some universities. Our students look for places of belonging and trust that universities are doing their best to prevent harm to their students,” said NALFO President Maria Diaz.

“Through our shared standards and membership requirement for each organization to have clear anti-hazing policies, NALFO strives to assure that each student is able to participate in our organizations’ traditions in a safe and supportive way. The REACH Act will arm our students and parents with access to information that will help them make an informed decision on what institution to entrust with their well-being.”

Statement from the National Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Panhellenic Association

“NAPA strictly opposes hazing and any activities that do not contribute to the positive development and welfare of potential new members and initiated members,” said NAPA’s Executive Board. “In solidarity with our fellow umbrella organizations, we believe the REACH Act will support our commitment to empowering our member organizations to operate with the safety and sustainability of their members as a top priority.”

Statement from the National Multicultural Greek Council

“The National Multicultural Greek Council organizations each dedicate substantial time and resources to improving the lives of individuals and bettering their communities,” said NMGC President Jen Rencher. “Accordingly, a membership intake process that utilizes and/or condones acts of hazing is contrary to the mission and purpose of the NMGC and its Member Organizations. As such, we support the REACH Act for providing transparency about hazing incidents and education on how to combat it for the campus community.”

Statement from the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors

“Hazing on college campuses is a complex problem and addressing it requires a multi-faceted approach,” said Lynda Wiley, Executive Director of AFA. “A combination of information, education and accountability is necessary to eliminate this behavior. Including hazing information in Clery reporting will help students and parents as they ask important questions related to joining a variety of organizations, including fraternities and sororities. AFA is committed to continual professional education for our members and would provide training around implementation of the REACH Act if it becomes law.”

Click here to learn more about the REACH Act.

Indianapolis, June 19, 2017—The North American Interfraternity Conference strongly supports the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing (REACH) Act of 2017, bipartisan anti-hazing legislation introduced by Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Pa.) and co-sponsored by Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio).

The REACH Act would add hazing as misconduct/crime reported under the Clery Act, requiring colleges and universities to disclose hazing incidents in their Annual Security Report. It would also require any college or university that accepts federal funding to provide hazing prevention education and resources to students.

“Research shows hazing prevention is best accomplished through comprehensive measures, including proactive education, transparency, and accountability around standards,” said NIC President and CEO Judson Horras. “The North American Interfraternity Conference backs the REACH Act because it focuses on these critical strategies.”

Hazing has no place in the fraternity experience. The NIC has reached out to other interfraternal organizations to discuss the bill and is hopeful we will garner additional support across the fraternal movement. In addition to support of this legislation, NIC fraternities will continue the fight against hazing through policy education, prevention and accountability measures.

“NIC member fraternities stand united in providing positive, hazing-free, meaningful rites of passage that strengthen and develop young men,” said Horras. “We commend co-sponsors Reps. Meehan and Fudge for their leadership in facing this problem.”

Click here to learn more about the REACH Act.

Indianapolis, April 19, 2017—Known throughout the higher education community for his commitment to interfraternalism and leadership development, Dominic Greene will soon bring his experience to the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) as Vice President of Campus Operations for the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.

Joining staff July 1, Greene will deliver campus support to college fraternity communities and contribute to NIC educational and advocacy initiatives. This position’s focus on undergraduate development, alumni engagement and council effectiveness will lend to the NIC’s overarching Vision for Fraternity Communities. Greene will join fellow VPs Will Foran, Rick Barnes and Blaine Ayers, further growing the campus support team.

Dominic’s extensive experience in higher education and the fraternal industry makes him the perfect resource to support campuses in his region,” said NIC President & CEO Judson Horras.

Greene’s breadth of experience spans fraternity/sorority life, student activities, leadership development and residence life, providing valuable subject matter expertise across the higher education landscape.

As a long-time volunteer for the NIC, I am excited to work for an organization that has done so much for me personally and professionally,” Greene said of joining the NIC team. “The position perfectly aligns all of my passion areas as I work with our member organizations and campuses to continue elevating the fraternal movement.”

Most recently serving as Director of Student Activities at American University, Greene oversaw fraternity/sorority life, student government and organizations, and leadership programming. In this role, he successfully increased support of the fraternity/sorority community with the addition of professional staff, establishment of four new chapters and procurement of significant leadership development funding for fraternal officers. Prior to this role, Greene served as Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Northwestern University and was the catalyst to immense growth within the community, adding 11 new chapters over eight years and increasing participation in campus leadership programs by 540 percent.

Greene’s involvement in fraternity/sorority life has encompassed both professional and volunteer roles. He has facilitated almost 100 interfraternal leadership programs, including 30 of the NIC’s Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI), Impact and Alcohol Summit sessions. He is a long-time Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) volunteer, and the organization recognized him as Volunteer of the Year. Beta Theta Pi also honored Greene with the Interfraternalism Recognition Award and Regional Volunteer Award for his work as a program facilitator and chapter advisor.

Greene joined Delta Upsilon while attending University of Oregon, where he served as chapter President and a two-term IFC officer. He earned his master’s of education from University of South Florida. Greene will work from his home in Washington, D.C., where he will be accessible to the campuses he serves.

STATEMENT FROM JUDSON HORRAS, NIC PRESIDENT & CEO

CONTACT:
Heather Kirk, Chief Communication Officer
heather.kirk@nicfraternity.org

Indianapolis, March 29, 2017—While fraternities focus on improving campus culture and strengthening higher education partnerships, Harvard’s decisionto allow only women’s groups to continue operating as single-gender organizations affirms why we must also aggressively defend students’ rights.

Harvard’s original policy trampled students’ association rights, and it now also serves as a blatant form of gender discrimination, which must be vigorously challenged.

We strongly urge Harvard to reconsider their decision and accept our repeated offers to collaborate on solutions that create greater inclusivity, improve campus culture and respect student rights.

Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law that states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

###

Founded in 1909, the NIC is the trade association representing inter/national men’s fraternities. The NIC’s member organizations boast more than 6,000 chapters located on more than 800 campuses in the United States and Canada, with approximately 380,000 undergraduate members and nearly 5 million alumni.

March 1, 2017

Good afternoon,

A lot of you, our campus partners, have asked for “the NIC’s position on system-wide actions” since several communities have recently resorted to various forms of blanket actions.

First and foremost—we agree student safety must be our top priority. We also agree we need to hold students accountable for not meeting our shared expectations.

As we talk about advancing communities, I think it’s important for everyone to understand the fundamental assumptions that guided the development of the NIC’s Vision for Fraternity Communities:

There is no silver bullet

If there was one solution to fix negative aspects of campus cultures, it would have been done by now. Complex problems require multiple strategies working in coordination over a sustained period to foster dramatic change.

Collaboration fosters commitment:

A top-down strategy of issuing a bunch of new policies without buy-in isn’t going to move the needle. Engaging stakeholders in solutions that impact their lives fosters the commitment required for authentic change.

Global strategy, local tactics

Each campus requires customized solutions that align with the industry’s direction and its unique environment.

One block at a time

Campus cultural change will not happen overnight. Each campus needs an intentional, phased approach that moves its local culture in a positive direction.

So, here is why the NIC opposes blanket community actions:

• It disincentivizes following the rules and taking care of each other, since responsible students are treated just like their peers causing problems.
• It undermines efforts for students to self-report problems since doing so will negatively affect a broad group of students not related to the misconduct.
• It advances the narrative among students and alumni that “the school is out to get rid of fraternities.” We know that’s not true, but it is hard to counter it when the community’s activities are shut down over the actions of a few.
• It erodes trust between campus partners and students, alumni and inter/national organizations, because these actions come off as unilateral, lacking basic principles of due process.
• Too much energy is wasted dealing with the predictable media over-reaction, trying to figure out who did what, and rebuilding strained relationships among those unfairly and negatively impacted by system-wide action.
• We need to focus on proactively building healthy communities where students effectively govern themselves, establishing and practicing leadership prior to a crisis. Educational and compliance requirements often put in place during a blanket action should be consistently applied well before any incident.

I also understand the reality that doing nothing when a tragedy has occurred or a pattern of problems has emerged isn’t a good option either. The NIC will continue to work with interfraternal partners and the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) in the coming months to finalize industry guidelines for all parties should collective response be necessary.

With that in mind, here are some recommended steps for a campus should community-wide action need to be taken:

• If an incident happens, engage the Council leadership immediately to help them understand the gravity of the situation. Challenge them to take ownership, so they feel empowered—not forced—to make change. The rest of the community will respond better to change led by its elected peers.
• Engage the fraternity’s HQ and alumni right away. Yes, they may not be on the same page with you immediately, but trust me, collaborating with them from the start is worth the investment in the long-run. And if the HQ doesn’t call you back, let us know, as responsiveness is an NIC Standard adopted as a part of NIC 2.0.
• Call the NIC team. We are uniquely positioned to garner support from inter/national organization partners in your time of need. Our members are invested in your community’s health and want to do as much as they can to support it.
• If these steps don’t work, keep any blanket action imposed by the administration to a very limited time, and focus on resetting and/or clarifying expectations with student and alumni leaders. This should be done within a 10-day period to minimize unintended negative consequences outlined above. If students continue to not meet expectations following this period, hold them accountable and share the outcome in a public manner to further deter bad behavior. Better yet, involve students in the accountability process so they take ownership in the community’s standards!

I know that often blanket actions are being demanded by senior-level administrators even though you might be advocating for another solution. Here are some suggestions on how to handle this dynamic:

• Engage them in the proactive development of the community before the incident happens. They will be far more likely to trust your judgement and believe that student and alumni leaders are truly invested in moving the community forward.
• Establish response protocols before the incident. Make sure everyone up and down the chain of command understands how these stressful situations will be handled should something happen. Run practice drills with your staff, student and alumni leaders, so they are prepared should a crisis happen.
• If the first two don’t work, ask for them to speak with one of our team members. We will advocate for you by providing context for how other campus partners have handled similar situations by empowering, not disenfranchising, student and alumni leaders.

We remain committed to supporting your community. Your students are our members, and we all want to provide them a healthy, safe and positive fraternal experience. We know advancing communities takes strong partnerships, and we stand ready to assist you.

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Interfraternally,

Judson A. Horras
NIC President & CEO

Indianapolis, Jan. 10, 2017—After five years as Sigma Alpha Epsilon Executive Director—during which he led the fraternity’s evolution in critical areas—Blaine Ayers will join the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) staff in the role of Vice President of Campus Operations, Southeast.

Blaine has been a change leader for Sigma Alpha Epsilon,” said NIC President & CEO Judson Horras. “His skills, experience, and approach with students and alumni makes him the perfect person to support campuses in the Southeast.”

Under his direction, Sigma Alpha Epsilon implemented the True Gentleman Experience, shifting from pledge education to a holistic member development program. He made diversity and inclusion a key priority for the organization, hiring a full-time director to oversee new initiatives—the first staff position of its kind for an NIC fraternity. Ayers also delivered record growth to SAE, all while overseeing the Fraternity, Foundation, and Financial & Housing Corporation.

Prior to his role as Executive Director, Ayers served as the fraternity’s Associate Executive Director of Chapter and Alumni Services, as well as a Regional Director. He also worked as Assistant Dean of Students at University of Kentucky, where he advised fraternities and sororities.

Ayers will join the NIC team later this year after guiding Sigma Alpha Epsilon through its executive transition. His roots as an undergraduate Interfraternity Council (IFC) President and his contributions to the larger fraternal movement create a strong foundation for his new role.

It’s easy for me to believe in what the NIC is trying to accomplish—I believe in the same principles and values,” said Ayers. “I am hopeful my experiences from my undergraduate time until now will benefit the fraternity communities I work with.”

At the NIC, Ayers will deliver campus support to colleges and universities in the Southeast. To increase alumni, undergraduate and IFC effectiveness, he will establish relationships with campus professionals and NIC stakeholders to coordinate an education and advocacy strategy. He will work alongside Will Foran and Rick Barnes, the existing VPs of Campus Operations, further strengthening the capacity and impact of the NIC’s Campus Support team.

Ayers joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon while attending University of Kentucky, and he earned his master’s degree from Spalding University. He looks forward to moving to Nashville, Tennessee, where he, his wife and four kids will be closer to family, and where he will work from home.