INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., June 23, 2023 – The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is pleased to award both Eugene “Buddy” Coté, III and Michael A. Greenberg with an NIC Gold Medal. The Gold Medal is the highest interfraternal honor the NIC can bestow.  

The presentation of the NIC Gold Medal is one of the oldest traditions of the NIC and dates back to 1940. The Gold Medal is presented for lifelong service to the interfraternal community. 

Upon graduation from Maine in 1981, Eugene “Buddy” Coté, III started his lengthy career and service to Phi Gamma Delta. He immediately began cultivating interfraternity friendships, many of which he maintains today. During four years on the fraternity staff – as a consultant and then director of chapter Services – he frequently spoke to interfraternity audiences, both for campus events and staff training. In 1985, the L. G. Balfour Company, recognizing Buddy’s growing presence and respect in the interfraternity community, hired him as manager of its Greek division.   

Buddy built a career in the fraternal jewelry market, turning customers into friends and friends into customers. Over the years, the business has operated under a variety of names and ownership, but the common denominator has been Buddy and his commitment to a community in which he is fully invested. He appreciates that, to a Greek man or woman, his products are much more than jewelry, they are symbols of timeless ideals and lifelong relationships. He has gone above and beyond to help his friends leading Greek organizations deliver quality products to their members.  

Buddy has been a visionary and consequential leader for Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, including as a board member from 2000 to 2004 and as president from 2006 to 2008. He continually promotes the importance of interfraternity cooperation, through the NIC and Interfraternity Councils, the importance of strengthening the Greek movement and each fraternity. Within the NIC, Buddy served on the board of directors from 2010 to 2015, and as chairman from 2014 to 2015 when the NIC moved from a volunteer-driven board to the current Governing Council. In other words, he managed the process that eliminated the board that he chaired. After the move to the new governance system, Buddy served until 2022 as Phi Gamma Delta’s representative on the Governing Council.  

Michael A. Greenberg has volunteered with Sigma Chi for more than 40 years helping to elevate chapters, organization-wide recruitment efforts, leadership development programs, and more. After giving his time in various leadership roles mentoring undergraduates, leading workshops, and developing an alumni ambassador program, his drive to create enduring leaders positioned him as Sigma Chi’s 68th Grand Consul from 2013-2015. During his tenure in this role Mike made it known that hazing would no longer be tolerated in any form whatsoever. His leadership inspired the Preparation for Brotherhood program which has since won a Gold Medal from the Brandon Hall Association.  

Not satisfied with the elimination of hazing as his sole deliverable, Mike also recognized the need for enhanced wellness programming and helped to generate a positive behavioral approach to leadership development with attention to mental health education, suicide prevention, drug and alcohol use, and sexual misconduct prevention.  

In 2015 when the NIC’s Governing Council was created, Mike served as Sigma Chi’s inaugural delegate and as the Chairman of the Membership Committee. Additionally, he served as the Governing Council’s Chairman of the Executive Committee from 2018 through 2022 when he opted to retire from service to the NIC to pursue other interfraternal leadership initiatives. Mike currently serves as the Sigma Chi Leadership Institute Chairman. 

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Founded in 1909, the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is a trade association that represents national and international men’s fraternities, including a diverse range of culturally and religious-based organizations, on campuses in the United States and Canada. The NIC is committed to supporting opportunities for young men to seek and form positive, enriching fraternal bonds. The health and safety of students guides our advocacy, standards and education. 

Media Contact: Cody Cramer 

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Indianapolis, May 22, 2023 – The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) has selected six individuals to join the 2023-2024 IFC Advisory Council. These undergraduate students have served on their respective campus Interfraternity Councils (IFC) and held numerous chapter leadership positions. They include Greg Abraham, University of Arizona; Braeden Boyle, High Point University; Rocco DeLorenzo, Cornell University; Chris Higby, Ohio State University; Charlie Schimmel, Louisiana State University; and Jake Sherman, University of Missouri. Learn more about these individuals below.  

“We are grateful for these young men and their commitment to the fraternal movement,” said Will Foran, NIC Chief Operating Officer. “They play a critical role in continuing to enhance the resources available to Interfraternity Councils by providing strategic feedback and intentionally engaging with other fraternity leaders. We appreciate their willingness to volunteer their time over the next year.”  

The IFC Advisory Council is a unique opportunity allowing undergraduate fraternity members to engage with industry leaders while helping to influence and shape the fraternity experience. They will assist with developing IFC resources, inter/national policy and mentoring other IFC officers. Members will begin meeting later this month and serve in this role for one year.  

Greg Abraham  
Greg serves as the current Interfraternity Council President at the University of Arizona. Prior to this, he served as the president of the Epsilon Alpha chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity. 

Braeden Boyle 
Braeden has served two terms as IFC President at High Point University (HPU). He serves as a student conduct board member in the Office of Student Conduct at HPU and a member of the student government executive council and was recently elected class president. In the Eta Xi chapter of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, Braeden has served as ritual chair, house manager/resident assistant. 

Rocco DeLorenzo 
Rocco currently serves as the Cornell University Interfraternity Council president and previously served as the vice president of membership and alumni development. He has served as risk manager and academic chair for the Alpha Psi chapter of Chi Psi Fraternity. Additionally, he was a member of the Cornell Undergraduate Student Assembly serving as the vice president of finance and as Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management representative.  

Chris Higby 
Chris has served in many roles within the Ohio State University Interfraternity Council including vice president of recruitment, vice president of marketing and as president. He was also a cohort facilitator for the Greek programming board. Within the Ohio Gamma chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, he has served as vice programming of recruitment and vice president of programming.  

Charlie Schimmel 
Currently, Charlie is serving as the Interfraternity Council president at Louisiana State University. Previously, he served as the vice president, new member educator and pledge class president of the Beta Phi chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.  

Jake Sherman 
Jake is the Interfraternity Council president at the University of Missouri-Columbia. As a member of the Gamma Kappa chapter of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Jake served as the director and senior director of philanthropy and other positions. He is active on campus serving on the steering committee for Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis and participating in the Missouri Real Estate Club, Business Careers in Entertainment and as a member of the Investment Group. 

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The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is the trade association representing national and international men’s fraternities, including a diverse range of culturally and religious-based organizations. 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. 

Indianapolis, January 11, 2023 – The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) announces the hiring of Cody Cramer as Director of Communication. In this role he will develop and execute proactive, industry-wide campaigns geared toward telling the story of the fraternity experience; provide support to members and Interfraternity Councils when crisis communication assistance is needed; lead grassroots communication efforts in collaboration with interfraternal organizations and partners; and more. 

“Having experience in higher education and fraternity communications, we are eager for Cody to join our team to further develop and execute public relations initiatives for higher education thought leaders and engage fraternity members around advocacy and legislative priorities,” said Judson Horras, NIC President and CEO.  

Cramer comes to the NIC team from FarmHouse Fraternity where he served as Assistant Executive Director for Communications & Alumni Engagement. For the past two years, Cramer has been highly involved with the Fraternity Communications Association serving as Brown Bag Chair and Programming Chair, receiving the Association’s Chairperson of the Year Award in 2022. From 2013-2020, Cramer worked at Oklahoma State University with a focus on communications and first-year student success.  

“I am excited to be joining the team as the Director of Communication. The value provided by fraternities and sororities is unmatched and I look forward to working with our partners to continue to advance the fraternal movement,” said Cramer. 

Since graduating from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s in agribusiness, including a minor in marketing, and a master’s in agricultural communications, he has been an active member of many professional organizations including Edmond Young Professionals, Oklahoma Colleges Public Relations Council and Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. Cramer is a member of FarmHouse Fraternity. 

Current Director of Communication Hillary Brewer will transition to Director of Marketing after Cramer’s start date. In this role, she will nurture and grow the NIC’s and Foundation for Fraternal Excellence’s reputation for being forward-thinking, supportive communication partners in the industry with a focus on executing impactful digital marketing campaigns. 

Cramer will begin on January 30 and can be reached at cody.cramer@nicfraternity.org following his start date. Brewer can still be reached at hillary.brewer@nicfraternity.org. 

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The Foundation for Fraternal Excellence (FFE) 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. The 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 a culture of care, connection and research. 

The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is the trade association representing national and international men’s fraternities, including a diverse range of culturally and religious-based organizations. 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. 

Indianapolis, October 21, 2022 – The Foundation for Fraternal Excellence (FFE) and North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) announce the hiring of Desiree Paulhamus as Director of Programs. In this role, she will manage all aspects of flagship FFE and NIC programs as well as implement new and existing initiatives that will help members grow and strengthen the future of the fraternal experience.

“Desiree is the kind of professional who can take on anything and excel. She’s passionate about the education and leadership opportunities that exist within the fraternity/sorority experience, and I have no doubt that will translate to her work with FFE and the NIC. I’m looking forward to working alongside her and seeing how her thoughtful approach help us fulfill our missions with greater impact,” said FFE Executive Director Ashley VanDewark.

Paulhamus comes to the FFE/NIC team from The EMpact One Foundation where she served as Director of Development and Communications. From 2016-2021, Paulhamus worked at the Tri Sigma Foundation as the Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives. During this time she was involved with FFE and served as a volunteer member of the Advance Planning Committee.

“I’m excited to step into the Director of Programs role. Having worked at a sorority foundation, I’ll strive to be a strong and collaborative partner with our members to meet the needs of the fraternal industry, along with our philanthropic efforts as a greater community,” Paulhamus shared. “I look forward to sharing my strengths and talents to serve both the professional staff and volunteers in new ways.”

She is a devoted volunteer giving her time to organizations including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Tri Sigma Sorority and the National Panhellenic Conference Foundation. She is a member of Tri Sigma from the University of Central Arkansas.

Paulhamus will begin on November 3 and can be reached at desiree.paulhamus@fraternalexcellence.org following her start date.

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The Foundation for Fraternal Excellence (FFE) 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. The 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 a culture of care, connection and research.

The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is the trade association representing national and international men’s fraternities, including a diverse range of culturally and religious-based organizations. 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.