The Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors is excited to recognize the outstanding contributions of its members, colleagues, and programs by announcing its 2024 award recipients.
Awards are determined by the AFA’s Awards & Recognition Committee based on nominations and will be presented during the AFA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana from December 4-7.
On behalf of the AFA Foundation, friends and colleagues are invited to honor award recipients with an “In Honor Of” gift to the AFA Foundation. These gifts will be used to advance the work of AFA through scholarships, grants, and funding for professional development initiatives.
To make an In Honor Of gift, click here. Then, please select “In Honor Of” and list the award recipient(s) in the comment box below the tribute notification. The AFA Foundation will share the list of donors with the award recipients following the 2024 AFA Annual Meeting.
2024 Individual Award Recipients
Dr. Kent L. Gardner Award
Presented annually to a senior college/university administrator who has demonstrated a continued commitment to the advancement of fraternities and sororities.
Dr. Thomas Lane
Vice President of Academic Success and Student Affairs, and Dean of Students, Kansas State University
With 30 years of student life administration experience, Dr. Thomas Lane became Vice President of Academic Success and Student Affairs in 2019. Lane’s dedication to repairing the relationship with and advancing fraternities and sororities at Kansas State permeates every aspect of his leadership philosophy, reflecting a deep seated commitment to fostering a vibrant and thriving K-State community.
In fall 2017, a major change was made to the Student Organization Policy putting into place a policy separating independent student organizations from University oversight. Upon Lane’s arrival to K-State, he immediately began work to reaffiliate this vital piece of campus life: recognized student organizations. In October 2021, Dr. Lane established a sub-workgroup within the Action Plan for a More Inclusive K-State, to examine the structural relationship of student organizations with the university. Among the hundreds of student organizations welcomed back into University recognition in fall 2023 were 50 Fraternities and Sororities, encompassing over 3,000 members and four governing councils. Lane championed the revitalization of the Fraternity & Sorority Life office to support community functions and education.
Jack L. Anson Award
Presented annually to an individual not employed at an institution of higher education who has demonstrated a continued commitment to the fraternity/sorority community beyond the individual’s respective organization.
Julie Johnson
Former National President, Kappa Delta Sorority
Julie Johnson has served Kappa Delta Sorority and the National Panhellenic Council (NPC) community as a volunteer for over 40 years, including 30 years as a member of the Kappa Delta National Council as NPC Delegate, National Vice-President – Membership, and National President.
Her leadership in NPC includes service on several committees and roles including the NPC Executive Committee and as chairman of the Panhellenics, Extension, RFM Leadership, and Panhellenic Strategic Initiatives committees. Known for providing innovative approaches to recruitment, retention, and council leadership, she has been a frequent conference presenter.
Julie has helped lead and navigate today’s uncertainty, advocating for parity and change to sustain our community in an ever-evolving landscape. She is a previous recipient of Kappa Delta’s Order of the Diamond, SGLA Durward Owen Interfraternal Service Award, and NPC Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award
Presented annually to an individual in the field of higher education who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to fraternities and sororities.
Shelly Brown Dobek
Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, North Carolina State University
Shelly Brown Dobek has spent her career serving students, chapters, and their stakeholders for 26 years, including 23 of those at North Carolina State University where she is currently the Director of the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
A respected colleague and mentor to many in higher education, Dobek has been transformative in the way she leads and teaches others to lead. She believes in collaborating toward outcomes that can facilitate important change to preserve the future of fraternities and sororities, and her inter-fraternalism is vast across affiliations, councils and memberships.
Dobek’s service to AFA includes serving as President, chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee, and Vice President of Admin & Finance. She is a previous recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, and is a member of Delta Zeta Sorority.
Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Awards
Presented annually to no more than five individuals who have exhibited outstanding achievements in service to the fraternity/sorority industry and/or to AFA.
Stephanie Baldwin
Director, Cornell University
Stephanie Baldwin, a committed fraternal advocate and change maker, has almost 20 years of experience in Student Affairs. She currently serves as the co-chair for the Fraternity/Sorority Knowledge Community for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and is a co-facilitator of the AFA’s First 90 Days program.
Prior to working at Cornell, Baldwin held positions at the University of Colorado Boulder and Utah State University. She is a graduate of Southern Utah University and Utah State University and is a member of the Theta Sigma chapter of Alpha Phi International Women’s Fraternity.
Brittany Barnes Deeg
Vice President for Learning, RISE Partnerships
Brittany Barnes Deeg has had a wide-ranging and outsized impact on the fraternity/sorority community as a team member of RISE Partnerships, where her work led to multiple clients receiving Excellence in Educational Programming Awards.
She is a past recipient of the Gayle Weeb Outstanding New Professional Award and the Shelley Sutherland Outstanding Volunteer Award. She has served as a volunteer for AFA, Chi Omega, and the Circle of Sisterhood.
Brandon Cutler
Associate Dean & Director of Fraternity, Sorority & Cooperative Life, Purdue University
Brandon Cutler has served the Purdue University Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Community since 2013, and has served in a variety of volunteer capacities for AFA,, Order of Omega, Theta Chi Fraternity, College Mentors for Kids, and the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC).
Cutler earned a master’s degree from Western Illinois University, a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, and is pursuing a doctorate in technology from Purdue University – Purdue Polytechnic Institute.
Ryan O’Rourke
Executive Director, Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values (AFLV)
Ryan O’Rourke began working professionally with fraternities and sororities in 2005, and became the second-ever Executive Director for AFLV in 2016. During his tenure, AFLV’s educational experiences that have reached over 35,000 fraternity/sorority members from over 300 campuses and organizations across the US and Canada.
O’Rourke holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degrees in nonprofit management from Florida Atlanta University. Outside of work, he became a dad to Kellan in 2015 and that remains the most rewarding thing in his world.
Jessica Ryan
Director, Fraternity and Sorority Leadership & Learning, University of Delaware
Jess Ryan has held FSL positions at University of West Florida, Penn, and Delaware. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Sigma Delta Tau and has facilitated programming, written curriculum, and assisted in events for the sorority.
Ryan been involved with AFA since 2010, and has been an ardent supporter of AFA programming, attending programs and sending staff to do the same. She has previously served as an Annual Meeting Ambassador, an educational programs reviewer, and chair of the Educational Programs Committee.
Gayle Webb New Professional Award
Presented annually to one AFA member who is a campus-based professional and one AFA member who is an inter/national organization staff member during the individual’s first three years of Association membership.
Avery Bracken
Asst. Director of Communications and Marketing, Phi Mu Fraternity
Avery Bracken joined the Phi Mu staff after traveling for one year as a Chapter Consultant. She also serves as a Recruitment Marketing Coach for NPC, where she works with five collegiate councils each semester.
Bracken applies her expertise in marketing and communications in her oversight of Phi Mu’s social media platforms, and constantly works to improve and reinvent content to be relevant and engaging. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, with a concentration in political communication, from Louisiana State University.
Michele Criss
Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Kent State University
Michele Criss currently serves as the Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Kent State University. During her time as a student at Kent State, Michele joined Delta Gamma, where her passion for fraternity and sorority life inspired her to pursue an advanced degree. She is proud to be a part of the community that gave her a home during her transformational college experience, and returned to help build and inspire the next generation of leaders
Criss has a master’s degree in educational leadership studies from Oklahoma State University, with a focus on college student development, and a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University.
Elevation in Practice Awards
New in 2024, Elevation in Practice Awards are presented to programs which display originality towards advancements of the modern fraternal movement. Up to three awards may be presented in each category: Impact, Innovation, and Inclusion.
Elevation in Practice – Impact Award
Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Summit – Gamma Phi Beta Sorority
The Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (BEDI) Summit is the Sorority’s annual leadership summit dedicated solely to creating a more just, equitable and inclusive Gamma Phi Beta. Since its launch in 2021, nearly 6,500 members and friends of Gamma Phi Beta have explored topics on race and racism, sex, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation, disability (2023) and BEDI action. Data from BEDI Summit learning assessments demonstrates positive outcomes in attendee self-reported learning and development, and qualitative data from the event also suggests a positive impact with attendees reporting learning more about their own identities and finding a community of support within the Sorority.
The BEDI Summit is generously supported by Gamma Phi Beta Foundation donors.
Sorority & Fraternity Life Chapter Coaching Program – University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The University of Tennessee Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life’s Chapter Coaching Program partners staff members and chapter presidents to assess their leadership journey and chapter progress through intentional meetings, developing chapter growth opportunities, goal setting, resource sharing, celebrating of milestones, and preparing for successful transitions. Focusing on the staff-student relationship, the coaching program meets each individual student leader where they are in order to set goals that are unique to their situation and for success to be defined by each chapter. Ultimately, the program builds confidence in leaders, increased chapter buy-in and participation in the community’s accreditation program (SOFE), and gives the next year’s chapter context and a roadmap to success.
The Noble Workshop Program – Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity
The goal of Zeta Tau Alpha’s Noble Workshop Program is to support the growth and development of chapters and members through customized, interactive, connection-focused programming, written by ZTA, for ZTA, to ensure all chapters have the support, resources, and education to reach their full potential. Noble Workshops are staff-led, in-person programs focusing on Recruitment and Belonging. In total, the program has hosted 280 workshops impacting 22,500+ collegians from 156 of 172 active ZTA chapters.
Elevation in Practice – Innovation Award
Project Excellence and Beyond – The Ohio State University
This groundbreaking project began with the NPHC community, with support from Sorority & Fraternity Life staff, engaging with the University President and Student Life Administrators to create an opportunity to make a lasting impact for Black students and advocate for increased representation and support. Following the opening of the NPHC Plaza in 2022, Project Excellence evolved beyond a physical space for NPHC organizations to serve as a vibrant platform to celebrate Black history, honor individual contributions to NPHC and Black student communities, and recognize Black excellence as a force for community change. This initiative has helped foster campus-wide support and engagement with the NPHC community beyond the creation of the NPHC plaza.
Fraternity and Sorority Life Coaching Program – Bowling Green State University
The Bowling Green State University Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life’s comprehensive Fraternity and Sorority Life Coaching Program provides tailored guidance through one-on-one coaching sessions and targeted outreach efforts, ensuring that students are not only well-versed in the university’s core values and policies but also fully aware of resources available to them. By placing a strong emphasis on critical self-reflection and encouraging open, honest dialogue, the program helps new members navigate their experiences and promotes a safe, inclusive, and enriching experience for all participants. Its role in guiding new members through their transition ensures that they are well-prepared to contribute positively to their organizations and to the broader campus community, thereby enhancing the overall fraternal experience.
Volunteer Engagement Initiative – Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi’s Volunteer Engagement Initiative was eveloped to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of local volunteer teams by bolstering its many stakeholders. By shifting the staff’s primary support services from members to advisors, the VEI helps rectify the problem of inconsistent or ineffective collegiate officer transitions, the need for continuity in knowledge and practice, and increased lifelong engagement for alumni. In 2022, Beta launched a Volunteer Services Department with the expectation to remain disciplined in this new approach of providing proactive outreach and support to current volunteers while also shouldering responsibility for supporting, recruiting, and onboarding prospective volunteers. For 2024-25, Beta has merged them with proven practices in its officer-focused model so all chapters now exist in a newly titled Fraternity Services Department.
Elevation in Practice – Inclusion Award
Courageous Conversations Webinar Series with Omega & Alpha Solutions, LLC – Lambda Phi Epsilon International Fraternity, Inc.
Recognizing the urgent need to address complex social issues, the Lambda Phi Epsilon Board of Directors partnered with Omega & Alpha Solutions, LLC to create a brave space for members to engage in honest and transformative discussions about race, culture, and identity, and to inspire members to take actionable steps toward creating a more inclusive and equitable society. Sessions were held quarterly over a year, reaching students from over 40 universities. By addressing critical social issues through structured, insightful, and engaging dialogue, the program elevated the content and facilitation of subsequent leadership summits and new member education retreats.
The Redevelopment of Greek Village – Place and Space for All – North Carolina State University
In 2006, the NC State Chancellor appointed a task force to develop a new Greek Village, intentionally including voices from chapters with varied histories, differing chapter sizes, and all councils. The resulting master plan reflected a commitment to provide place and space for all organizations, recognition that not all groups were equally resourced, and designated land in the heart of the community for the construction of university-owned townhomes. During design, through collaborative and student-centered planning, the townhomes concept was expanded to include 3 buildings, adding 11 chapter units and 278 beds. Opening in 2023, the townhomes increased the number of chapters in Greek Village from 14 to 25, with another 17 organizations represented in the GV Apartments.
Maine Seacoast Mission Service Immersion Program – Sigma Kappa Sorority
This service immersion project, facilitated in partnership with the Maine Seacoast Mission(MSCM), aimed to address various community needs in the Cherryfield community of Downeast Maine. Through collaboration with MSCM, we identified key areas where our collective efforts could make a significant impact, including housing repair, environmental stewardship, and food insecurity. The initiative focused on inclusivity, equity, and community empowerment, ensuring that diverse voices were heard and valued throughout the process, and created a transformative experience that not only benefited the Cherryfield community but also enriched the lives of participants.
The Maine Seacoast Mission service immersion program is generously supported by the Sigma Kappa Foundation.
Publication Awards
Essentials Award
Presented annually to the author(s) of an article in Essentials, AFA’s digital publication, that is thought provoking, enlightening, and provides relevant and practical ideas to AFA members.
“Tradition Meets Tomorrow: Modern Fraternal Advising for the ‘Subscription Generation’” by Morgan Brickley and Chris Graham
The fraternal movement has seen significant shifts in the past decade, prompting fraternity/sorority professionals to adapt and expand their roles both on college campuses and within organization headquarters. This article explores three key aspects of this evolving landscape: the maturation of fraternity/sorority advising, highlighting return on investment, and retaining talented professionals.
Brickley currently serves as the Sr. Director of Leadership Programs for Triangle Fraternity. Her past professional experience includes Delta Zeta Sorority HQ, Northern Illinois University, and the University of Louisville. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity. Graham is the immediate past president of AFA. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Perspectives Awards
Presented annually to the author(s) of an article in Perspectives, AFA’s online magazine, that is thought provoking, enlightening, and provides relevant and practical ideas to AFA members.
“Rooted Together: Native American Fraternities & Sororities Cultivating Community” by LaKeya N. Francis
This article examines the importance of historically Native American fraternities and sororities (HNAFS) in supporting Indigenous students at predominantly white institutions. The article highlights key HNAFS, including Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc. and Phi Sigma Nu, discusses their impact on higher education, and emphasizes the need for Fraternity and Sorority Advisors (FSAs) to recognize and support these organizations through advocacy, visibility, and engagement with Indigenous communities.
LaKeya Francis is the current Assistant Director, Student Organizations and Media at Duke University. She has an master’s degree from Central Connecticut State University, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Eberly Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice Award
Presented annually to the author(s) of an article in JSFLRP that displays outstanding written and academic contributions to the fraternity/sorority industry.
“We Hear You, We See You, and We Are With You’: An Analysis of NPC Sorority Chapter Social Media Messages” by Dr. Michael A. Goodman, Dr. Georgianna Martin, and Dr. Aaron T. George
This critical discourse analysis examined the most popular non-video-based social media platforms of 33 National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sorority chapters. This study includes chapters at or approaching 25% “racially/ethnically diverse” membership, a term, and status determined by NPC and campus-based advisors. The authors analyzed posts from 2019-2022 and how, if at all, these sororities espoused diversity, equity, and/or inclusion (DEI) in their posts. Notable findings involve a spike in DEI posts during June 2020 and a signal of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer(+) identities and issues.
Dr. Michael A. Goodman, Ph.D.is an assistant professor of practice and co-coordinator of the Program in Higher Education Leadership and Policy at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Georgianna Martin is a member of Chi Omega Fraternity and is associate professor in the Department of Counseling & Human Development Services at the University of Georgia. Dr. Aaron T. George is a member of Omega Delta Phi, Fraternity Inc. and is a faculty member for the Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) program at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.
Dissertation of the Year Award, Presented by Dyad Strategies*
Presented annually to the author of a completed dissertation that makes a substantial contribution to knowledge in the field of fraternity/sorority life. The AFA Foundation celebrates Dyad Strategies’ commitment to advancing sorority & fraternity research and thanks them for their generous gift designed to endow this award in perpetuity.
“Unrealistic Expectations: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Lived Experiences of Former Campus-Based Fraternity/Sorority Advisors” by Dr. Abbey Rowe Erwin, Virginia Tech
In this dissertation, Erwin explores the weight of the work of fraternity/sorority advising (FSA), the complexity of the fraternity and sorority advising job, and the burn-through that exists in fraternity/sorority advising. Interviews with nine former FSAs lead to implications and recommendations for policy and practice, specifically around the areas of training and onboarding, employee well-being, and the resources that are necessary to support the work of FSAs.
Dr. Abbey Rowe Erwin earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from Virginia Tech in May 2024. She currently works in enrollment management at Virginia Tech where she serves as the Director of Program Support and Student Services for professionally-oriented graduate programs. She also holds a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree from Roanoke College. She was awarded the 2023 Order of Omega Doctoral Fellowship and is a proud member of Alpha Sigma Alpha and volunteer for Sigma Phi Epsilon.
