The Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors is excited to recognize the outstanding contributions of its members, colleagues, and programs by announcing its 2026 award recipients.
Award recipients are selected by the AFA’s Awards & Recognition Committee based on nominations and are approved by the AFA Board of Directors. Recipients will be honored during AFA’s Awards & Recognition Week beginning Monday, October 5, and will be presented their awards during the AFA Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois from December 2 — 5.
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 2026 AFA Annual Meeting.
2026 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. Jeremiah Shinn
President, University of Montana
Dr. Jeremiah Shinn proudly serves as the 20th president of the University of Montana.
A first-generation college student, Shinn’s own college experience helped him develop a deep passion for the transformational potential of higher education to change lives and improve communities. Prior to joining UM, Shinn was the interim president at Boise State University, as well as the vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. While at Boise State, the institution set enrollment records under Shinn’s leadership, culminating in a record-breaking first-year class in 2025.
In addition to his executive leadership roles at Boise State, Shinn also served as vice president for student affairs at Louisiana State University and held student-facing administrative positions at Indiana University and Eastern Michigan University. Shinn earned a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas Tech University, a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and a doctorate from Eastern Michigan University. In addition to his administrative roles, Shinn has also taught graduate and undergraduate courses and is an active researcher.
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.
Judson Horras
President & CEO, North American Interfraternity Conference
Judson Horras joined the NIC as its president and CEO in 2016, after more than 18 years serving Beta Theta Pi. He is seen as a thought leader in advancing the fraternity experience through partnership and collaboration that extends beyond traditional higher education partners. In his time at the NIC, he has consistently displayed an ability to work strategically and constructively with a variety of constituents who have disparate goals and points of view. Through this, Horras has led transformational work that has resulted in the development of a robust research agenda, bringing clarity to the impact of fraternity membership, and advanced the Stop Campus Hazing Act which was signed into law in 2024.
Horras is a graduate of Iowa State University and presently splits time between Indianapolis and Ames. His daughter, Anna, attends Iowa State and has joined a sorority, and he hopes his son, Andrew, will have a meaningful fraternity experience in the near future.
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.
Cassie Gerhardt
Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, University of North Dakota
Cassie Gerhardt is an accomplished higher education administrator and dedicated advocate for student success and development, currently in her 25th year at her alma mater, the University of North Dakota. For nearly 30 years, Cassie has supported students while maintaining a deep commitment to fraternities and sororities and the students, volunteers, and professionals who make the experience possible. She attended her first AFA Annual Meeting in 1999 and has since served on the Essentials Editorial Board, Code of Ethics Workgroup, Nominations & Elections Committee, and for seven years on the AFA Foundation Board of Directors.
A dedicated Alpha Chi Omega alumna, Gerhart currently serves as a National Vice President and previously led its National Housing Corporation. Her broader professional and community service includes leadership with NASPA and Make-A-Wish North Dakota. In 2026, Gerhart was honored as a NASPA Foundation Pillar of the Profession. She holds two bachelor’s degrees and a doctorate from the University of North Dakota, and a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University.
Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Awards
Presented annually to individuals who have exhibited meaningful contributions to the forward movement of AFA as members and volunteers, while also contributing broadly to the fraternity/sorority profession and/or making meaningful intellectual contributions to the fraternity/sorority industry.
Dr. Trace P. Camacho
Associate Dean of Students and Senior Diversity Officer, California State University, Long Beach
For nearly two decades, Dr. Trace Camacho has helped shape more thoughtful, inclusive, and student-centered fraternity and sorority communities while making lasting contributions to the profession and higher education. A proud member of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc., Camacho has served the fraternity and sorority profession as both a campus-based professional and national volunteer leader, including leadership roles in fraternity and sorority life at Michigan State University, the University of Arizona, and within Sigma Lambda Beta. Additionally, Camacho has served in numerous roles within AFA, including Regional Director, Annual Meeting Program Reviewer, and Associate Editor of the Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice. Camacho holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz; a master’s degree in education from Iowa State University; and a doctorate in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University.
Dr. Mona Davenport
Dean of Student Sucess (Ret.), Eastern Illinois University
Dr. Mona Y. Davenport spent more than 33 years in higher education, bridging both Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, prior to retiring in 2024. Davenport will also celebrate 45 years of membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated in 2026, and has served that organization as both an undergraduate and alumna, including currently serving as the Chair of National Undergraduate & University Affairs. Beyond her professional and sorority service, Davenport is a mentor to many, known for her candor, authenticity, and willingness to speak truth with both wisdom and care, and continues to inspire others through her lifetime commitment to fraternity and sorority life. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern Illinois University and a doctorate from Illinois State University.
Guillermo Flores
Founder, Fraternity Social Media
With over 12 years of experience as a fraternity and sorority professional, Guillermo Flores is dedicated to elevating the fraternal experience through authentic storytelling that highlights leadership, brotherhood, sisterhood, and community impact. He is the Founder of Fraternity Social Media (FSM), a platform empowering fraternities and sororities to build stronger online communities through purpose-driven content and digital strategy. Flores is a proud first-generation American, and his passion for community building and representation is deeply rooted in his heritage, with family origins in Guerrero, Mexico. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a master’s degree in student affairs administration in higher education from Ball State University.
Keith D. Garcia
Executive Director of Campus Life, Northwestern University
Keith Garcia grounds his work in data-driven decision-making, equity-centered frameworks, and belief that students should see themselves reflected in the narrative of campus life. He has held national and regional leadership roles in student affairs associations and his fraternity, La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. Garcia has previously held positions at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from The City University of New York Bernard M. Baruch College and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Dr. Francisco Lugo
Director, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life; Georgia Southern University
Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dr. Francisco M. Lugo’s nearly two decade career reflects a sustained commitment to mentoring students and professionals, advocating for the value of fraternity and sorority life, and helping build communities where members can lead, belong, grow, and thrive. He has served at Georgia Southern University since 2013, is a former AFA Board of Directors member, and has held leadership positions with NALFO, NASPA, and Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Lugo holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Dayton and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of New England.
Gayle Webb New Professional Award
Presented annually to new professionals with demonstrated achievements in their professional experience and impact, contributions to the field of fraternity and sorority advising broadly including Association service, and outstanding projects/programs/initiatives implemented during the individual’s first three years of Association membership.
Karee Brown-Jones
Fraternity and Sorority Life Coordinator, Winston-Salem State University
Karee Brown-Jones is a higher education professional committed to advancing student success, leadership development, and belonging. Prior to joining WSSU, Brown-Jones worked at Wichita State University in fraternity and sorority life and served as a math professor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Fayetteville State University, a master’s degree in higher education from Liberty University, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in education specializing in Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy. Brown-Jones is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity, and Order of Omega.
Dr. Roderick Davis
Assistant Director, Fraternity & Sorority Life; Mississippi State University
With nearly a decade of experience in higher education before working in fraternity & sorority life, Dr. Roderick Davis has dedicated his career to creating inclusive environments where students can thrive and build meaningful connections. At Mississippi State, Davis has played a significant role in strengthening the National Pan-Hellenic Council and United Greek Council from 30 members to more than 260 members within three years, with the NPHC receiving two consecutive Lamar Bryant NPHC of the Year recognitions from the Southeastern Greek Leadership Association. Davis has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Mississippi State University, a master’s degree in student affairs administration from Arkansas Tech University, and a doctorate in student affairs administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Gabriela “Gabi” Nuñez
Assistant Director of Council Leadership, The Ohio State University
Gabi Nuñez is passionate about empowering students through leadership development, strategic initiatives, and inclusive practices. In her current role, she supports student leaders in fostering collaboration and driving meaningful impact within their communities. Nuñez holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Texas Tech University, a master’s degree in higher education leadership from Texas Christian University, and is a proud member of Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. Outside of her professional role, she enjoys concerts, movies, and spending quality time with her family.
Elevation in Practice Awards
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
Peer Mentor Program – Triangle Fraternity
The Peer Mentor Program is an innovative, student-powered approach to chapter support, development, and growth that extends the reach of the national organization through peer-to-peer mentorship. High-achieving undergraduate members are selected and trained to serve as mentors for chapters nationwide, providing practical guidance in recruitment, communication, marketing, operations, and leadership development. Launched as a pilot in Fall 2024, the program quickly demonstrated its impact on recruitment, member confidence, and chapter organization. Mentors are selected through a competitive process and receive intentional training before being paired with chapters based on their strengths and the chapter’s needs. Each partnership begins by establishing goals and expectations, followed by ongoing meetings, problem-solving, and hands-on support. This model provides chapters with consistent, relationship-driven support while giving mentors valuable leadership, communication, consulting, and problem-solving experience. The Peer Mentor Program has created a scalable and cost-effective model that strengthens chapters, develops future leaders, and expands the organization’s capacity to provide meaningful support to members nationwide.
Dawson Institute – Delta Gamma Fraternity
Dawson Institute is a three-day transformational leadership development experience created exclusively for alumnae. Designed to reimagine the future of lifelong friendship, the program fosters personal growth, leadership development, and meaningful cross-generational connections. Through interactive learning and community-building experiences, attendees gain the skills, confidence, and support to cultivate leadership potential in themselves and others at every stage of life. Launched in 2024, Dawson Institute extends the impact of Delta Gamma’s successful collegiate leadership programs beyond graduation, addressing a critical gap identified by alumnae members. While leadership development has traditionally been concentrated during the collegiate experience, alumnae expressed a desire for more intentional opportunities to continue learning, growing, and connecting as lifelong members. Since its inaugural session, Dawson Institute has been held four times and has experienced nearly 50% growth in applications and participant interest. The program demonstrates a strong commitment to lifelong member engagement, empowering alumnae to remain connected, purpose-driven leaders while strengthening the bonds of sisterhood across generations.
EXCEL Summit – RISE Partnerships
The EXCEL Summit is a month-long virtual institute that prepares current and aspiring directors of fraternity/sorority programs for the demands of leading a department. Built around a research-grounded organizational alignment framework, the program gives participants a model for understanding how resources, strategy, work, personnel, and systems interact and how to design a department that produces results aligned with institutional priorities. The program runs over eight 90-minute sessions combining instruction, small-group application, and peer coaching. Between sessions, participants apply the framework to their own departments through workbook exercises and assignments, and a capstone challenge asks participants to use the framework to address a complex, real-world scenario and present their approach for peer feedback. Participants consistently describe seeing their departments through a different lens, identifying whether a problem is rooted in strategy, work design, personnel, or systems before deciding how to respond, and actively using what they learned to build stronger programs.
Elevation in Practice – Innovation Award
Greek Impact Project – University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The Greek Impact Project reimagined fraternity and sorority assessment as an ongoing strategy for institutional change rather than a one-time report. Through a multi-phase, mixed-methods approach, the initiative combined more than a decade of institutional data with student voice to examine the relationship between fraternity and sorority involvement, student success, belonging, and leadership development. The work began by examining retention, GPA, graduation, and time-to-degree outcomes and expanded to qualitative research exploring how students experienced their Greek communities. A subsequent matched comparison analysis strengthened the findings by examining outcomes while controlling for race/ethnicity, sex, and GPA. Findings informed communication strategies, evidence-based programming, institutional partnerships, and efforts to strengthen engagement and growth across the community. The initiative created a sustainable model for using data to challenge assumptions, elevate student experiences, demonstrate impact, and continuously improve fraternity and sorority life. The result is more than an assessment report—it is a replicable blueprint for turning evidence into action and using data to elevate the modern fraternal experience.
StandUp to Hazing™ – StopHazing
StandUp to Hazing™ is a comprehensive, research-informed hazing prevention course suite designed to equip students, faculty, staff, advisors, parents, and campus communities with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognize, prevent, and respond to hazing. Designed for high-impact learning in 20–30 minutes, the courses use interactive, mobile-responsive micro-learning with built-in assessments and progress tracking. Audience-specific content provides relevant, actionable strategies, including bystander intervention, ethical leadership, healthy group cohesion, and shared responsibility for prevention. StandUp to Hazing is grounded in national research and evaluation data measures changes in knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions; Sliding-scale pricing supports accessibility across institutions. The curriculum also supports federal and state hazing prevention requirements, including the federal Clery Act (Stop Campus Hazing Act), while helping institutions move beyond compliance toward sustained culture change and accountability.
Summit for Collegiate Leadership – Sigma Kappa
Summit for Collegiate Leadership is a multi-year redesign of Sigma Kappa’s national, three-day leadership institute for collegiate leaders and their advisors. Through role-based cohorts, participants learn alongside peers navigating similar responsibilities and challenges, creating space for honest conversation, collaboration and connection. The institute combines large-group learning with role-specific breakout sessions, facilitated “hot topic” discussions, reflection and scenario-based practice to help participants turn learning into actionable plans for their chapters. The redesign was driven by participant feedback and continues to evolve through refreshed content, modernized session design and intentional opportunities for peer learning. By blending learning, practice and connection, the Summit equips collegiate leaders with practical tools, greater confidence and renewed purpose – ready to lead with care and make a meaningful impact. Funding for this program is made possible through the support of the Sigma Kappa Foundation.
Elevation in Practice – Inclusion Award
This year, the Elevation in Practice – Inclusion Award will not be presented, as the Awards and Recognition Committee seeks to ensure this recognition reflects the exceptional standard of inclusion work it was created to celebrate. We know there is meaningful and impactful work happening across our industry, and we look forward to seeing that work highlighted through nominations in the next cycle.
Publication Awards
Perspectives Award, Endowed by Jeffrey Cufaude
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. The AFA Foundation celebrates Jeffrey Cufaude’s commitment to promoting and advancing original thought and viewpoints within the industry, and thanks him for his generous gift designed to endow this award in perpetuity.
“The Graduate Experience” by Camryn Wade
This article examines the role of graduate assistants in fraternity and sorority life and highlights the need for more intentional, development‑focused support. Grounded in student development theory, it offers a practical approach centered on experiential learning, thoughtful supervision, and equitable involvement in departmental work. Rather than viewing graduate assistantships as short‑term staffing, the article frames them as formative professional experiences that influence the future of the field. Ultimately, the piece encourages designing graduate roles with purpose, care, and a commitment to meaningful development. Read the full article on AFA1976.org.
Camryn Wade serves as the Assistant Director of Community Development and Belonging in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at The Pennsylvania State University. Her professional approach centers on care‑based advising, values‑driven decision‑making, and building sustainable systems that help fraternity and sorority communities thrive. Before joining Penn State, Wade served as a graduate assistant in the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life at Indiana University, where she earned a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs.
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.
“A Quantitative Analysis of Organizational Conformity in Sororities and Fraternities: Analyses on ‘Fitting In’” by Dr. Adam M. McCready, Dr. Antonio Duran, Dr. Michael A. Goodman, and Dr. Benjamin S. Selznick
Critics perceive sororities and fraternities as spaces that breed negative decision-making and lead to harmful behaviors (e.g., hazing). A desire to “fit in” may contribute to these subcultures. Yet, little is known about what shapes organizational conformity. This article presents the findings from two studies, each exploring the demographic and context-based characteristics that inform organizational conformity in sororities and fraternities. Guided by theories on ecological systems and developmental meaning making, this article identified settings that predict organizational conformity across sororities and fraternities (e.g., inclusive chapter climates), as well as those unique to each. Read the full article in the JSFLRP.
Dr. Adam M. McCready is an Associate Professor In-Residence of Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education. His research critically examines the student experience with the intent of identifying and challenging oppressive structures in education.
Dr. Antonio Duran is an Associate Professor of Higher and Postsecondary Education, as well as a JD student at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. His research agenda addresses how issues of inequity shape institutions of higher education and what practitioners, faculty, and students do to resist them.
Dr. Michael A. Goodman is a higher education and student affairs educator whose research focuses on student governance and involvement. Specifically, Goodman’s research involves college student government, the student body presidency, and sorority/fraternity life.
Dr. Benjamin S. Selznick is an Associate Professor and Advisor of Postsecondary Analysis and Leadership at James Madison University. Selznick studies how colleges and universities can develop student innovators and the conditions that support such development. He also engages scholarship on leadership in complex learning organizations, college student experiences, and the uses of contemporary methodologies.
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.
“The Influence of Social Media Use on Fraternity and Sorority Members’ Behavior, and Chapter Culture” by Dr. Nick Poling, Idaho State University
Fraternity and sorority life remains a significant part of the collegiate experience while facing persistent challenges related to hazing, substance misuse, and sexual violence. Simultaneously, social media increasingly shapes how college students understand peer norms and organizational culture. Guided by social learning theory and the prototype willingness model, this quantitative study examined relationships between Instagram and TikTok engagement, risk-related behaviors, and chapter culture among fraternity members. Read a preview of the dissertation (ProQuest subscription required for full text).
Dr. Nick Poling is the Fraternity and Sorority Life Program Director in the Student Involvement and Leadership Center at Boise State University, where he has supported the community for over five years. Through his role at Boise State, Poling has worked across councils and chapters as an advisor, while designing and implementing programming for the campus, assisting in conduct investigations, overseeing risk management initiatives and campus partnerships, and more. Poling earned a master’s degree in student affairs from Boston College, and this dissertation was in partial fulfillment of a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Idaho State University. In his free time, he enjoys ultrarunning, mountaineering, and backpacking across the Pacific Northwest.
2026 Volunteer Award Recipients
Recipients of the Shelly Sutherland Outstanding Volunteer Award and the Amy Vojta Outstanding AFA Foundation Volunteer Award will be announced in late fall 2026.