2027 AFA Leadership Elections Results

AFA is excited to announce the results of our 2027 Board elections, and to introduce you to the 2027-2028 AFA President and the 2027 AFA Board of Directors. The AFA Board of Directors will officially take leadership at the close of the 2026 Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois in December.

Elected President

Dr. Will Frankenberger

Dr. Will Frankenberger (he/him) currently serves as the Chief Learning Officer at Delta Zeta National Sorority. A dedicated AFA volunteer, he has served as Awards and Recognition Chair, Fireside Chats/Exchange Chair, and Special Events Committee Chair on the Annual Meeting Planning Team. He is a member of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity and holds degrees from Millikin University, Ball State University, and Kansas State University. Will resides in Chicago with his husband Brandon, their two cats Finn and Marcel, and their St. Bernardoodle, Bonnie.

Elected Directors

Dr. Hector Cuevas

Dr. Hector G. Cuevas (he/him/él) currently serves as the Associate Director of Operations in the Office of Residence, Sorority, and Fraternity Life at Emory University. He also serves AFA as coordinator of the Doctoral Student Community Collective and as a member of the Awards & Recognition Committee. He holds bachelor’s degrees in psychology and criminal justice from Florida International University, a master’s degree in college student personnel administration from Illinois State University, a doctorate in Student Affairs Leadership from the University of Georgia, and is an initiate of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. Originally from Miami, Florida, Hector now resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dee Hawks

Dee Hawks (she/her) currently leads the Kansas State University Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.  Beyond her campus work, Dee serves Delta Gamma Fraternity as Fraternity Director: Programming, where she helps to shape fraternity-wide programs and experiences designed to connect and inspire members. A relationship-builder and big-picture thinker, Dee believes deeply in the power of people and community to create meaningful change. Dee is an initiate of Delta Gamma at Northern Kentucky University and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in student affairs from Western Kentucky University.

Board of Directors Appointment

As outlined in the AFA bylaws, the Board assumes the responsibility of identifying Board appointments that “add value, necessary expertise, and unique skills to the Board of Directors.” (Article X, Section E) The process of Board appointments allows the Board to increase its overall governance strength, add voices that reflect the most immediate needs of our Association, and to reduce gaps in skill and perspective that maximize Board effectiveness.

As previously communicated, the Board utilized the following guiding principles in making this selection:

  • Long-term resource planning. As the resources entering the higher education industry becomes increasingly more constrained, AFA is focused on long-term resource planning including our business models, our investment, and our overall return on investment for our constituents. This includes potential Board members with strong business savvy and non-profit financial literacy. 
  • Strategic planning/frame-working capacity. As ‘Forward to 50’ comes to a close, the AFA Board is focused on building a Board that can effectively identify the right approach to AFA’s future strategic priorities that both provides AFA focus and allows for us to be nimble in a shifting landscape. 
  • Employer diversity. As AFA serves a community of FSL professionals serving in diverse contexts, AFA thinks about how appointments can serve to strengthen the amount of voices representing diverse employer environments.

Ry Beck

Ry Beck

Ry Beck (he/him) has been selected by the 2026 AFA Board of Directors for a two-year appointment for the 2027 and 2028 years of service. In review of his candidacy and his evaluation materials from the AFA Governance & Nominations Committee, Beck performed best in class in the items surrounding literacy of AFA financial models, business model realignment, and future planning for AFA. He reflects a headquarters perspective that is helpful in how AFA engages an important part of its core audience. Overall, Beck reflects a critical voice in how AFA strengthens its value proposition in its next strategic era.

Beck currently serves as the chief executive officer of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity and brings more than fifteen years experience with education-based nonprofits. Beck holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas, a master’s degree from Ball State Univeristy, a Master of Business Administration degree from Butler University, and is a member of Delta Sigma Phi. He currently lives in Knoxville, TN with his wife, Liz, and you will likely find him enjoying a concert when he’s away from the office.

 

Returning Board Members

Dr. Frankenberger, Dr. Cuevas, Hawks, and Beck will join returning board members Dr. Kate Butler Denhart, Marilyn Russell, and Devin Walker on the 2027 Board of Directors.