Fraternity and Sorority Life brings strategy and impact to a national stage

Hokies in Fraternity and Sorority Life stood out as leaders and changemakers at AFLV Central, the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values conference. 

More than 120 campuses and over 2,300 attendees participated in the annual conference, dedicated to the progress of fraternity and sorority experiences nationwide.

Virginia Tech's fraternity and sorority community of more than 5,700 students represents just over 18 percent of undergraduate students.

This year, Fraternity and Sorority Life supported the conference through operational involvement and workshop presentations. In recognition of Fraternity and Sorority Life's excellence over the past year, Virginia Tech students, councils, and staff received eight awards.

Starting with service

Chandler Crean, assistant director of Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL), managed on-site registration operations, where he welcomed thousands of campus representatives and attendees. 

Crean said, “I was proud to represent Virginia Tech by demonstrating that our students and staff are not only engaged on our campus but are actively contributing to and shaping the broader field of higher education. Our presence reinforced that Hokies lead with integrity, collaboration, and service well beyond Blacksburg.”

Rhian Batts, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., served as a student intern for conference operations. She said she loved working behind-the-scenes, knowing she was contributing to an impactful experience for fraternity and sorority leaders from across the country

“It was rewarding to work alongside professionals and student leaders who are passionate about FSL and to see how much intentionality goes into creating spaces for growth, connection, and development,” she said.

Fraternity and Sorority Life teams presented two workshops during the conference. Tianna Pride, coordinator for Fraternity and Sorority Life and advisor to the Interfraternity Council, and Archer Snell, member of Beta Theta Pi and Interfraternity Council president, presented “Town, Tailgates, and Teamwork.” They showcased how the Adopt a Cop program’s enduring partnership between Fraternity and Sorority Life's Interfraternity Council and the Blacksburg Police Department has fostered trust and teamwork at big events.

“We wanted to show that fraternities and sororities can take the lead in promoting safety and being good community partners,” said Pride. “Our hope is that others walked away with practical ideas they can use on their own campuses and a renewed belief that collaboration really does make a difference.”

Snell also focused on audience impact. He said, “It was really cool to see how amazed the other schools were with our practices and getting them to think about how they could bring them to their campuses.”

Zack Pfeifer, associate director for Fraternity and Sorority Life, and three student hazing prevention advocates — Sasha Leydon of Gamma Phi Beta, Olivia Bovey of Delta Delta Delta, and James Bottiglieri of Sigma Phi Epsilon — presented “Advocates in Action: Students Leading Hazing Prevention.” The workshop outlined the successes of Virginia Tech’s peer education-based hazing prevention strategy and gave attendees a road map for building and sustaining their own programs. 
 
“Our goal was for participants to leave feeling empowered, supported, and confident in their ability to create meaningful change,” said Leydon. “I hope our presentation reinforced that intentional collaboration between students and staff can create powerful initiatives that change the culture of Greek life for the better.”

Big impact leads to big recognition

Virginia Tech Fraternity and Sorority Life's commitment to supporting and uplifting the community garnered several awards at the conference.

Virginia Tech’s National Pan-Hellenic Council won the Robert Page Award, for the most outstanding National Pan-Hellenic Council in the country.

Three Virginia Tech councils won Council Compass Awards. This award program uses an assessment completed and submitted by fraternity and sorority life councils to give specific feedback on how to grow and progress in four areas: accountability, collaboration, education, and innovation. Councils can earn a one-, two-, or three-star award for excellence in one or more areas.

• The National Pan-Hellenic Council won three three-star Compass Awards: Collaboration, Education, and Innovation
• The Interfraternity Council won a three-star Compass Award in Accountability
• The United Council of Fraternities & Sororities won a one-star Compass Award in Innovation

“It is really meaningful to see how thoroughly excellent our councils, student leaders, and professional staff are,” said Abbi Hanson Allen, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life. “These awards are just a small endorsement of some opinions I already hold — Virginia Tech truly has one of the best fraternity and sorority communities in the country.”

Crean was awarded the Steven B. Dealph Change Maker Award for his visionary leadership and courage to challenge conventional wisdom in pursuit of systemic, sustainable progress in Virginia Tech’s fraternity and sorority experience. In celebration of Crean’s award, each of the four governing councils contributed $250 to scholarships for students to attend Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values programs.