Diversity – Greek University

Dr. Tina Tran: Careers in Medicine for College Students

By admin on March 7, 2026

Dr. Tina Tran brings more than 20 years of experience in veterinary practice, education and leadership. Her career includes work in small animal private practice, shelter medicine and academic leadership roles at Portland Community College, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, where she served as founding faculty and clinical relations lead veterinarian. Most recently, Tina is founding dean of the proposed veterinary school at Hanover College in Indiana. Tina is widely recognized for her contributions to veterinary education and her commitment to creating learning environments where all students feel supported and empowered to succeed. Outside of work, Tina likes cooking, traveling, and taking care of her many houseplants.

In episode 647 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why she chose UC Davis for her undergraduate experience, what made her want to join Kappa Alpha Theta, how the sorority helped to prepare her for the realities of veterinary school and leadership roles, why you don’t have to “choose” between Greek life and a demanding career like medicine, the pressure she felt growing up as a first-generation Filipino-American student, what role mentors played in her journey, how student organizations—especially fraternities and sororities—can be better allies for diversity and inclusion, how she protects her mental health, what animals taught her about leadership and empathy, how working in animal welfare shaped her worldview, and what should students be doing now if they want careers in medicine. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7Z7QephG6I

Fraternity/Sorority

Dr. John McAllister: How do we get more diversity among tenured professors on a college campus?

By admin on February 16, 2024

Dr. John W. McAllister is a productive and recognized higher education scholar with professional experience in Graduate education, Blindness and visual impairments, Graduate Education Program Coordination, student affairs, academic program administration, and disability services management. Dr. McAllister maintains an active research agenda that examines race, gender, and disabilities in American higher education, diversity issues in colleges access and achievement; the effects of education policies and campus environments on racial/ethnic minority student outcomes; and access to programs and accommodations for students with disabilities. He also participates in multiple higher education and Blind and visually impaired professional associations via committees and certification and continuing education programs.

In episode 426 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out how moving to the white neighborhood of Ferguson, Missouri impacted Dr. McAllister as a child, why working with students who have disabilities is a lifelong passion, what his definition of student success is and how fraternities and sororities help student success, why he decided on Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. as a student organization, how do we change the narrative of Fraternities and Sororities to be more in line with our values, how we can make our student organizations more accessible to students with disabilities, what are his responsibilities at University of Arkansas at Little Rock as program coordinator for Rehab of the Blind, and how do we get more diversity among tenured professors on college campuses. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9QAd4Al06c

Fraternity/Sorority

Norma Hollis: How can students improve communication in their student organization?

By admin on December 20, 2023

Having spent over 25 years in business, Dr. Norma Hollis intimately understands the struggles and challenges that entrepreneurs face. She has weathered the storm and emerged stronger, armed with a wealth of wisdom and experience to share. Norma is a beacon of guidance, teaching leaders and others how to navigate stress, overcome obstacles, prepare for growth, and savor the fruits of their labor. Her insights and practical advice are invaluable resources for those on the entrepreneurial path, as she encourages them to stay focused, persevere, and bring their dreams to fruition. With her relatable storytelling and down-to-earth demeanor, Norma captivates as she imparts invaluable knowledge, helping leaders find the resilience and determination needed to succeed.

In episode 414 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Norma decided on Michigan State for her undergraduate experience, how she was able to impact the professional speaking industry for Black speakers, how students can embrace their authenticity and live with purpose, how students can discover team strengths and gaps in order to align their team, how students can navigate all the stress in their lives, how students can overcome obstacles in their life, Norma’s advice for people who want to develop their public speaking skills, how students can improve communication in their student organization, and how students can attract more diverse members.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn-FGkLrSDs

Fraternity/Sorority

Frank Jackson: What is “The Pearl Effect” on enhancing the well-being of a group?

By admin on June 8, 2023

To say that our next guest is a founder, speaker, and writer wouldn’t quite capture who he is and what he does. Frank Jackson’s company, The Pearl Effect, is a research based outlet for his own lived experience. It is the story of thriving, that is to say a story of well-being despite circumstances. Writing, speaking, and educating is how he creates impact and conveys his story because his story is the human story. Frank hopes to help communities and individuals change the narrative on their history toward one of strengths, beauty, and thriving.

In episode 363 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Frank chose Texas Christian University for his undergraduate experience, why he decided to join Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., what is The Pearl Effect for the black community, what can I do if I know about communities who continue to persist, protect, and access well-being despite challenges, how I can create a more inclusive environment to get a more diverse membership, how I can educate members of my organization about different cultures, how we can reduce the financial barrier of joining fraternity and sorority life, what students can do to remove the stigma and misconceptions about fraternity and sorority life, and what is the best place to get a bite to eat in Philadelphia. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3V-2dWUgYM

Fraternity/Sorority

Dr. Frank L. Douglas: What’s missing from the current DEI efforts?

By admin on April 6, 2023

Dr. Frank L. Douglas was raised in the small South American country of Guyana. Suffering under the weight of poverty, Douglas faced severe childhood trauma, often questioning his place in his family and yearning for acceptance. Despite these obstacles, Douglas excelled academically, showing great promise at school and winning multiple awards. In his career, Douglas continued to climb the ranks of academia and made significant discoveries in the pharmacology field. He established the Center for Biomedical Innovation at MIT and received the George Beene Foundation Award, GQ Magazine’s Rock Star of Science Award, Black History Maker Award and the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers Lifetime Achievement Award. He has continued to champion the cause of African American students, having never forgotten his own roots in a poverty-ridden, politically conflicted homeland. The meaning of his name—Frank being Celtic for “free man” and Douglas being Scottish for “from a black stream”—has become his personal banner.

In episode 342 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what it was like for Dr. Douglas to grow up in Guyana, what it was like to be awarded the Fulbright Scholarship and come to America to study Chemistry in the Engineering College at Lehigh University, how his early life in Guyana prepared him to navigate effects of racial discrimination in American universities and corporations, what he is most proud of as the first Black member of the Board of Management of a top 5 Global Pharmaceutical company, what’s missing from current DEI efforts, how we can manage microaggressions and remove privileges to combat systemic discrimination, what are some strategies for fostering more diverse and empathetic student organizations, and what the Supreme Court should decide with the consideration of race in college admission decisions. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0nJvY_CQJU

Fraternity/Sorority

Sara Ting: How do we go from the pain of discrimination to forgiveness?

By admin on March 30, 2023

Sara Ting is a diversity and inclusion trainer, innovator, visionary, speaker and author working in D & I since 1985. She shares bold, innovative ideas that are enlightening, empowering, transformative and sustainable. Her clients served include public schools, colleges, police department, housing authorities and health care providers. Sara is the founder and president of World Unity, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to make an enduring contribution to the elimination of all forms of prejudice, bias and discrimination. They believe this can be achieved with the construction of a permanent landmark showcasing the Sun poem that reads as follows: Are you greater than the sun/that shines on everyone: Black, Brown, Yellow, Red and White/ the sun does not discriminate ©. Sara was a TV Reporter for a major NBC affiliate, freelance TV reporter covering issues that impacted the Asian American communities for ten years, and has been a radio talk show host and producer for four years.

In episode 336 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Sara decided on Boston University for her undergraduate experience, how The Sun Poem came about, how it turned into a huge public service campaign, how we can go from pain in discrimination to forgiveness, how bias influences our career paths in life, how do we empower college students to understand and value diversity in their organizations, how we can create a culture of belonging in our organization, how college students can improve their communication skills, and more about Sara’s book series called “Small Book With a Big Idea”. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dftOkf90DvY

Fraternity/Sorority

Naimah Bhuruku: How do we create an inclusive culture in our organization?

By admin on March 28, 2023

Naimah Bhuruku is a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practitioner. As a trained facilitator, she guides individuals as they navigate uncertainty through empathy filled empowerment. Naimah facilitates crucial conversations & curates brave spaces for engagement. She amplify the voices of others so they can feel seen/heard thus experiencing true belonging. This is Naimah’s leadership purpose. Naimah champions young and developing professionals who seek to ascend in their careers and life; empowering them to channel their talents and passion with fierce focus. She curates experiences that connect people with resources. She also spotlights hidden figures to aid in illuminating their path so that they shine.

In episode 333 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out about Naimah’s journey of seeking to belong and how that led to understanding the value of empath, why the University of Maryland was the right choice for her, how she later got into procurement work, the types of projects she works on as a Diversity/Inclusion specialist at NASA, the harm that HB 999 in Florida would cause if it passes, what students can do to fight against HB 999, how we can create an inclusive culture in our organization, how college students can build resiliency, and why self-awareness is the key to career success. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNLv8OewW2I

Fraternity/Sorority

Dr. Jana Mathews: How are fraternities and sororities restructuring the campus social scene?

By admin on October 22, 2022

Dr. Jana Mathews is a professor of Medieval Literature and Culture at Rollins College (Winter Park, Florida) who also had the privilege of serving 8 years as a campus fraternity and sorority advisor. In her new book, The Benefits of Friends: Inside the Complicated World of Today’s Sororities and Fraternities, Mathews combines ethnographic and archival research with economic, social, and cognitive theory to open up new ways of seeing and understanding the role of these single-sex social groups on campus.

In episode 313 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Dr. Mathews chose Brigham Young University, what makes Rollins College a special place, how she was initiated into an NPC sorority as an alumnus, some of the problems she saw over a seven year period in working with the fraternities and sororities on campus, how we can change the hookup culture to one of consent and healthy relationships instead, how she believes fraternity and sorority can reinforce insularity and entrench privilege, how she sees hazing as a form of live action video game warfare, how predominantly white fraternities and sororities act as pipelines to Wall Street and Washington, how fraternity and sorority members are restructuring the campus social scene today, and how diversity works in predominantly white fraternities and sororities.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S885AzHoENA

Fraternity/Sorority

Angie Freeman: What are some diversity and inclusion-related events for college campuses?

By admin on September 5, 2022

Our next guest, Angie Freeman, is the Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. At Oakland University, they coordinate various diversity and inclusion-related events and programs, such as heritage month celebrations and the Diversity Lecture Series, as well as numerous summer programs available for area youth. Born in Germany and having lived several places as a self-described “military brat,” Angie earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Oakland University. They also earned a master’s degree in college student affairs from Nova Southeastern University. Not only do they have a passion diversity, equity, and inclusion, but also in dance.

In episode 298 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Angie chose Oakland University, why being a Resident Director at the University of Vermont was the right move, difficulties Angie experienced as a dancer, what it was like as a success coach and retention specialist at Nevada State College, what it was like to work at UNLV as a senior transition advisor, what are some diversity and inclusion-related events and programs at Oakland University, how to get buy in for all these DEI initiatives, why training on unconscious bias and microaggressions is so important, and how a new DEI chair can start to bring inclusion to their campus. Enjoy!

Fraternity/Sorority

Nicki Rowlett: How can college students be better allies?

By admin on September 2, 2022

Our next guest is Nicki Rowlett, born and raised in Michigan, but has lived in five different states since graduating college. Nicki earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies, Event Management, and Leadership from Central Michigan University and a Master’s Degree in Student Affairs from Ball State University. She is a member of Delta Phi Epsilon and has worked professionally with fraternities and sororities for eight years. Nicki is an author, seasoned facilitator, and a long-time volunteer within the fraternal industry. Nicki’s focus is in identity development, inclusive language use, bias, allyship, and the impact of privilege, power, and position. She enjoys developing strategies, infusing concepts of DEI into existing programs, and coaching others to make informed and intentional decisions. She’s also the Managing Director and Lead Strategist of The Parallel Agency, a full service consulting firm specializing in organizational culture and belonging.

In episode 297 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why she chose Central Michigan University, what was special about the Delta Phi Epsilon chapter on campus, some of the differences in working within higher education versus the fraternity headquarters, what makes Parallel Agency different from the other agencies out there, how they balance learning with unlearning, where a newly elected DEI chair should start their work, why it’s important to be able to discuss privilege within fraternities and sororities, and how college students can be better allies. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExQ5216LAJw