students – Greek University

Artem Arefyev: Building a DIVERSE Student Organization in College

By admin on December 20, 2024

Artem Arefyev is the current Director of Member Services for the Executive Office of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc. and the Conference Manager for The Harbor Institute. He graduated with a Bachelors from the University of South Carolina, and also got his Masters in Higher Education Administration from there as well.

In episode 528 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Artem chose the University of South Carolina, why he decided to join Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity as a white man, what are his job responsibilities as Director of Member Services for the national fraternity, why college students should not avoid conflict, how we can handle conflict in our student organizations, what is implicit bias, how college students can talk about race and racism without being combative, how we can build diverse student organizations in college, how our organizations can better support marginalized students, how we can make an impact with DEI in our organizations, and what books we can read on DEI. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_a8Y4KH-9c

Fraternity/Sorority

Mona Shah Joshi: What is the top cause of stress for college students?

By admin on February 6, 2024

Mona Shah Joshi is a passionate advocate for happiness and well-being. Since 1996, Mona has been a dedicated guide, leading teams and individuals on a transformative journey. With Mona on your team, you’ll learn how to discover your full potential by harnessing the power of your mind. Mona has helped countless students and faculty navigate academic and personal challenges with greater ease, contributing to a more positive and thriving campus community. With over 200,000 hours of transformative programs across four continents, Mona Shah Joshi stands as a beacon of inspiration. Her unwavering dedication to fostering joy, resilience, and renewed purpose has left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those fortunate enough to cross paths with her. In episode 424 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Mona chose University of Maryland Baltimore County for her undergraduate experience, what is Art of Living Foundation, what is the top cause of stress for college students, what breathing techniques can college students use when they feel stress coming on, what are some tools college students can use for guided relaxation, what are ways students can increase their energy, what are strategies for a happier and healthier life, and what are the five secrets of abundance. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_RuLRx8q_k

Fraternity/Sorority

Dr. Jennifer Nash: What mistakes should students avoid when leading people?

By admin on January 12, 2024

Dr. Jennifer Nash is a Fortune 50 executive advisor, consultant, and author who works with successful executives at ExxonMobil, Ford, Google, JP Morgan Chase, Verizon, IBM, The Boeing Company, other global organizations, and start ups to elevate their performance, evolve into the people leaders they were meant to be, and become the best versions of themselves. In episode 419 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Jennifer chose Central Michigan University for her undergraduate experience, how she was able to develop consultant leadership skills and interpersonal savvy at Deloitte, how she was able to build a big book of business with huge clients, what mistakes students should avoid when leading people, tips when there is conflict within your organization, how we can retain our best members, how college students can improve their social skills, what are the changing environmental factors in the workplace that she talks about in her book “Be Human, Lead Human: How to Connect People and Performance”, and how you can develop your actionable roadmap to become the leader you aspire to be. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LWsK6RndwQ

Fraternity/Sorority

Dr. Jenny Small and Dr. Pietro Sasso: What should universities be offering Jewish students?

By admin on November 17, 2023

Today we have with us Dr. Jenny Small, Virtual Scholar, and Dr. Pietro Sasso, Research Fellow from the Piazza Center to explore questions of identity and belonging in traditionally Jewish fraternities and sororities. In episode 408 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Jenny chose Brandeis University for her undergraduate experience, what it’s like for Pietro to work at Delaware State as a program coordinator for a Doctorate program, what should institutions be offering Jewish students, why Jewish educators seem to struggle with advocating for Jewish students, why many University Presidents have not been vocal on this issue to support their students, why some non-Jewish educators who hold other minoritized identities have high empathy for Jewish students’ experiences, advice to educators working with Jewish-heritage chapters, whether Jewish fraternities and sororities should be exclusively honoring their history with only Jewish members versus growth on today’s diverse college campuses, resources about traditionally Jewish fraternities and sororities as well as identity and belonging, and what professionals will learn at their upcoming session at the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors Annual Meeting in Tampa.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bIickulVZU

Fraternity/Sorority

Louis Pelliccioni: What are the two most important traits for success in anything?

By admin on September 12, 2023

Our next guest believes that success can be taught! Louis Pelliccioni, Jr. uses his 55 years of experience from his careers; sports coaching & finance to teach the skills, attitudes, attributes, all backed by research, in order to become successful. In episode 390 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what made Louis choose West Virginia University, what are the two most important traits for success in anything, what parents should be teaching their kids in college, what are the enemies of success, how we can better handle the stress in our lives, why public speaking skills are so important, how we can improve our Emotional Intelligence, and how college students can figure out what they should be doing in life. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5i9H-kLScY

Fraternity/Sorority

Beverly Smirnis: How can college student organizations build strong brands online?

By admin on September 11, 2023

Today we’re going to meet Beverly Smirnis. The fact that Beverly and Steve Smirnis live, work and play together is what first inspires some of their followers. Since they first became a couple, the Smirnis team has enjoyed travel, food and wine. Their backgrounds in public relations, marketing and journalism led to published freelance articles, which earned them invitations to explore, taste and toast across the country and across the world. Their career path together started with public relations projects. The Smirnis team specialized in working with the winemaking industry and representing various fine artists. This later expanded into a niche magazine publishing career, which has been their focus now for a few decades. Key contacts and keen insights were built over their long history in print media. In the consumer world, this translates to luxury lifestyle, and in the homebuilding industry they have long served, they are privy to resources, design trends and best practices. In episode 389 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what Beverly’s parents had planned for her before she left for college, why she chose Southern Methodist University for her undergraduate experience, whether it’s a good idea to take a “gap year”, what is the Savvy Life, how she’s had so much success with luxury brands, how college student organizations can build strong brands online, more about Beverly’s new podcast called “People Pursuing Passions”, and Beverly’s advice for today’s college students. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG51P_eGyb4

Fraternity/Sorority

Dr. Raymond Wiggins: What are the surprising facts about adolescent marijuana use?

By admin on August 15, 2023

Seeing the devastating and deadly effects of marijuana in his patients, family, and friends, Dr. Raymond Wiggins began investigating the subject, and what he found shocked him. His search for answers revealed an overwhelming body of evidence showing the adverse effects of marijuana. Soon, he found he was not alone. As people learned of his quest, many had similar stories of friends and family who had suffered harm or died from this drug. The stories are heartbreaking. Every story is fuel on a fire that cannot be quenched. This investigation has now become a passion to bust marijuana myths and spread the truth about this dangerous drug. He believes if he saves one life, it is worth the effort. His mission is to save as many people as possible from the physical, mental, and spiritual ravages of this drug.

In episode 384 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Dr. Wiggins chose Southern Methodist University, what made him look into the effects of marijuana, what are the effects of regular usage, whether marijuana is addictive or not, some surprising facts about adolescent marijuana use, what are the hidden social and economic costs of marijuana, whether CBD is safe and effective, whether Delta-8 THC is safe, and how we can combat this industry given that so many states have legalized marijuana. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEyYLIFtDt8

Fraternity/Sorority

Paige Babineaux: Where did the idea for Greek Town come from?

By admin on July 28, 2021

Today we have with us Paige Babineaux, a member of Chi Omega Sorority and a new member educator in her sorority. After graduation she married her high school sweetheart, had a baby boy in 2016 and another baby after that, and now she built the first digital swap shop for Greeks with her new app called Greek Town. We’ve been chatting it up online for a while now, and I’m just so happy to share Paige with our listening audience because I think her new product is really going to help sorority and fraternity communities all over the country.

On episode number 167 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Paige chose McNeese State, what was so special about Chi Omega, what is was like to be New Member Educator for her sorority, where the idea came from for Greek Town – the first and only all-inclusive Greek digital thrift shop, what types of products we can buy on the app, what the reaction has been from the Greek community, other ways students can reduce their expenses in college, new functionality she wants to add to the app, how she was able to get some viral TikToks, and her favorite restaurants in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeUeeIrG2jc

Fraternity/Sorority

Racism in Context: How to Talk to Students About the Ahmaud Arbery Killing

By admin on May 28, 2020

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/14608685/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/191970/” height=”90″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”custom”]Welcome to our town hall on Racism in Context.

Our objectives are to:

1. Educate professional staff on the challenges facing African-American students in the wake of the Ahmaud Arbery incident.

2. Place the Ahmaud Arbery incident in its proper context given the long history of vigilantism, over-policing, unfair targeting and unconscious bias towards African-Americans and other people of color.

3. Provide space for dialogue around this and other incidents of racial bias.

4. Educate professional staff on how to support students who may be struggling with feelings of belonging and safety in the wake of society racial bias.

Our Panelists:

Cecilia Olusola Tribble – Expert on racial equity

Morgan I. Williams – Diversity Peer Educator, student perspective

Robert Lawrence Wilson – Diversity and Inclusion expert

Edson O’Neale – Former Greek Advisor and Higher Education Professional, professional staff perspective

Our Moderator:

Michael Ayalon – CEO of Greek University

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHMAcJL40vU

Fraternity/Sorority

How can we better support first generation college students?

By admin on May 6, 2020

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/14310635/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/191970/” height=”90″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”custom”]Check out our town hall as we talk about supporting first generation college students! Our panelists include Victor Benlice, a First-Gen College Grad with an interesting story full of grit, inspiration, and resilience. Victor went from an unknown first-gen student from Elizabeth, NJ to Double VP of Programming & Public Relations for Kean University’s Greek Senate. The following year as President of the Greek Senate, he led the charge and was recognized as the first recipient of NGLA’s Innovation Grant to host a week designed around Mental Health: The Body, Mind, & Spirit. Our other panelist is Edson O’Neale, a speaker for Greek University, who previously served as the Director of Student Activities at Saint Leo University. In that role, he advised the Student Government Union Executive Board and was overseeing the Office of Student Activities which consist of the Campus Activities Board, Clubs and Organizations, Community Engagement, and Greek Life. Edson also has received his Master of Science in Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in December of 2010. Edson is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Enjoy and please share with others who would find this information useful! Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ox1MOaSq1k