The Northeast Greek Leadership Association was created last year, when the Northeast Interfraternity Conference and the Northeast Panhellenic Conference merged. Besides lessening the number of abbreviations, this also allowed for a single conference in which programming and interactions could be more diversified. The 2001 NGLA Conference is being held February 22-25, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Now, I’m sure you’re asking yourself "What does this have to do with me?" Well, let me answer that for you.
Rensselaer will have a great presence at this coming conference. Our delegation will be traveling to New Jersey with the University at Albany delegation. Three representatives from the Interfraternity Council (President Gary Olson, Executive VP John Muller, and VP of Risk Management Evan Kent), and three representatives from the Panhellenic Association (President Skyla Loomis, Executive VP Lena Guleserian, and VP for Rush Jennifer Warren) will represent our greek system. Also attending will be Assistant Dean of Students Travis Apgar, and Graduate Assistant Jenifer Jones. Dean Apgar was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the NGLA, and will be a presenter at the conference on the topic of alumni affairs. Additionally, I was selected as a volunteer staff member for the conference and will be there days before it starts. The name Rensselaer will come up a great many times during the course of this event, to be sure.
This will benefit not only the Institute, but our individual fraternities and sororities as well. Hundreds of fraternity and sorority leaders from across the Northeast attend these meetings each year to participate in three days of workshops, general sessions and idea sharing. National representatives, consultants, and other notables from various greek organizations will be there. Not only is this an opportunity to gain insight and build better programming, but it will also be excellent exposure. By presenting the best representation of Rensselaer’s greek system at this conference, we can attain a new level of national presence as a greek-friendly university, as well as a national model of excellence in greek life.
