Author Archives: podium

2021 KKPsi Fall Mailer Letter

Posted on by

August 25, 2021 

Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi, Chapter Sponsors, and Directors of Bands,

As the newly elected National President of Kappa Kappa Psi, I am excited to welcome in the 2021-2023 biennium, as well as a new school year filled with the joy of playing MUSIC!  

You can find information for the 2021-2022 school year here:  2021 – 2022 Fall Informational Mailer.   We hope that the use of a powerpoint format will help organize the information to make it easier to understand, and also allow chapters to use this as a tool to update members on the relevant national information and changes following the 2021 National Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While the amount of content may be a bit overwhelming at first glance, I strongly encourage each Chapter to take the time to review this document during a chapter meeting.  This will help ensure a strong start to the school year.  If after reviewing the PowerPoint you have questions, please feel free to reach out to the National Council by emailing council@kkpsi.org.  

In addition to this update, we have posted the updated 2021 Kappa Kappa Psi National Constitution to the Fraternity website.  Due to the amount of changes that were made at the 2021 National Convention, the National Council created a 2021 Kappa Kappa Psi Constitutional Updates Document to help provide an overview for you.  Once the 2021 National Convention minutes are finalized, we will send those to you as a link to the National Headquarters website.

Also, we have updated the PIVOT Guidance for the Fall 2021 semester.  Relevant updates include:

  • A waiver for band participation, which will be granted by both National Councils, on a case by case basis. However, members must still be enrolled in coursework at their college or university and be in good standing with their university or college to be active members.  Waiver requests should be put into writing via email from the Chapter Sponsor with the Director of Bands cc’ed, and emailed to council@kkpsi.org. 
  • Additional information has been provided for conducting in-person Fraternity Rituals.
  • Some Chapters may now be able to host in-person activities/events: Chapters should only host in-person social, service, membership, or fundraising activities/events during the 2021-2022 school year if the following criteria are in place:
    • Your campus activities office, Dean of Students, Office of Greek Life, or other authorizing body approves your Chapter to host in-person activities/events on your campus.
    • Your chapter activity/event has been approved by your Director of Bands and/or Chapter Sponsor in writing.  This may include your Director of Bands and/or your Chapter Sponsor approving a semester calendar of events.
    • Your Chapter follows all campus, local, state, and federal health and safety guidance.
    • Your Chapter does not penalize members who feel uncomfortable attending these activities/events.

The National Council knows that each campus continues to have their own unique procedure in place while navigating the unknowns of the new variants of the virus. It is our hope that the information outlined in PIVOT! continues to be easily adaptable to every Chapter’s situation.  At this time, we ask that each Chapter send any official documentation from your university as it pertains to their COVID-19 protocol to our Health and Safety team at healthandsaftey@kkpsi.org.  

As we start the 2021-2022 academic year, I hope that you will use the resources available to you to help navigate your return to more in person operations.  Your District Governors and District Officers are there to help assist and support you!  You can find their contact information here: District Leadership.

Your National Council is already hard at work, thinking about how we can create the best possible membership experience for YOU!  Beginning in September, you will receive regular updates on the work of the National Council and National Committees, as well as progress updates on our officer goals and charges.  If you were unable to attend the 2021 National Convention this summer, I invite you to read my Incoming National President Speech, which outlines my vision and goals for the next two years to reCharge our Brotherhood.  I hope you will join me in this effort!

More than anything, it is my sincere hope that as a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, you will take the time to rededicate yourself to the ideals of the order, lean in heavily to our ritualistic values, and be intentional about living our purposes in your band programs.  If we can do these 3 things – then we are meeting our ritualistic obligations as Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi.

On behalf of the entire Kappa Kappa Psi National Leadership Team, I hope that you have a fantastic start to your academic year, and we wish you the best of luck on your upcoming performance season!

Striving with you,

Jessica Lee

48th National President of Kappa Kappa Psi 

Call for Applications – National Vice President for Student Affairs

Posted on by

Brothers:

At the 2021 Kappa Kappa Psi National Convention, no candidate received the simple majority vote needed to elect a National Vice President for Student Affairs for the 2021-2023 biennium. 

In accordance with the Kappa Kappa Psi National Constitution, if a vacancy occurs in the office of National Vice President for Student Affairs, the Board of Trustees, upon the recommendation of the National Council, shall appoint a National Vice President for Student Affairs. (Section 3.214)

The Kappa Kappa Psi National Council and Board of Trustees invite interested and qualified individuals to submit their name and qualifications for the position of National Vice President for Student Affairs for the 2021-2023 Biennium.  The qualifications and responsibilities of the National Vice President for Student Affairs are outlined in Section 3.208, Section 3.401, and Section 3.711 of the Kappa Kappa Psi National Constitution.

Interested individuals should meet the following qualifications:

  • Be at least twenty-three (23) years of age.
  • Completed at least two (2) years of college work.
  • Must be an Active Member, Associate Member, or Member of the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association.
  • Possess outstanding business or professional ability.
  • Capable of representing the Fraternity under all ordinary conditions.
  • Willing and able to devote the necessary time to the execution of the duties imposed by the office.
  • Possess a thorough knowledge of developing and implementing student engagement programming.
  • Experienced in working with individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds.
  • Capable of mentoring and coaching students in the areas of leadership, event planning, and conflict resolution.

Interested individuals must submit the following information to the National Council (council@kkpsi.org) no later than 11:59 pm CST on August 23, 2021. 

  • Letter of intent for the office of National Vice President for Student Affairs, why it is being sought, what contributions you can make in that office, and information detailing how you meet the above qualifications.
  • Resume/Vita, which highlights professional, band, and fraternal experiences.
  • A minimum of three (no more than five) letters of recommendation, one of which should be from within the applicant’s profession.
  • A campaign statement, which provides a list of goals for the office and how you plan to achieve them.
  • Biographical profile for publication on the National Website.
  • One professional photograph, suitable for publication.

After a review of applications, the National Council will choose several individuals for a Zoom interview. Following the Zoom interview process, the National Council will recommend a candidate to the Board of Trustees, who review, approve, and appoint a National Vice President for Student Affairs.

Interested Brothers can submit materials electronically, in PDF format, no later than 11:59 pm CST on August 23, 2021, to: 

Email to: council@kkpsi.org

Email Subject Line:  National Vice President for Student Affairs Application

For more information, interested candidates can review the following:

  • Sample Candidate Packets:  Candidate packets will be posted on the elections website as examples.
  • VPSA Chat – VPSA Q&A Panel: Hosted on August 8th at 6:00 pm Central Time.  Registration Information for this session will be released in a few days.

Questions may be addressed to National President, Jessica Lee at jessicalee@kkpsi.org and to Board of Trustees Chair, Eric Morson at eric@kkpsi.org. We hope that you will consider applying for this unique opportunity to serve on the National Council!

AEA,

Jessica Lee

Kappa Kappa Psi National President 

Life Member, Eta Alpha – Lock Haven University

2021 – 2023 Kappa Kappa Psi Volunteer Application

Posted on by

Brothers,

As we prepare for the 2021 National Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan in just a few weeks, we are also preparing for the next biennium of service as we reCharge our Brotherhood and find our new normal following the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on our fraternity.

Now, more than ever, we need Brothers who are willing to stand up and answer the call to serve Kappa Kappa Psi as we work to support our 217 chapters and 5,000+ active members across the country.  Many of our chapters are smaller than ever before.  Some chapters only have Brothers who were initiated during COVID.  Our chapters, our Brothers, and our band programs will need us to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them as they return to in person operations.  

As part of this national call for volunteers, below is an application for those interested in serving Kappa Kappa Psi on the national level.   We will be looking for BOTH active and alumni brothers interested in serving as National Committee Members, Colony Advisors, Leadership Speakers, and more.  The application will outline details on various roles, time commitments, whether traveling may be involved, and our volunteer expectations.  

2021 – 2023 Kappa Kappa Psi Volunteer Application

Application will close July 25, 2021.

This application will be open through National Convention, and Brothers will be notified in August of the outcome of the application process.  If you are interested in serving, but are not sure about the right fit for you, please contact me (jessicalee@kkpsi.org) or find me at National Convention to chat about how you can best serve Kappa Kappa Psi.

Also included in the volunteer application will be the option to be a part of the Kappa Kappa Psi Leadership Cohort.  This program will work to provide interested alumni brothers with tools and leadership skills to take the next step in their Kappa Kappa Psi leadership journey – whether that might be a desire to serve as a National Committee Chair, District Governor, National Officer,  Alumni officer, or some other role.  This cohort will be a year long, and will run September 2021 – June 2022, with a new cohort of individuals in September 2022 – June 2023.  It is my sincere hope that providing this opportunity for our alumni Brothers will help to create the next generation of fraternity leadership.  

I hope you will look at this application and think about ways you can continue to serve Kappa Kappa Psi and our band programs.  For many of you, there may be other ways beyond this application in which you can continue to serve, and I encourage you to think about how you can reCharge your commitment to our purposes and our values.  Every Brother has the ability to make an impact to further our mission.  I am excited to see so many of you IN PERSON in Grand Rapids, Michigan at our National Convention!

 

AEA,

Jessica Lee

National Vice President for Colonization & Membership

Life Member, Eta Alpha Chapter

Newest Members of the Kappa Kappa Psi Governor Corps for 2021-2023

Posted on by

Brothers:

I am excited to announce the newest members of the Kappa Kappa Psi Governor Corps for the 2021-2023 biennium!

Northeast District

Matthew Parent, Life Member – Epsilon Nu, University of Massachusetts

Matthew Parent (he/him) is a political scientist and administrator in higher education. He currently supports coursework and research at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, focusing on issues of nuclear security. He holds an MA in Political Science from the University of Connecticut, an MA in World Politics from the Catholic University of America, a BA in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts, and is currently writing a dissertation for a PhD in Political Science from UConn. Matt has been a Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi since 2005, serving as NED President in the 2008-2009 academic year, currently serves as sponsor of the Epsilon Nu Chapter at UMass, and currently serves on the National Ritual Performance and Education Committee.

Southeast District

Justyn “JP” Davis, Life Member – Zeta Chi, University of South Carolina

Justyn “JP” Davis (he/him) is the Assistant Director of Bands at Mauldin High School in Greenville, South Carolina. JP has completed his 4th year of teaching after completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education along with a Certificate of Performance at the University of South Carolina in 2017. So far at Mauldin, he has helped the ensembles receive multiple superior ratings at concert and contest performances, appear multiple times at the SCBDA 5A State Marching Band Finals Competition (with a record high of 4th place in the state), and perform for the program’s first time at the 2019 SCMEA Professional Development Conference. While in school at USC, he performed in all of the University’s Concert Ensembles and has been a featured soloist with the USC Wind Ensemble. In the University’s athletic bands, JP served as Drum Major of the Carolina Band for 3 years and played Saxophone with the University’s Pep Bands. Professionally, JP is a member the National Association for Music Education, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, where he has previously served as Vice President of Programs for the Southeast District of Kappa Kappa Psi and on the National Ritual Performance and Education Committee. JP is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree at Florida State University, is very passionate about leadership, and spends a lot of his breaks around leadership camps and workshops. 

North Central District

Michelle Banis, Life Member – Iota Lambda, University of Mount Union

Michelle Banis (she/her) was initiated into the Iota Lambda Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi in the fall of 2012. She double majored in Human Resource Management and Marketing and performed with The Purple Raider Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, and Concert Bands. As an Active Brother, Michelle served as Chapter Secretary and Chapter President for two consecutive terms, pulling the Chapter through a very turbulent time. Under her leadership, Iota Lambda won the “Most Improved Chapter” in the nation in 2015. Michelle was also an AEA scholarship recipient, a J. Lee Burke Student Achievement Award national recipient, and a two time / inaugural “Outstanding Band Member Award” recipient for the Mount Union Band Program.  After graduating in 2016, she went on to work at her alma mater as a graduate assistant in the offices of Residence Life and Recreation & Intramurals while studying at Kent State University.  While working toward her M.Ed in Higher Education Administration, Michelle also took on the role of Chapter Sponsor for Iota Lambda and worked as a Curriculum Advisor with the launch of the Road to Wisdom. In 2018, she became a founding member of the North Central District Alumni Association and has since worked as the organization’s Growth & Wellness Director, Membership Director, and Vice-Chair. She was most recently appointed to serve on the National Curriculum Committee for the 2019-2021 biennium.  Professionally, Michelle continues to leave her mark at Mount Union while working in the Office of Alumni Engagement. She resides in Alliance, Ohio, but often travels to the Cleveland area to visit with her family. In her “free” time, Michelle enjoys advising other student organizations at Mount Union, playing in local community bands, and spending time outdoors – especially camping! Serving as NCD Governor has always been a dream of Michelle’s – she just never thought it would come this soon. She’s incredibly thankful for the opportunity to serve the fraternity in this way, giving back to the organization that has truly made her the person she is today!

Southwest District

Elizabeth Pineiro, Life Member – Gamma Phi, Stephen F. Austin State University 

Elizabeth Pineiro (she/her) started her band career learning trombone in Katy, TX. She then went to study Music Education at Stephen F. Austin State University and graduated with her Bachelors in 2018. During her years at SFA, Lizzi was initiated into the Gamma Phi chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. As an active brother, she was very involved holding positions such as Brotherhood/Service Chair, Historian, Vice President of Membership, and Southwest District Vice President for Membership. After graduating, Lizzi continued her involvement in the fraternity as a Chapter Advisor and committee member on the National Curriculum Committee. Lizzi is a band director and has completed her third year of teaching, currently working at Brabham Middle School in Willis, TX. She has three pets: a Siamese cat named Nutmeg, a Double Doodle (Labradoodle-Goldendoodle Mix) named Hex, and another cat named Remy. In her free time, Lizzi likes to rock climb, travel, nap, and stream shows and movies.

Midwest District

Dr. Nic Rorrer, Life Member – Eta Beta, Virginia Tech University 

Dr. Nic Rorrer (he/him) is a Life Member of the Eta Beta chapter at Virginia Tech and has been the sponsor of the Xi Chapter at the Colorado School of Mines since 2014. From 2015 to 2021 he served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors for the Fraternity and served as its Chair from 2019 to 2021. Additionally, Nic is part of the Founders Circle Leadership Development speaking team.  Professionally, Nic is a Senior Researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory researching methods to redesign today’s   plastics to be sourced from renewable resources and to be recyclable by design. In his free time he can often be found wandering the Rocky Mountains either teaching yoga, snowboarding, or hanging out with his partner and dog. 

Western District

Lance Coochyouma, Life Member, Gamma Kappa – Northern Arizona University & Omega, The University of Arizona

Lance A. Coochyouma (he/him) was initiated into the Gamma Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi at Northern Arizona University on January 27, 2001, and then transferred to The University of Arizona and was Active in the Omega Chapter. As an active Brother he served in many chapter offices, including Chapter President. He also served on the Western District Council for four years, two of those years as District President. While at NAU he was a performing member of The Lumberjack Marching Band and Collegiate Concert Band, and at UA he was a member of The Pride of Arizona Marching Band and Campus Concert Band. He also had the opportunity to serve in the role of Drum Major and Colorguard Captain, furthering his development and love of band. He was honored to be awarded the J. Lee Burke Student Achievement Award in 2007. In May of 2008, Lance graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication, Emphasis in Multi-Cultural Communication. Following graduation, Lance enjoyed time exploring the workforce and gaining valuable experiences. He always knew he wanted to give back to the Fraternity in some way, and that chance presented itself when he was appointed as Western District Governor for the 2015-2017 Biennium and also served on the National Nominations Committee. Lance is a proud Life Member of the Gamma Kappa and Omega Chapters, and holds Life and Honorary Membership in the Omega Chapter and Western District of Tau Beta Sigma. Professionally, Lance brings clinical and directional leadership to the healthcare industry; serving as a voice and champion within the Critical Care Telehealth arena as a Health Unit Coordinator and Cardiac Telemetry Technician. Named a Healthcare Professional Who’s Who, Lance holds membership in the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, and American Telemedicine Association. Lance is thankful to continue his support of bands serving as a working adjudicator for AzMBA, WGAZ and WTCA, adjudicating primarily the GE and Visual Ensemble Captions. He also holds membership in the National Band Association. Lance currently resides in the suburbs of Phoenix, in Gilbert, Arizona. He enjoys cooking after watching YouTube cooking tutorial videos, swimming, planning weekend trips, and eating Asian influenced food of any kind. In his free time you can find him trying new Trader Joe’s products or watching ER re-runs.

Karissa Longo, Life Member – Zeta Epsilon, Michigan State University

Karissa Longo (she/her) was initiated into the Zeta Epsilon chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi in Spring 2015. As an active Brother, she served as chapter corresponding secretary and vice president of programs. For the last two bienniums, Karissa has been serving the Fraternity as a member of the National Communications Team. Karissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in music education from Michigan State University. She currently lives in Seattle, Washington, where she teaches elementary general music in the Seattle Public Schools. She will begin a Master’s degree in music education at the University of Washington this Fall. Outside of music, Karissa enjoys reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her two cats.

Brian Parker, Life Member, Iota Pi – California Polytechnic State University

Brian Parker (he/him) was initiated into the Iota Pi Chapter at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in the Spring of 1992. While a student at Cal Poly, he served the fraternity as the Colony Vice President, Alumni Secretary, Executive Officer, and Western District President. Brian graduated from Cal Poly with a Bachelor of Science Degree in City Regional Planning. Brian returned to school 1995 to begin his studies in Music Education at Modesto Junior College and helped start the Zeta Rho Colony while attending MJC. Brian put a hold on his studies and served as the third National Chapter Field Representative for Kappa Kappa Psi from Spring 1996 through Fall 1997. Professionally Brian has worked as Music Educator in Monterey County for over twenty years and is the current Director of Bands and Visual and Performing Art Department Chair at North Salinas High School where he directs six different performance ensembles. Brian is a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi and holds honorary membership in the Midwest District, Alpha Chapter, and Zeta Rho Chapter and was initiated into the Nu Zeta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha at California State University, Stanislaus in the Spring of 2000. 

These individuals will be joining the following returning governors for the 2021-2023 biennium:

Northeast District

Rassii Elliott, Life Member – Eta Omega, Howard University

Marci Jones, Life Member – KKPsi Northeast District & Gamma Epsilon (University of Miami), Tau Beta Sigma

Southeast District

Arupa Gopal, Life Member – Kappa Tau, University of South Florida

Kalem Graham, Life Member – Zeta Psi, Virginia State University

N0rth Central District

Tammi Ramsey, Life Member – Zeta Omicron, University of Akron

Marc Renaud, Life Member – Zeta Epsilon, Michigan State University

Southwest District

Andy Melvin, Life Member – Delta, University of Oklahoma

Clint Wieden, Life Member – Alpha, Oklahoma State University

Midwest District

Denali Pearce – Alt, Life Member – Delta Gamma, Missouri University of Science and Technology & Epsilon Psi, Missouri State University

Jennifer Taylor, Life Member – Gamma Theta, East Central University & Lambda, University of Arkansas

Additionally, Prof. Anthony Falcone, Associate Director of Bands at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will be returning as National Vice President for Professional Relations.

Brothers, please join me in congratulating these Brothers as part of our leadership team for the 2021 – 2023 biennium!  

 

AEA,

Jessica Lee
National Vice President for Colonization & Membership
Life Member – Eta Alpha, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania

Kappa Kappa Psi National Committee on Nominations Slating Document Released

Posted on by
Brothers,

Our National Constitution requires the appointment of a National Committee on Nominations that reviews the eligibility of all candidates for National office, meets and talks with each candidate, and evaluates the eligible candidates to identify a “slate” that is made available to our membership at least thirty (30) days before the start of the National Convention.  A slate is their informed recommendation of the best combination of eligible individuals for the elections we will hold this July at our National Convention.  All slated candidates will be automatically nominated by Past National President Mike Osborn, on behalf of the committee, for whichever position for which they are slated.

The slate is now available on the National Convention website and will remain there through the National Convention.  


The National Constitution mandates that alumni, past leadership, and active members make up the committee and only requires that we consider the diversity of the member’s District to create geographic balance.  As part of our commitment to become a better Fraternity, this committee was balanced to reflect our full diversity statement and is a majority student committee.  It is critical to have a truly diverse committee to recommend our next national leaders so more voices are heard.  This committee took that responsibility seriously and made sure to bring in populations within our Fraternity that weren’t represented on the committee whenever possible.  On behalf of the National Fraternity, I want to thank the members of the committee for their efforts and sacrifice on our behalf to give us a thorough slate for consideration.

Please stay tuned for upcoming candidate open forums, make sure to connect with the candidates prior to National Convention, review candidate information on the National Convention website, and listen to the ongoing podcast episodes of Kappa Kappa Psi Presents for each candidate.  Each chapter represents a vote in our National Chapter and it is our responsibility to educate ourselves on the candidates, use the Nominations Committee’s hard work as a guide, and discuss the candidates as a chapter.   Questions can be directed to myself or the Chair of the National Committee on Nominations, Mike Osborn (osbornmi87@gmail.com).

Thank you and see you in Grand Rapids in a little more than a month!

AEA

–

Marco A. Krcatovich II

National President, 2019-2021

Announcing the 2021-23 Chapter Field Representatives

Posted on by

Brothers:

I am excited to announce the hiring of our two new Chapter Field Representatives for the 2021-2023 biennium!

Jake January – Alpha, Oklahoma State University
Jake is a 2021 graduate of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Ok. He graduated with a B.S. in Aerospace Administration and Operations with a dual concentrations in Aerospace Security and Airline Management. Jake was a member of the Cowboy Marching Band, Spirit Band, and Concert bands as a tenor saxophone player. He was initiated into the Alpha chapter in the spring of 2018. As an active member, Jake held the positions of Vice President for Programs and Chapter President. Jake has also served as the Administrative Assistant for the National Headquarters of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma for the last two years.

You can send a note of congratulations to Jake at jake.january@okstate.edu.

 

 

Kennedy Struck – Mu Nu, Christopher Newport University
Kennedy Struck is a 2020 graduate of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.  He graduated with a double major in Psychology and Sociology. Kennedy played trumpet in several ensembles, including the Marching Captains, Jazz band, University Band and other various small ensembles during his time in college.  As an active brother, he served as Vice President of Brotherhood and Chapter President. For the last year, Kennedy has worked as a university fellow in the office of Student Engagement at Christopher Newport University.

You can send a note of congratulations to Kennedy at kennedy.struck.16@cnu.edu.

Jake and Kennedy will begin their CFR terms May 28, 2021. Nicole Brooks and Justin Jensen will continue to serve as CFRs through the end of July, and all 4 of these individuals will be present at National Convention this summer in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We are thankful to Nicole and Justin for their incredible service to Kappa Kappa Psi as the longest serving CFRs in the history of the program, and we look forward to the great work of our newest CFRs.
Congratulations, Kennedy and Jake!
AEA,
Jessica Lee
National Vice President for Colonization & Membership
Life Member, Eta Alpha Chapter
KKPsi-Logo

2021-23 Governor Applications Closing Soon

Posted on by
Brothers:

According to the National Constitution section 5.201, each District shall be under the jurisdiction of at least one (1) District Governor.  The District Governor(s) serve for two years and are appointed each biennium.  There will be openings in each district, either due to Governor retirements or additional Governors being added to the district.

The National Council would like to thank Dr. Craig Aarhus (SED Governor), Toni Castle (SWD Governor), Charlene Ronne (WD Governor), Erik Marrs (WD Governor), and Dr. Brad Townsend (NED Governor) for their years of service to their districts and to the fraternity at large.  We wish you all the very best!

If you are interested in this opportunity to serve, please review the qualifications listed below and submit materials for consideration.

INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS SHOULD MEET THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Be at least twenty-five (25) years of age
  • Commitment to the two (2) year Governor Term
  • Possess outstanding business or professional ability
  • Capable of representing the Fraternity under all ordinary circumstances
  • Willing and able to devote the necessary time to the execution of the duties imposed by the office
  • Attendance at District Events, District Convention, and both the 2021 and 2023 National Leadership Conferences and National Conventions
SPECIFIC GOVERNOR RESPONSIBILITIES CAN BE FOUND HERE: District Governor Job Description

Interested individuals should submit the following:

  • Fraternal and Professional Resumes
  • A photo and brief biography, suitable for publication
  • Letter of Intent, which addresses the following:
    • How will you approach the role of District Governor?
    • What 2 goals do you feel your district needs to address next biennium and what would be your plans to meet them?
    • The direction of next biennium is to reCHARGE our Brotherhood.  What do you believe this means for your district?
Please submit electronic materials NO LATER than May 14, 2021 at 11:59 pm CST to Jessica Lee, National Vice President of Colonization & Membership at jessicalee@kkpsi.org.  Questions regarding the position or qualifications may be directed to Jessica at jessicalee@kkpsi.org.

Please be on the lookout later in May for a 2021-2023 volunteer application for both students and alumni, to serve the fraternity in other capacities, including on committees, as colony advisors, or in other roles.

AEA,

Jessica Lee
National Vice President for Colonization & Membership
Life Member, Eta Alpha Chapter

2021-23 Governor Applications Now Open

Posted on by
Brothers:

According to the National Constitution section 5.201, each District shall be under the jurisdiction of at least one (1) District Governor.  The District Governor(s) serve for two years and are appointed each biennium.  There will be openings in each district, either due to Governor retirements or additional Governors being added to the district.

The National Council would like to thank Dr. Craig Aarhus (SED Governor), Toni Castle (SWD Governor), Charlene Ronne (WD Governor), Erik Marrs (WD Governor), and Dr. Brad Townsend (NED Governor) for their years of service to their districts and to the fraternity at large.  We wish you all the very best!

If you are interested in this opportunity to serve, please review the qualifications listed below and submit materials for consideration.

INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS SHOULD MEET THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Be at least twenty-five (25) years of age
  • Commitment to the two (2) year Governor Term
  • Possess outstanding business or professional ability
  • Capable of representing the Fraternity under all ordinary circumstances
  • Willing and able to devote the necessary time to the execution of the duties imposed by the office
  • Attendance at District Events, District Convention, and both the 2021 and 2023 National Leadership Conferences and National Conventions

SPECIFIC GOVERNOR RESPONSIBILITIES CAN BE FOUND HERE:

District Governor Job Description

Interested individuals should submit the following:

  • Fraternal and Professional Resumes
  • A photo and brief biography, suitable for publication
  • Letter of Intent, which addresses the following:
    • How will you approach the role of District Governor?
    • What 2 goals do you feel your district needs to address next biennium and what would be your plans to meet them?
    • The direction of next biennium is to reCHARGE our Brotherhood.  What do you believe this means for your district?
Please submit electronic materials NO LATER than May 14, 2021 at 11:59 pm CST to Jessica Lee, National Vice President of Colonization & Membership at jessicalee@kkpsi.org.  Questions regarding the position or qualifications may be directed to Jessica at jessicalee@kkpsi.org.

Please be on the lookout later in May for a 2021-2023 volunteer application for both students and alumni, to serve the fraternity in other capacities, including on committees, as colony advisors, or in other roles.

AEA,

Jessica Lee
National Vice President for Colonization & Membership
Life Member, Eta Alpha Chapter

DEIA Task Force and National Progress this Biennium

Posted on by
Brothers,The last year has presented the Fraternity with many challenges as we have all had to “pivot” to address public health concerns and keep our band programs moving forward despite all of the obstacles we face.  We have also been looking critically across the entire Fraternity at how we are living up to our values and reflecting back on the one hundred years that preceded us.  The national reckoning on the history of racism, bigotry, sexism, intolerance, and hatred in our country has been long needed and Kappa Kappa Psi has had to ask the same questions about our organization, the many times we may have failed to live up to our values, and where we go from here.  In both cases, this is a long process and we must do this work together, as a Brotherhood, and ensure that progress continues into the future at every level of our Fraternity.

I wanted to update you on the selection of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force and steps we are taking as a Fraternity moving into our next biennium.  Rather than quickly adopt changes, we have taken the time to listen to our membership, learn and investigate our history, and determine how we can make lasting change.  We have all seen corporations and organizations that have put out great statements of support, only to stop that support when the camera lights dimmed or when the work required actually changing.  That’s not in the nature of our Fraternity, but the real change we seek is a long-term project.

DEIA Task Force and Call for a Constitutional Change

Below are Brothers who have been selected to serve on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Advocacy Task Force.  This group will help determine the charges and selection of members of a standing committee that we will bring forth for adoption at our upcoming National Convention.  The mandate for this task force is limited so that our active membership can have a voice in how we move forward, rather than the National Council simply mandating action from our perspective alone.  As leaders we recognize that many voices need to be in this work for it to last long past our own terms of office.

The selected members of the DEIA Task Force are:

  • Leigh Ann Brook (Epsilon Epsilon)
  • Laura Hatcher (Nu Nu)
  • Donald Lee, Jr. (Chair, Zeta Eta)
  • Laurenté Oby (Nu Psi)
  • TarShae Odom (Zeta Eta)
  • Alyssia Price (Gamma Nu)
  • Joseph Valdecanas (Alpha Omega)
  • Shamara Williams (Lambda Eta)
  • Marysa Young (Nu Gamma)

Creating Positive Changes in Kappa Kappa Psi

There are areas where the National Council and National Leadership Team have identified immediate actions that can take place to make necessary reforms and address structural issues.  Whenever possible, we have made these changes in tandem with Tau Beta Sigma Sorority, so we are able to move together to support college bands.
  • Jessica Lee, National Vice President for Colonization and Membership, has set in place new processes for choosing advisors for new chapters, choosing investigators, and for our other volunteer roles.  This included mandatory training and certification for investigators, creating teams for new chapters that include Brothers from chapters with different backgrounds and traditions, and making the diversification of our volunteer corps a high priority.  She has also worked with Directors to improve the vetting process for colonization applications, resulting in colonies from 5 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 1 minority serving institution, and 3 predominantly white institutions this biennium.  This work has also identified other constitutional and operational changes that must be made this summer, including replacing all references to terms like “colonization” and looking at the use of gendered pronouns across the organization and its governing documents.
  • Mike Napolitano, National Vice President for Programs, has taken a critical eye to our national awards, programs, and recognition to identify barriers for entry that keep some chapters from being recognized and areas of bias where chapters may be discriminated against in their applications for awards and recognition.   That work has also included how we celebrate chapters and publicize our national programs to work for a more diverse pool of applications and broader participation.
  • Bang Co, National Vice President for Student Affairs, has presented at least one DEI-focused workshop and follow-up panel discussions for each of our six districts. This was a strategic effort to ensure that our districts were prioritizing these conversations and initiatives. It helped lay the practice that DEI should be incorporated into all aspects of the district operations and structure, and not just an isolated conversation or item on a checklist. He has worked with the Student Advisory Council and students across the country to develop DEI resources for Active Members to have access to and leverage. This is an ongoing initiative and evolving resource for our students that will assist chapter officers, district officers, and future VPSAs to continue this important work. These resources can be found at https://www.kkpsi.org/diversity-equity-inclusion/. With the Student Advisory Council, he helped develop chapter officer training resources that all students could access. This was built off of the resources that were created last biennium. The SAC believed it was important that we lowered the barriers by creating easily accessible content that students could go through at their own pace/own time and at no extra cost. The next step is the addition of captions and updated virtual resources. These resources can be found at https://www.kkpsi.org/videos/.  Finally, he worked with the previous SED President, TarShae Odom to hold several open discussions and Q&As with HBCU Chapter Presidents from across the country. It was from these conversations that public discussions (i.e. TalkTalkks, VPSA Chats, district panels) were able to become reality.
  • Anthony Falcone, National Vice President for Professional Relations, has helped in strengthening our connections to Band Directors at HBCUs and Minority-serving institutions and has helped in the advocacy for using the National Intercollegiate Band and the National Commissioning Project to feature conductors and composers of color.  As the National Council’s resource and connection with the Band Director profession, these connections and this advocacy has a major impact on our relationships with bands and on how Kappa Kappa Psi can shape the College Band world and push for meaningful change.
  • The National Committee on Nominations was charged with breaking down numerous barriers to entry for diversifying our National Leadership, including removing financial barriers and benefits, identifying ways to elevate all candidates prior to our National Convention and limiting unfair advantages that exist in terms of insights and access for candidates.  The majority of the committee is made up of active members and a constitutional change will be recommended to mandate not just diversity of geography in their selection but to follow the model of this biennium by mandating diversity of experience and background in all of our committees to reflect the diversity of our Brotherhood.
  • The National Committees on Communications, Ritual Performance and Education, and Curriculum Development, have not only helped us navigate the pandemic but have improved the visibility and access for all brothers and elevated the voices of Brothers of color, women, and other often marginalized populations. These committees are advised by National Council members who have helped advocate for change and assisted in making reforms possible.

Professional Fraternity Association DEI Initiative and Fraternity Climate Assessments

As a member of the Professional Fraternity Association (PFA), Kappa Kappa Psi has invested in a new initiative across all PFA organizations to conduct assessments of organizational climate and unconscious bias as phase 1 of a long-term PFA initiative.  That work also includes educating our leadership and membership with new programming, training Kappa Kappa Psi facilitators who can work with chapters and districts on DEI issues, and helping our organization to look critically at our operational and education documents and resources.  This multi-year project will help us make needed improvements, while educating our leaders on how to make sure those changes are not just cosmetic.

The first phase of that initiative will begin soon as all active members are asked to complete an assessment of their own values, biases, and beliefs.  That assessment will be analyzed to provide us with an idea of where we are as an organization in advance of our National Convention.  We hope to use the results to inform our DEI Task Force and a possible DEI Committee in its work and to guide the National Fraternity in areas of concern nationwide where resources and education are needed.

By joining with the Professional Fraternity Association (rather than moving quickly on our own), the work we do will mirror work being done by many organizations that are also on our campuses, which should give our chapters a lot of possibilities on your campus to host joint workshops, collaborate across Greek life, and provide a consistent message across our music and band programs and across many majors and professions.  PFA members include Mu Phi Epsilon, Sigma Alpha Iota, Delta Omicron, and Tau Beta Sigma, as well as profession-based societies for a number of disciplines.

Change is necessary and the commitment being made is to make permanent and continuous change to our organization in keeping with our values.  This change is difficult, methodical, and requires connecting us with many partners who can help educate our membership and leadership based on their professional and personal expertise.  Thank you for raising your voices to advocate for changes to our organization and for the many who offered their time and insights to help move Kappa Kappa Psi forward into a better century.

AEA

Marco A. Krcatovich II (he/him/his)
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity

Northeast District Governor Appointment

Posted on by

Brothers,

I wanted to announce the appointment of a Governor to complete the term of office of Sarah Fitzgerald, following her passing.  Our attention throughout her hospitalization was on her, her family, and the many Brothers whose lives were made better by her love and her spirit.  Numerous Brothers stepped up to fill the void, volunteer their time and talents, and lend a shoulder to those of us (myself included) who struggled to manage the emotional load.  To each and every one of those Brothers who showed their love for others in this moment of difficulty – thank you for your humanity and your heart.

It is fitting that the Brother who was chosen to complete this term of office at such a difficult and critical time is someone who embodies humanity and heart.

Marcia “Marci” Jones was initiated into the Northeast District of Kappa Kappa Psi at the University of Connecticut in Spring 2005, during the Northeast District Convention. A native of Miami, Florida, she was originally initiated into the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma at the University of Miami in the Fall of 1989. She is an honorary brother of the Eta Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi at Syracuse University as well as an honorary sister at the following chapters of Tau Beta Sigma; Eta Delta (Howard University), Epsilon Epsilon (Kutztown University), and Gamma Kappa (University of Connecticut). As a founding board member of the former, National Alumni Association for Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma she served as Vice President.

Mrs. Jones’ service extends beyond Kappa Kappa Psi to the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Marci was appointed by the Mayor of Washington, D.C. as a Community Liaison to the Mayor’s Office for the Columbia Heights/Shaw Collaborative. She is a certified Community Trainer in Washington, D.C. since 1998. Marci has facilitated numerous workshops with a focus on the issues of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Conflict Resolution, and various community issues and topics. Marci has more than 20 years of experience with government agencies and non-profit organizations implementing process improvement strategies. Ms. Jones has served in several areas professionally from membership coordination and recruiting to administrative operations and personnel security policy. Marci is a Life Member of Tau Beta Sigma. Her other interests include reading, baking, traveling, and a fan of her children’s youth sports (football, basketball, and volleyball). Marci has been married to her husband Ernest C. Jones, II for 23 years and currently resides in Fredericksburg, VA with their 13-year-old son, Trey, and 10-year-old niece, Sofia.

I want to share my thanks to Marci and every Brother who steps up to lead when times are tough.  We are fortunate to continue to have strong leadership and role models in the Northeast District and across our organization.

AEA

—
Marco A. Krcatovich II
National President, 2019-2021
mkrcatov@kkpsi.org