ERIC B. MORSON was initiated into Kappa Kappa Psi at The University of Connecticut in April 1987, and graduated with an individualized B.A. in Marketing & Economics. He became an Honorary Member of Tau Beta Sigma in 2004, a Life Member of KKPsi in 1990, of TBS in 2009, and is a Charter Member of KKPsiAA & TBSAA. He was elected to the Board of Trustees at the 2013 National Convention in Springfield, MA, and was honored with the Kappa Kappa Psi A. Frank Martin Award for Fraternity Service in 2014. Eric has served as the Board of Trustees Vice-Chair, as Board Liaison to the KKPsiAA Board of Directors, as National Vice-Chair and Finance Chair of the KKPsiAA Board of Directors, and on the former NAA Board of Directors as its National Membership Chair. He is an Honorary member of the Northeast, Southwest, and Western Districts, and the National Chapter. He is proud to have created and overseen the launch of the Alumni Giving Program (AGP) and the Scott Stowell Alumni Excellence Award, and to have served as the first colony advisor under our new colonization model. From chapter level through National Leadership, Eric has been consistently involved for more than 30 years, and has attended every National Convention since 1991. He passionately believes that actives and alumni should always feel that they are part of the family that is KKPsi and works tirelessly to that end. Eric has been in the financial services field for nearly 30 years. His dual approach as a Financial Advisor with Equitable Advisors LLC and as a Tax Advisor with Family Tax Advantage LLC (which he and his father founded in 2002), comprehensively serves his clients in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Far East, and more than 40 states, with many in the NY Metro, Connecticut, and Greater Phoenix areas. His work integrates strategic long term financial planning, risk management, and taxation, while ensuring service remains paramount as he designs cohesive plans for clients’ goals and protection. Eric is an elected member of the Stamford Board of Representatives (City Council) for the 2017-21 term, representing the 13th District. As a Representative, he serves as Vice Chair of the Public Safety & Health Committee, a member of the Fiscal Committee and the Code of Ethics Revision Committee, and as a Deputy Parliamentarian. Eric has co-sponsored legislation including a citywide ban on single-use plastic bags, has championed against discrimination, and helps run Government Access TV Channel 79. He holds town hall meetings for his constituents and is actively engaged citywide. Eric also serves on the Stamford Emergency Medical Services (SEMS) Board of Directors, and is a member of CERT. He is a 5-term Past President of the Saw Mill Association, Inc. and now serves as its Liaison to the City of Stamford. Eric was elected to the Democratic City Committee (SDCC) from Stamford’s 13th District in 2014 and 2016, serving until 2018. Eric played trumpet in the UConn Marching Band & Pep Band, and has been in the UConn Alumni Marching Band (UCAMB) since 1990. He was the UConn Alumni Pep Band Coordinator for 14 years, and is now Vice-Chair of the UCAMB Board of Directors. Eric volunteered as a Drill and Brass Instructor for the Stamford HS Marching Band from 1995-01, watching them grow from 4 to over 100, and become a competitive program. Many of his students became college bandmembers, band directors, and members of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. Eric runs a D.J. & Karaoke company he founded in 1993 and sings every chance he gets. He and his wife Michele are proud of their son Cameron, a junior at Arizona State University, and their daughter Callie who is also following in the family’s musical footsteps as a junior in the Westhill HS Marching Band. Both play the trumpet, just like their dad.
DR. KEVIN “KJ” JAMES was initiated in the Zeta Eta chapter at South Carolina State University in Spring 1997. He was an active member from 1997-2000 serving in different offices. Additionally, he served as the section leader of the percussion section. After completing his undergraduate studies, he became an active member of the Zeta Upsilon chapter at Troy State University and was elected as the Southeast District Member-at- Large. He is a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi and a member of the Atlanta Alumni Association. Professionally, KJ serves as the 19th President of Morris Brown College, a historical Black college founded in 1881 in Atlanta, Georgia. The institution is the only college in Georgia founded solely by African American patronage. Dr. James became the leader of the college while it was under duress and lacking recognition from the United States Department of Education as an institution in good standing. The institution lost its accreditation in 2002-03. KJ was serious about the historical legacy of Morris Brown and was on a mission to re-accredit the institution. As an executive leader with years of business experience, he understood that re-branding the institution while staying close to its mission was vital. Therefore, he initiated #TheHardReset, a campaign to restore Morris Brown to compliance and recognition by the Department of Education. After two years of diligent restructuring, Morris Brown College secured “Candidate Accreditation Status” by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) on April 13, 2021. The institution came into compliance with the standards and criteria to be deemed a quality institution. The school was evaluated by an on-site peer review team which determined that the institution provides sound instruction and appropriate student services. The college is now eligible to apply to the U.S Department of Education to participate in financial aid programs and Title IV funding. Such funding is desperately needed to support the students and the overall mission of the college. KJ made history by leading the institution to become the first HBCU to regain accreditation candidacy after a nearly twenty-year hiatus. He drew from his 22-year career as a higher education administrator, professor, executive business leader, and motivational speaker to fulfill his role as the Chief Executive Officer of the college. Under his leadership, Morris Brown College has been completely transformed and revitalized. KJ was named 2021 College President of the Year by the Georgia Greater Black Chamber of Commerce and one of Atlanta’s Most Powerful Leaders by Atlanta Magazine. Additionally, he received the 4 Brighter Futures Foundation, Inc. Chairman Award, was a Georgia Leadership Character Award nominee, Mentor of the Year for 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc., and Morris Brown College was named Top 10 Smaller HBCU that is Rising #4 by the HBCU Campaign Fund. Moreover, he was selected and completed the Higher Education Leadership Foundation/United Negro College Fund Presidential Leadership Institute. KJ has been featured on CNN, CBS, NBC, Fox, US News, Forbes, Black Enterprise, The Root, NewsOne, The GRIO, HBCU Times, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Inside Higher Education, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta Voice, Atlanta Magazine, and The Atlanta Tribune just to mention a few. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, KJ attended South Carolina State University and earned his bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders and Social Sciences from Winthrop University; a master’s degree in Business Management, Leadership, and Organizational Effectiveness from Troy State University; and a Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. He is also a graduate of the Higher Education Institute at Harvard University.
Dr. MALINDA M. MATNEY served as National President from 2007-2009, National Vice President for Colonization and Membership from 2005-2007, and National Vice President for Programs from 1995-1997. She served as an elected Trustee from 2011-2019. She served as Governor for the North Central District from 1997 to 2005, and the Midwest District from 1992-1995. Dr. Matney serves as the Chapter Sponsor for Nu Chapter at the University of Michigan. Dr. Matney is Managing Director for the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching at the University of Michigan, and is on faculty of the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at UM. Dr. Matney earned her Ph.D. in Higher and Postsecondary Education from the University of Michigan. She holds an Education Specialist in higher education administration from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, a Master of Music in Music History from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a bachelor’s degree in music from Wichita State University. Her work involves leading a 14-person unit focused on developing faculty in their teaching roles, and serving on the central team for UM’s university-wide accreditation. Her research has included work on generational demographics, hazing behaviors, social networking, and campus climate. Dr. Matney is a Life Member of both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. She was initiated in 1984 into Alpha Mu Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma at Wichita State University, and served as Chapter President and District President (for District V and the Midwest District). She is an Honorary Member of Kappa Kappa Psi’s National Chapter, Midwest, North Central, Northeast, Southwest, and Western Districts, and Nu, Zeta Chi and Alpha Iota Chapters; and an Honorary Member of Tau Beta Sigma’s North Central and Southwest Districts and Lambda Chapter. Dr. Matney is a member of multiple national associations. She has served on the Board of Directors of HazingPrevention.Org, and the University of Michigan School of Education Board of Governors. She has served as associate editor for Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors and on the editorial board for the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice.
MARCO KRCATOVICH II, from the University of Michigan, was elected the 47th National President of Kappa Kappa Psi at the 50thBiennial Convention in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He presided over the 51st Biennial Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2021. Evan previously served the fraternity as National Vice President for Colonization & Membership (2017-2019), Vice President for Programs (2015-2017), and Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association Board of Directors Chairperson (2013-2015). He currently serves as Immediate Past National President and is a voting member of the Board of Trustees. Marco joined Kappa Kappa Psi in 2001 at the University of Michigan (Nu chapter) where he graduated with a B.S. in Atmospheric Science in 2005. He has since graduated with an M.S.Ed. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Illinois State University. A native of Michigan, Marco now lives in Chicago, Illinois after some time on the East Coast. Marco serves as the Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness at Governors State University in University Park, Illinois, where he oversees a four-person team that serves as the “information and research hub” for an institution that serves the New Majority of college students (older adults, Veterans, First Generation, full-time employed, and students from a minority race or ethnicity).
JESSICA LEE, National President, was initiated into the Eta Alpha Chapter at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania in the Fall of 2003. While a student at Lock Haven, she served the fraternity as Vice President of Service, Chapter President, and Northeast District President. Jessica graduated from Lock Haven University in 2008 with Bachelors Degrees in Special and Elementary Education, and afterwards, completed a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with Principal Certification from the University of Texas at Arlington. Professionally, Jessica has worked in Texas as a special education teacher, assistant principal, principal, and currently serves as Director of Curriculum & Instruction for Blooming Grove ISD, a 3A district in Central Texas. In this role, she oversees curriculum, instruction and assessment district wide, as well as all federal programs – special education, section 504, Gifted & Talented Education, Title I, English Learners, and Response to Intervention. Jessica is a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi, an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma, and also holds honorary membership in the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, and North Central Districts of Kappa Kappa Psi. Previous to her current role on the National Council, Jessica has also served as a district and national workshop presenter, colony advisor, national committee member, National Vice President for Student Affairs, and National Vice President for Colonization & Membership (now known as Membership & Expansion). In her work with Kappa Kappa Psi, she helped to author The Road to Wisdom National Membership Education Program, as well as The Inner Circle Ritual Education Program. She is also a keynote speaker in Kappa Kappa Psi’s new Leadership Development Program, The Founders’ Circle. As National President, Jessica presides over the National Fraternity and serves as a non-voting member of the Board of Trustees. That work includes management of the vast array of volunteers and committees that help the Fraternity accomplish its work, supervision of our National Headquarters Staff, and the planning of major Fraternal events, like the upcoming Biennial National Convention in conjunction with our lifelong partners, Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority. |
Eric B. Morson, Chair
Dr. Jack Lee, Vice Chair
Adam Cantley
Dr. Kevin “KJ” James
Marco Krcatovich II, Immediate Past National President
Jessica Lee, National President