This town hall is for undergraduate chapter presidents and other members of their Executive Board as they discuss challenges and solutions to current remote learning environments – philanthropy, operations, recruitment, new member education, and staying connected to one another. If you would like an invite to this Zoom conference please contact Executive Director Thomas Fox at tfox@alexsenchak
Meeting ID: 317 473 9263 One tap mobile +13017158592,,3174739263# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,3174739263# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 317 473 9263
Chapter Corporation Presidents and Alumni Advisors Town Hall: Wednesday April 26th 6-7PM EST
Our monthly check in for alumni presidents and alumni advisors to connect, share resources and ask questions. All Chapter Corporation presidents and advisors are invited to attend this zoom conference if you would like an invite to this Zoom conference please contact Executive Director Thomas Fox at tfox@psiu.org.
The Psi Upsilon Foundation awards a reimbursement grant to deserving chapters (or groups of chapters) who want to produce educational programs or workshops both in-person and virtually. Recipients may use the funds, up to $1,000, (~$4,000 total annually for the program) to pay for hospitality, event space, facilitator/speaker fees, travel and lodging needs, production of materials, etc.
Early in March 2022, at the UN Environment Assembly, diplomats from 175 nations voted unanimously to create a legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution. The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) called it “the most significant environmental multilateral deal since the Paris accord.”
Dr. Barbara Hendrie, Kappa ‘80 (Bowdoin), is the 2022 Psi Upsilon Social Impact Fellowship Honorary Fellows, and she was in the room. Barb is the director of UNEP’s North America Office, and on the evening of March 24th she spoke to UW–Madison students and faculty about the consequences of plastic pollution, as well as the importance of the resolution earlier this month.
“What I saw in Nairobi, what I was privileged to witness, is that global cooperation among nations to solve our collective problems is possible, but it needs to be enabled and motivated by action at local and regional level,” Hendrie said. “At that moment the gavel came down at the UN Regional Assembly, everyone felt an almost-euphoric sense of accomplishment in what we can achieve together when we put our minds to it.”
Inspired by learning about Dr. Hendrie’s presentation during the Psi U speaker series and their relationship as brothers of Psi U, Calvin Floyd, Rho ‘22, applied for a Connects Grant and asked for help contacting Dr. Hendrie. The title of Hendrie’s lecture, “Tackling Environmental Challenges (Including Plastic Pollution) Globally and Locally,” reflects UNEP’s emphasis on global and local approaches to sustainability. According to its website, the organization “sets the environmental agenda,” “promotes the coherent implementation … of sustainable development within the United Nations system,” and “serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.”. In her lecture Hendrie emphasized the scale of plastic pollution, which increased drastically in the past half-century: today there are 8.3 billion tons of plastic on earth, 6 billion of which is waste. Only 9 percent of single-use plastics are recycled globally, Hendrie said, and only 7 percent in the United States.
Hendrie, one of six regional directors on the UN Environment Programme’s Senior Management Team, spoke in the latest of the Weston Roundtable Lectures, a series co-sponsored by the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to “promote a robust understanding of sustainability science, engineering, and policy.” Calvin Floyd, a senior majoring in Environmental Studies, moderated the event’s Q&A and arranged Hendrie’s visit through his fraternity, Psi Upsilon, of which Hendrie was a member at her undergraduate university. The Office of Sustainability, including student intern Natalie Tinsen, provided additional support for the event. Calvin writes, “I gave her a walking tour which featured the Rho house and several landmarks on campus and escorted her to the introductory environmental studies class for one of the faculty sponsoring where she said a few inspiring words to the students, followed by dinner with everyone on the team involved with the event. I cannot stress enough how grateful everyone was to have the support from Psi Upsilon and for the Foundation’s role in bringing Barb to campus…It feels like ages ago that we first started working out this event. Thank you so much for making this happen, it’s been a dream come true and it has proven to me the strength of our brotherhood.”
After dinner, the campus event was a huge success, attended by brothers/alumni of the Rho, student leaders, and faculty numbering over 50 in total. Srinath Srinivasan, Rho ‘23, Michael Kornely, Patrick Connelly, Rho ‘14), George Rouman, Rho ‘22), JH Verhoff, Rho ‘22, and Benjamin Bates, Rho ‘22 among others, enjoyed the lecture.
Reflections: A Journal of Psi Upsilon History is a publication of the Psi Upsilon Foundation focused on researching and highlighting the stories behind the members, buildings, artifacts, and traditions of our order as we approach two centuries of brotherhood. This issue features: • The Psi Upsilon Hose Company Eta Chapter, Lehigh University • FOUNDING OF THE UNIVERSITY GLEE CLUB OF NYC – John Tempest Walker Jr. Lambda 1884 (Columbia) • 9 | THE OCCUPATION OF BERLIN “Howlin’ Mad” Howley, Delta ‘25 (NYU) • 12 | Psi Upsilon Legacies: The Terry Family • 14 | A PRICELESS ARTIFACT IS REBORN – The Pi Chapter House stairwell • 16 | About Our Founders: Edward Martindale, Theta 1836 (Union College)
Larger than life, Col. Frank L. Howley was Deputy American Commandant when four-power cooperation broke down in Berlin. Soviet radio played cowboy music every time they mentioned ‘Howley, the Rough Rider from Texas’ (he was actually from New Jersey).
June 17, 1945 – A commandeered Horsch Roadster rides to Berlin. Behind this luxury German car follow 120 jeeps and military vehicles; all polished to a high sheen and festooned with American flags. Among their number is a truck laden with 10,000 bottles of whiskey and wine to celebrate the liberation of the city. Leading the convoy riding in the Roadster sat General Frank L. Howley, Delta 1925 (NYU). “It was my intention,” said brother Howley, “to make this advance party a spectacular thing.”1 As he arrived at the beleaguered city recently conquered by the Soviet Army two enormous portraits loomed down on him: Lenin and Stalin. This ominous greeting would be a sign of things to come for the coming days and years.
In addition to being a decorated General, Frank Howley was a brother of Psi Upsilon. Brother Howley pledged the Delta Chapter in 1921. During his time at NYU he played lacrosse, track & field, and football where he earned the nickname “Golden Toe.” 2 After graduating in 1925 with a degree in Economics he established an advertising agency that found success despite America being mired in the Great Depression. Beginning in 1932 Howley was a reserve captain for the U.S. Army; in 1940 he was called to active duty. in 1941, America entered the second World War. Initially Howley headed the Rising Sun School of Aeronautics near Philadelphia. In 1941 he transferred to the Cavalry School at Fort Riley, Kansas, teaching horse tactics and serving as a plans and training officer. Eventually he became executive officer of the Third Cavalry and in 1943 helped convert the unit from a horse unit to a mechanized one. This conversion included training maneuvers; during one fateful exercise Howley broke his back. During his recovery, the Army gave him a choice: go home and sit out the rest of the war, or join civil affairs. Howley chose the latter. While still recovering Howley attended military government school at Camp Custer and in Cleveland.
As the war progressed Howley set up military government in France after D-Day. He later led the first ground party to cross the Elbe river on that fateful convoy to Berlin. While in Berlin the Soviets denied the negotiated terms with the Americans. To solve this impasse “Howlin’ Mad” Howley (as his men called him) set up billets and relief stations overnight so that the Soviets awoke to the reality of American occupation in Berlin.
Howley sat at the negotiation table and went on to govern Berlin. In 1950 he retired from the Army a Brigadier General and went on to be the Vice Chancellor of his alma mater, New York University. During the Cold War Howley wrote multiple books and papers on the subject of diplomacy and rivalry with the Soviet Union. His work influenced the course of history. During his life Frank Howley received the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal, the French Legion of Honor, the Croix de Guerre (with three palms), the Belgian Military Cross (first class), the U.S. Legion of Merit, and four campaign battle stars. He married Edith Howley with whom he had four children: Dennis, Delta ’58, Peter, Delta ’62, William, Delta ’63, and daughter Frances. All three of his sons attended New York University and are brothers of Psi Upsilon. He passed away in 1993 at the age of 90.5 ♦
The Board of Directors of the Psi Upsilon Foundation are pleased to announce the election of Brother James Volpentest (Theta Theta ’90) as the newest member of the board. Mr. Volpentest graduated from the University of Washington and brings extensive experience from a distinguished career in sales and management.
When asked what he would say to the undergraduates of today James, as the father of a senior looking at colleges now, says, “You have these moments, a joke, an event and you don’t realize it but that’s life and it is who you are. Pay attention to those moments and don’t be in too much of a hurry to get to the next step in life.”
During his undergraduate years James pledged Psi Upsilon in the Fall of 1986. “Some of my favorite memories with the fraternity were during Greek Week,” said James. “It was a time when all of the chapter would come together. Even if you weren’t in the competition then you’d be on the sidelines cheering and we were all in it together. As a music lover I was always there for the Battle of the Bands.” James himself would often represent the chapter in these competitions for soccer and was a member of the University of Washington soccer team. While he originally joined the team as a walk on he was eventually granted a scholarship for his performance. In 1990 he was named Most Inspirational player and that same year served as the Vice President of Rush for the Theta Theta chapter helping to recruit a pledge class of thirty members.
After college James met and married Cindy Morgan with whom he has shared his life.
James is the proud father of two with one daughter and one son. His son is currently finishing his senior year and preparing for college. During his free time James enjoys music including a “love-hate” relationship to playing guitar. His college days love of soccer continues with many years of coaching soccer and specifically coaching soccer goal-keepers in his local community.
James recently began a new position as Senior Sales Director for Front, a technology firm specializing in software and services for businesses to manage their customer service. Prior to his current position James spent twelve years at LinkedIn serving in various executive capacities. During his time at LinkedIn James would serve many roles including Vice President of Sales. Before LinkedIn James spent eleven years at Oracle Corporation, similarly in executive positions focused on growing the business.
Over the years James has maintained contact with many brothers and describes some of the young men who he attended college with as his best friends that he still is in regular contact with. When his home chapter sponsored the national convention in 1986 he attended and he has attended multiple smaller events in his current home city of San Francisco. James says “Psi U has been a constant in my life for the last 36 years.” This relationship has continued to recently when James was elected as the newest member of the Board of Directors.
For the Foundation Board James looks forward to finding ways to contribute and move the leadership of Psi Upsilon to reflect the brotherhood and society as a whole. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have many great teachers and learn about how gender and ethnic diversity can add strength to an organization,” said James. During his time at LinkedIn James became certified in various diversity courses such as “Confronting Racism” and “Confronting Bias: Thriving Across our Differences” as well as many others. He speaks highly of how this training has helped him as a manager and as a human being and hopes to help lead Psi Upsilon in this direction. In addition to diversifying the leadership, James hopes to focus on programs that help all members, both graduates and undergraduates, to network with the brotherhood. “So many of my opportunities in life have come from contacts and networking,” says James, “ and the brotherhood is a huge membership from all walks of life. Being able to access that network gives a leg up in the world that cannot be passed up.”
In March, the Psi Upsilon Foundation held the first Social Impact Fellowship Retreat to honor and teach our Social Impact Fellows. Distinguished facilitators Tyree P. Jones ESQ, Kappa ‘82(Bowdoin), Patrick Gilrane, Psi ‘83(Hamilton) and Lance Miller, Epsilon Nu ‘80(Michigan State), facilitated leadership development sessions with the 2020-21 and 2021-22 cohorts of Fellows, including Dr. Brian Christie, Zeta ‘07(Dartmouth), Bri Watson, Delta Nu ‘11 (Keene State), Mike Thibideau, Epsilon Nu ‘11(Michigan State), Dr. Daniel Correa, Phi Delta ‘04(Mary Washington), Roberta Hunter Epsilon Iota ‘ 94 (RPI) and Amb. Robert Beecroft Ret’d, Tau ‘62 (Pennsylvania). The retreat was followed by a reception for fellowship supporters and leadership.
The Psi U “Ask an Expert” series continues Wed: George Spencer, Gamma ’85 (Amherst) answering questions around Due Diligence and Setting Value for ventures. George is a managing dir. Seyen Cap.
The Psi U “Ask an Expert” series continues Wed: George Spencer, Gamma ’85 (Amherst) answering questions around Due Diligence and Setting Value for ventures. George is a managing dir. Seyen Cap.
Wednesday April 13th, 2022 12-1pm EST *Due Diligence & Setting Value George Spencer, Gamma ’85 Senior Managing Director Seyen Capital
The 2022 Psi U March Challenge is a wrap! 215 donors from 29 chapters helped support this important campaign; THANK YOU! We were able to raise over $48,445.03 in five days!
Congratulations to the Gamma Tau chapter (Georgia Tech) for winning the challenge with 45 donors!
The “Final Four” is rounded out by the Omicron Chapter (Illinois) with 26 donors, the Eta (Lehigh) with 24 donors and 3 chapters had a tie for the 4th spot with 13 donors each: the Delta Omicron (Purdue), Omega (Chicago) and the Pi (Syracuse).
Reasons Brothers supported the March Challenge: “I want current undergrads have at least the same opportunities I had.” • Bill Robinson, Upsilon ‘72
“Psi U gave me a family to support and friends for life.” • Madison Turkette, Delta Omicron, ’19
“Psi U made my collegiate experience all the more worthwhile.” • Chip Mendelsohn, Psi ’64 (Hamilton)
“The Fraternity changed my life in a time I needed it most” • Kevin O’Grady, Alpha Omicron ’17 (NJIT)
“Very impressed by what Psi U is doing to support mid-career professional development and public service.” • Christian Klein, Phi Beta ’84 (William and Mary)
“I’m thankful for the enduring friendships that it has given me.” • Matthew Eckenrode, Epsilon Nu ’04, (Michigan State)
“My chapter played an important role in me coming out of my comfort zone and finding my identity. I want this type of institution to exist for years to come 🙂” • Dashielle Heidt, Gamma Tau ’18 (Georgia Tech)
We would like to thank the following generous donors who are matched gifts for the challenge, and helped make this such a success:
•Patrick Gilrane, Psi ’83 (Hamilton)
•William W. Baker, Tau ’78 (Pennsylvania)
•Bill Cavanaugh. Pi ‘72 (Syracuse)
•Jake Schmidt, Chi Delta ’11 (Duke)
•Larry Rakers, Omicron ’84 (Illinois)
•Thomas Fox, Omicron ’00 (Illinois)
•Alexander Senchak, Eta ’06 (Lehigh)
•Martin Brayboy, Gamma ’84 (Amherst)
•Jeremy Mckeon, Eta ’08 (Lehigh)
So thank you again to everyone who participated, helped spread the word and encouraged their brothers to give: we hope you all had some fun with the challenge. Your generosity will help Psi U grow! Again this achievement of raising over $48,000 is an amazing start to 2022!
The March Challenge is over for the year, but you can still Make A Gift To Psi U.
It’s time for the annual Psi Upsilon March Challenge!
Thanks to the support of brothers like you the 2021 Psi Upsilon March Challenge was a success. Brothers gave, shared photos and stories on social media, and over a dozen volunteer “boosters” used the week to reach out to their friends and chapters to invite new donors and matching donations. With your very generous help, we raised just over $40,000.00 from 190 brothers.
The March Challenge for Psi Upsilon’s annual fund begins THIS THURSDAY, March 24th!
Please consider making a gift, and help spread the word to your chapter brothers! You can be on the scoreboard when the challenge starts Thursday by making a gift at https://psiu.crowdchange.co/23588 and check in anytime to see how your chapter is performing.
We want to congratulate the outstanding participation of the Omicron chapter in 2021, who won the Challenge, and the Gamma Tau and Phi chapters who had very impressive turn out! But the running was close and this year any chapter can easily win the challenge!
The March Challenge specifically helps support the growth of the fraternity; because of last year’s success we’ve seen some big changes in Psi Upsilon:
We’ve been able to renew our recruitment certification programto help educate members on best practices to attract potential new members and market their chapters. This program usually costs $40 a participant, but is free to all members of Psi U.
We hired a Director of Growthfor the first time at Psi U. He is not only assisting struggling chapters with coaching assistance, but is working on an overall expansion plan to better support the reactivation of closed chapters and cultivating new ones.
These efforts helped us initiate 263 members in the Fall of 2021 – for context we had 119 New Members join in the Fall of 2020, and 231 in the Fall of 2019 before the pandemic. Make no mistake – the gifts from alumni like you helped make this happen!
Bear in mind, gifts of any amount count for the challenge, so don’t be shy and help your chapter represent. Founder’s Society benefits start at gifts of $250.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns to Jonathan Chaffin, Director of Member Engagement (jonathan@psiu.org) or 317-571-1833 ext 104.
Be healthy and safe. We are grateful for your generosity and enthusiasm!
Yours In the Bonds,
Jonathan M. Chaffin, Γ T ’00
Director of Member Engagement Psi Upsilon Foundation p: 317-571-1833 x 104 | c: 404 207 6565 Give to the Psi Upsilon Annual Fund by making a gift here.
