News

James Platner, Phi Delta ’00 (Mary Washington), receives the Distinguished Alumni Service Award

At the Archons Academy and Social Impact Fellowship Reception on Friday, January 9, in Alexandria, Virginia, Brother James Platner Phi Delta ’10 (Mary Washington) was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Service Award. Established in 1998, this award recognizes alumni whose dedication and service bring honor to Psi Upsilon—particularly through their impact on individual chapters. Jim now joins a select group of just 36 brothers who have received this distinction.

Jim’s commitment to Psi Upsilon began during his undergraduate years, when he served as Chapter President during a period of significant growth. Under his leadership, the chapter expanded its membership, strengthened internal operations, earned the Clasped Hands Award for Excellence in Philanthropy, and fully retired all outstanding undergraduate debt—an achievement that positioned the chapter for long‑term success.

His dedication only deepened after graduation. Jim served for many years as President of the Phi Delta Alumni Association, offering steady leadership, mentorship, and strategic guidance. Even after becoming an Alumni Board Emeritus member, he remained a unifying force, fostering connections across generations and helping sustain a vibrant alumni community.

Jim’s influence extends beyond the chapter level. He has served on Psi Upsilon’s Executive Board and represented the Phi Delta at numerous conventions. Among his most notable accomplishments was leading the Phi Delta 25th Anniversary Celebration and the Phi Delta 25 Fund—the largest alumni event in chapter history—which raised $15,000 and re‑energized alumni engagement.

Today, Jim continues to mentor undergraduates, support recruitment efforts, and contribute to major initiatives, including preparations for the upcoming 30th Anniversary Celebration. His steady leadership and ability to bring brothers together exemplify the very best of Psi Upsilon.

Please join us in congratulating Brother Jim Platner on this well‑deserved honor. His service, loyalty, and lifelong commitment continue to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood for all.

If you know of deserving Psi U alum for this award please nominate them by using this form.

“His sustained leadership, service at both the chapter and international levels, and his unique role in preserving and strengthening the bonds of brotherhood make him an exemplary candidate for this honor.” – Daniel Kauffman, Phi Delta ’10

Jim Platner receiving the Award from Executive Council President Tim Zepp, Chi Delta ’08

James Platner, Phi Delta ’00 (Mary Washington), receives the Distinguished Alumni Service Award Read More »

Dec 2025 Garnet Report Published

The Psi Upsilon Foundation published their Dec 2025 Garnet Report, an annual publication reviewing programs of the Foundation and a listing of contributors to the Annual Fund.

Articles Include:

Donor profile of Joseph McCaskill, Chi Delta ’00
A look at the Delta Omicron chapter installation
A review of the 2025 Days of Giving
Profiles of Psi U’s 2025-26 Social Impact Fellowship Recipients
Details and profiles of the 5th Gilrane Economic Symposium at The Players in NYC

You can view the Dec. 2025 Garnet Report online here.

All donors who are a Gold Member of the Founder’s Society and above receive printed copies of all the Psi Upsilon Foundation Publications – if you would like to make your gift and support Psi Upsilon please do so here.

Dec 2025 Garnet Report Published Read More »

32nd Archons’ Academy A Success!

The Archons’ Academy serves as our annual leadership program specifically designed for chapter presidents. Unlike many other leadership initiatives available to our members, this academy is uniquely tailored for a select group, focusing on conversation and discussion to leverage the experiences of those in leadership roles. Originating in the 1990s, the Academy provides an opportunity for chapter presidents to connect with one another, share best practices, and acquire essential skills that will benefit them throughout their tenure. Over the years, the program has evolved to meet the changing needs of our members and to capitalize on new opportunities. In 2024, we implemented one of the most significant updates to our programming by aligning the Academy with the Psi Upsilon Foundation’s Social Impact Fellowship and moving it to its new home in Alexandria, VA. Marking a new period in our development offerings and allowing more interaction between undergraduate and alumni leadership.

We had 21 chapters represented at the 32nd Archons’ Academy in 2026, and over 30 alums participating in our Social Impact Fellowship Reception on Friday evening.

In recent years, The Birkman Method has been integrated as a fundamental component of the academy and the Social Impact Fellowship. This personality assessment tool sheds light on four essential aspects of an individual: Motivation, Self-Perception, Social Perception, and Mindset. By comprehending these perspectives and their interactions, individuals can gain deeper insights into the emotions and actions that shape their lives. Before arriving in Alexandria, every Archon and Fellow completed the assessment. A significant portion of the Saturday programming featured discussions led by Collin Binkley, Coordinator of Greek Life at the University of Rhode Island, focusing on the assessment and tailored approaches to conflict resolution based on personality types. The format also included facilitated breakout sessions with the Social Impact Fellows, promoting more intimate discussions on these important topics.

Additional sessions in the academy reviewed Psi Upsilon’s history, values, chapter operations, crisis response, motivating and incentivizing members, reviewed Psi U resources, and gave Archons a chance to share their challenges.

Attendees shared the following about their experience:

“I had a great time meeting with all of the alums, archons, and staff from the international office. I believe this was a worthy experience that will lead to my growth as an Archon.”

“A good leader isn’t always optimistic, you must realize when you are struggling and have faith”

“I learned a lot more about myself as a person and this will aid me in future situations.”

“I felt that I really learned about myself as a leader, and how I should lean on my E-Board for aspects that I am personally not that great at.”

This event consistently stands out as a key highlight of our programming calendar. It plays a vital role in demonstrating to chapter presidents that they are not alone in navigating their challenges and that they have access to valuable resources for support, including one another. To further strengthen these connections, we plan to maintain our monthly Town Halls and offer online educational opportunities, including our Roundtable and Summer Leadership Series, along with Coaching sessions and campus visits by our staff.

You can view photos of the weekend on our Flickr site and Facebook Page.

Attendees of the 32nd Archons Academy in Alexandria, VA

32nd Archons’ Academy A Success! Read More »

Psi Upsilon is Hiring: Join Us as Our New Growth Coordinator

Psi Upsilon is excited to announce an opening for the role of Growth Coordinator—a dynamic, full-time position for someone passionate about Psi Upsilon, recruitment, leadership development, and helping students thrive in their college experience.

As Growth Coordinator, you’ll play a key role in advancing Psi Upsilon’s mission by supporting recruitment and expansion efforts across North America. This will primarily involve reactivating dormant Psi Upsilon chapters and providing recruitment support to existing chapters in need. Working closely with the Chapter Services Team, you’ll travel to campuses, build relationships with university partners, and help undergraduates strengthen their leadership skills.

This role is ideal for a recent graduate who enjoys a balance of independence and teamwork, is energized by travel and personal connections, and is dedicated to making a positive impact within our fraternity. From identifying new members to implementing chapter retreats, the Growth Coordinator is at the heart of our efforts to grow and support Psi Upsilon.

What We’re Looking For:

The ideal candidate is a self-motivated professional with:

A bachelor’s degree
Strong communication and relationship-building skills
A willingness to travel and work with a variety of collegiate members and campuses
The ability to work independently while supporting a collaborative team
A valid driver’s license and insured vehicle

Psi Upsilon membership is required and leadership experience is greatly preferred. This role offers competitive pay, full benefits, paid vacation, and travel reimbursements. While the International Office is based in Indianapolis, remote arrangements will be considered for the right candidate, and travel will be a large part of the position during the academic year.

If you’re ready to help shape the next generation of Psi Upsilon brothers and bring lasting value to our chapters, we’d love to hear from you!

Apply now and learn more here.

Psi Upsilon is Hiring: Join Us as Our New Growth Coordinator Read More »

Follow our Flickr and “Psi U Tube” Channels

Youtube Channel

The Psi Upsilon Virtual Speaker Series has been on-going since 2020 and averages 6 or 7 episodes a year. These hour-long interviews span a wide variety of topics, chapters, and generations, from author Harlan Coben, Gamma ’84 (Amherst), and football star turned actor Ed Marinaro, Chi ’71 (Cornell), all the way to specialist discussions like Canine Genetics with Adam Boyko, Omicron ’00 (Illinois) or the future of horror literature. The channel also hosts various other resources like Scholarship announcement keynotes, statements of impact, and leadership series episodes aimed at younger members. Please subscribe today!*

Recent Episodes Include:

Volunteer Opportunity! If you are a video editor or digital arts student or recent graduate looking for portfolio work there are ample volunteer opportunities to help with anything from editing down episodes to creating “Best of” bumpers and promo reels. Contact Sr. Director of Engagement Jonathan Chaffin at jonathan@psiu.org if interested.

If you would like to be be interviewed as part of the speaker series, contact Jonathan or Director of Administration Bethann Taylor bethann@psiu.org

Recent Flickr Albums

The Psi Upsilon Fraternity and Foundation engages with alumni and undergraduate brothers around the country year-round. Convention, Archons’ Academy, Foundation Signature Events, chapter visits and more. Bookmark or favorite our Flickr site to stay abreast of photos from these travels. Additionally, the History and Archives Committee will upload things like historic documents and composites by chapter in albums periodically.

Recent Albums Include:

Volunteer Opportunity! The Foundation and Fraternity are always looking for trained photographers with good equipment to donate time helping us capture events. In most cases that is rewarded with free and behind the scenes access to some pretty cool opportunities to meet and network with brothers.

*To get notified of new YouTube videos, subscribe to a channel and click the bell icon next to the subscribe button, selecting “All” to receive every notification. You can manage these alerts, including email and mobile push notifications, through your account settings

All Foundation programs are supported by the generous donations of brothers; make your gift and support Psi Upsilon here. Donors who are a Gold Member of the Founder’s Society and above receive printed copies of all the Psi Upsilon Foundation Publications.

Follow our Flickr and “Psi U Tube” Channels Read More »

Announcing the 2026 Chapter Roundtable Discussions

As our undergraduate leaders return to campus this winter, we are pleased to announce the relaunch of our online Roundtable discussions. Our Chapter Services team has identified six key focus areas, and each session will bring together the officers and chairs most closely connected to the topic. This intentional structure ensures a focused, productive environment that delivers meaningful, role‑specific support without overwhelming participants.

These Roundtables offer chapter leaders a valuable forum to share best practices, address current challenges, and gather practical guidance. Just as importantly, they create space for leaders to connect with peers across the fraternity, strengthening collaboration and community.

In addition to the Roundtable series, we will also host a Thesauristes (Treasurers) Academy on Wednesday, January 28th. Additional details, including session topics and times, are provided below. Participants may click on any session to view a full description, intended audience, and Zoom access information. All times are listed in Eastern Time.

We look forward to engaging with you and supporting a strong start to 2026!

Tuesday, January 27th @ 5PM
Service to Society: A Discussion for Philanthropy and Service Chairs

Tuesday, January 27th @ 6PM
New Member Education Best Practices

Tuesday, January 27th @ 7PM
How to Better Engage with Alums

Wednesday, January 28th @ 5PM
Psi U Cares: Maintaining a Health and Wellness Program

Wednesday, January 28th @ 6PM
Thesauristes Academy for Chapter Treasurers

Thursday, January 29th @ 5PM
A Commitment to Excellence: Setting Goals AND Following Through

Thursday, January 29th @ 6PM
Brotherhood Development: Creating Events to Engage Members

Announcing the 2026 Chapter Roundtable Discussions Read More »

Fall 2025 Recruitment Update

Recruitment remains the lifeblood of any fraternity, and in recent years Psi Upsilon has invested deeply in strategies that strengthen the growth and success of our undergraduate chapters. Our efforts have centered on enhancing recruitment practices, revitalizing dormant chapters, and establishing new ones to ensure a vibrant and sustainable future for our brotherhood.

To support this work, we partnered with Phired Up—the nation’s leading authority on fraternity recruitment—to develop a comprehensive recruitment certification program that equips our members with proven skills and strategies. Phired Up also joined us at the 2025 Leadership Institute to deliver training in social excellence and values-based recruitment, helping members build authentic connections and craft thoughtful recruitment plans that elevate both the quantity and quality of new member classes.

This year, we also relaunched our field staff program and welcomed Mia Driskell, Delta Omicron ’24 (Purdue), who has been working directly with chapters on campus to provide hands-on coaching and support. Looking ahead, we aim to expand this program by hiring at least one growth coordinator who can reside in chapter facilities for extended periods to offer immersive recruitment assistance.

These initiatives are possible thanks to the generous support of the Annual Fund—especially donors who participated in the March Challenge, which emphasizes contributions that strengthen the Fraternity and fuel Psi Upsilon’s expansion.

Our collective efforts are already yielding results. This fall, we saw a more than 10% increase in new members compared to last year, initiating 279 new brothers—the largest fall class since 2017.

Recruitment success extended beyond our active chapters as well. We proudly restarted two chapters this year: the Beta Beta Chapter at Trinity College, now with 31 members, and the Phi Nu Chapter at Christopher Newport University, which has grown to 14 members. In October, we also celebrated the installation of Psi Upsilon’s 50th chapter at Purdue University. Additional efforts are underway to restart the Lambda Chapter at Columbia University, along with conversations with several alumni associations exploring future opportunities.

If you know a college student who would make an exceptional Psi Upsilon brother—or someone interested in helping establish a new chapter—we encourage you to connect with us. With your support, we look forward to continuing this momentum and building on our success in 2025.

Fall 2025 Recruitment Update Read More »

The Phi Nu Chapter at Christopher Newport University returns!

Psi Upsilon is pleased to announce its return to Christopher Newport University, where the Phi Nu Chapter has officially begun the process of reactivation. Following a two‑year suspension, an enthusiastic group of former members took the initiative to rebuild the chapter. Now 15 members strong, the chapter is preparing to participate in IFC recruitment next semester.

While working to regain Registered Student Organization status and reestablish chapter operations, the members remained committed to service and philanthropy. In November, the chapter collected more than 400 pounds of canned goods for THRIVE Peninsula, a nonprofit organization supporting families across the Virginia Peninsula during times of need. They also engaged in several campus‑based philanthropic efforts, demonstrating their renewed dedication to the Christopher Newport campus community.

With this strong momentum, the chapter is well‑positioned for a successful spring semester. Alumni of the Phi Nu Chapter and Psi Upsilon members in the Hampton Roads region who are interested in supporting this emerging group are encouraged to connect as we build an advising team. To follow the chapter’s progress and activities, visit its Instagram page @cnupsiu.

The Phi Nu Chapter at Christopher Newport University returns! Read More »

New Digital Necrology for Psi Upsilon

The Psi Upsilon International Office is pleased to announce we have partnered with LifeWeb 360 to bring you a brand new digital necrology where our brothers can reconnect and commemorate those members of our Fraternity who have passed away.

LifeWeb 360 is an online platform where friends and family can share stories, photos and memories of their departed loved one. It is designed to harness the outpouring of love that happens when someone passes to capture their essence in an authentic way, honor them, and give comfort to their family.

Explore the new digital Psi Upsilon Necrology here

Within the brotherhood, we find stories of lives lived to the fullest and of unique men and women who left an indelible mark on the world. Discover the common threads that weave us together and—when you see someone you know—share your cherished memories, anecdotes, photos, and laughs to honor the strong connection we have with our departed brothers.

We’ve included all notices of a brother passing, and the obituary if it can be found, since 2019. If you know of a brother who passed away and is not included please pass along their information using this form.

New Digital Necrology for Psi Upsilon Read More »

Psi Upsilon makes an impact on the Movember Foundation!

Each November, Psi Upsilon brothers across North America proudly participate in Movember—an annual campaign where participants grow moustaches and host fundraising events to spotlight three critical men’s health issues: mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. Men, on average, die six years earlier than women, often from preventable causes, and the Movember Foundation is committed to changing that reality.

This year, Movember introduced a national “Fraternity Challenge” to compare the collective efforts of fraternity organizations. We are proud to share that Psi Upsilon placed 4th overall.

A significant contributor to this achievement is the “Boys Things” team, originally founded by members of the Pi Chapter at Syracuse University. What began as a chapter initiative has grown into one of the most successful Movember teams in the world. Although global rankings are no longer tracked, last year the team placed 8th internationally and 4th in the United States. We encourage you to explore their inspiring history from a prior story. We also extend our appreciation to the brothers of the Beta Beta, Tau, Omicron, and Alpha Omicron Chapters for their participation and support this year.

Looking ahead to 2026, Psi Upsilon is committed to expanding our impact and strengthening our partnership with Movember. This effort aligns closely with our “Psi U Cares” program, created in response to the growing mental health challenges faced by students on college campuses and the vital role fraternities can play in supporting their well‑being. Each chapter is encouraged to host at least one philanthropic or service event annually that raises awareness and reduces the stigma surrounding mental health.

Together, we are building a healthier future for our members and living our value of service to society!

Psi Upsilon makes an impact on the Movember Foundation! Read More »