News

We’re excited to announce that Psi Upsilon has partnered with American Esports to create a Psi Upsilon Esports league! The league will be open to teams of undergraduates, alumni, and potential members – encouraging member engagement, sportsmanship and recruitment in a socially responsible manner.

Led by a committee of undergraduates chaired by Anthony Anderson, Alpha Omicron ’20 (NJIT) and Isabel Zhong, Delta ’20 (NYU) the committee will be coordinating with chapter leadership and manage the tournament. The league will kick off with a League of Legends tournament this fall – chapters will create teams of five (and we’ll have the opportunity to pair players across chapters as well if necessary) and begin play later in September.

Special thanks to Gary Pan, Eta ’86 (Lehigh) for helping make this exciting opportunity possible and coordinating the setup of the league!

If you’d like more information join the league’s discord server here and register your team here.

On Sunday, July 19^th, the Executive Council formally recognized an Owl Club a William & Mary and announced the return at the 2020 Digital Summit. Owl Club is the term used to identify a group of uninitiated students who are looking to restart a dormant chapter of Psi Upsilon. This group of dedicated students has been working with the Phi Beta Alumni Association over the past few months to be able to position themselves for a successful return and plan to work with the College to gain recognition this next academic year.

After some years of dormancy the Alumni Association of the Phi Beta has become re-invigorated thanks to the work of Steve McCleaf, Phi Beta ’89, Christian Klein, Phi Beta ’92 and a number of other brothers leading to the successful cultivation of undergraduate members. In fact, for the Fiscal year 2020 Psi Upsilon had a the second highest percentage of alumni giving of any Greek Organization at William and Mary, in large part of the work of Jonathan Hollis, Phi Beta ’98, promoting the Psi Upsilon Counseling Fund which improves access to mental health services on campus. If you know of any undergraduates at the College of William and Mary that you think would make a great Psi U please let us know by filling out this link.

And if you would like to be involved and up to date with the activities of the Phi Beta Alumni Association please let us know by filling out our volunteer interest form and we’ll be happy to share your information with them.

The undergraduate advisory board (UAB) is a unique opportunity for our members to be involved with Psi Upsilon at an international level. This board will meet monthly and discuss issues they are facing on their campuses, opportunities and best practices. In addition, two members of the UAB will attend meetings of the Executive Council as non-voting members to give feedback as well as provide an undergraduate perspective to the board.

Any undergraduate member in good standing (not inactive and not suspended) can apply.

If you are interested in serving on the UAB for the 2020-21 academic year and would like to run to be a representative please fill out this form. What you enter will be shared with chapter presidents. Everyone who applies will be invited to attend all UAB meetings, which will be virtual on a monthly basis. Executive Council meetings may or may not be in person this year, but we will have a virtual option for anyone who is uncomfortable with travel or cannot travel.

Applications will remain open until August 10th, and the information will be sent to Archons for elections soon after. If you have any questions about the position please contact the Executive Director Thomas Fox.

Application for the Undergraduate Advisory Board

This week we’re excited to welcome Jason Allen as Psi Upsilon’s new Director of Chapter Services!

Jason joins the Psi Upsilon staff after almost a decade of working in higher education. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, joining at their Oneonta State College Chapter where he completed his bachelor’s in Sociology; and shortly after that, he completed his master’s degree at Binghamton University. Since then, he has worked at Cornell University, Phi Kappa Psi headquarters, and Phired Up Productions. Having seen our multifaceted industry from many angles, Jason will develop, coordinate, and direct the services the International Fraternity provides to its collegiate chapters.

Originally from upstate NY, Jason is a Midwest transplant and, with his girlfriend and dog, is embracing all the things Indianapolis has to offer. As an introverted extrovert, Jason loves to spend his time with friends and family, and then quickly likes to go home to catch up on couch time, baseball, and the newest series to binge watch.

Feel free to reach out to Jason at Jason@psiu.org!

PRESS RELEASE

 This new Fellowship is designed to support and inspire alumni brothers who are dedicated to the betterment of society and effective leadership. With the generosity of many donors, this new program provides a unique opportunity for brothers to engage and benefit from our Fraternity well beyond the years on a college campus. I hope you will explore the fellowship program further, consider applying or recommending a brother, and share this information with anyone you feel might be interested.

PSI UPSILON FOUNDATION LAUNCHES PROGRAM TO PROMOTE LIFETIME COMMITMENT TO SERVICE TO SOCIETY

INDIANAPOLIS – One of the nation’s oldest fraternities has launched a new initiative to encourage members to pursue public service long after they leave college. The Psi Upsilon Foundation’s Social Impact Fellowship Program will provide up to $10,000 in annual grants for the professional development of leaders in social-impact driven professions.

“The world has changed a lot since Psi Upsilon was founded in 1833 and we face rapidly evolving challenges that have radical effects on people’s lives,” Foundation Chair Alex Senchak, Eta (Lehigh) ’06 said. “To confront those challenges, we need skilled leaders.

“Personal and organizational budgets – particularly those of community-based companies and organizations – are constrained, and we do not want a lack of financial resources to prevent a committed individual from seizing a professional development opportunity that will make them more effective.”

The fellowship program will help brothers transition into public service jobs and assume volunteer leadership positions at any point in their careers. Among other things, fellowship grants can be used to attend conferences, courses, and seminars to help build professional networks and gain corporate governance, financial management, strategic planning, fundraising, human resources, and conflict resolution skills. In addition to providing direct financial support, the fellowship program will visibly recognize brothers who are making outstanding contributions to society.

“Public service is a hallmark of Psi Upsilon,” Senchak said. “Our brothers have included presidents, prime ministers, Supreme Court justices, cabinet secretaries, diplomats, members of Congress and philanthropists, not to mention thousands of outstanding men and women who have taken on less visible, but highly significant leadership roles both professionally and as a volunteer in their communities. This important new initiative will ensure Psi Upsilon’s tradition of public service continues for many years to come.”

Fellowship applications will be available online on July 15, 2020, with a submission deadline of September 15, 2020. Recipients will be announced in October. Additional details are available at http://www.psiu.org/applications. For more information or questions, contact Bethann Taylor, Director of Administration at bethann@psiu.org or 317-571-1833 ext. 102.

Garrett Gleim, Tau ’01, joins Foundation Board of Directors

by Esme Lytle Xi’ ’21

Garrett Gleim, Tau ’01 (University of Pennsylvania), is the Vice President of Gleim Publications Inc., a family-run business based in North Florida that provides accounting and aviation exam preparation materials to students. In the 1970s, Garrett’s father, Dr. Irvin Gleim, founded Gleim Publications with the belief that becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) should be attainable for everyone, not just those with financial means. Forty-Five years later, Garrett’s sister manages sales and marketing, his brother streamlines the IT department, and Garrett, as a CPA and flight instructor, is responsible for the content.

Garrett began his Tau experience in a pledge class of three, but ended up being the only fall pledge in ’99. He remarks with a grin that it was perhaps the “tightest pledge class ever.” During the next two years as an undergraduate brother, he established supportive and close friendships that remain strong to this day. He remains in almost daily contact with two of his Tau brothers, Nick Braden (Tau ’01) and Nimeet Dodhia (Tau ’01), who reside in New Orleans and Nairobi, Kenya, respectively.

During his time at the University of Pennsylvania, whether at social events or in academic settings, Gleim frequently bumped into brothers who were always keen to lend a helping hand. Gleim comments, “Psi U accepts you for who you are.” During a time of social unease, as college can often be the first time leaving the nest, the brotherhood support network acts a safety net against instability. Garrett reminisces that he was once bedridden by the flu and brothers brought him food every day for two weeks to ensure his well-being.

Gleim observed that the Psi U house was one of the most diverse houses on UPenn’s campus, with brothers coming from all over the United States, as well as abroad. This diversity proved to be beneficial when Garrett collaborated with his brothers on how to plan and run social events. Proudly, Garrett describes the Castle in the early hours of the morning as “bubbling with energy and excitement.”

The teamwork that Garrett practiced with his undergraduate brothers paved the way for the impressive business accomplishments he has achieved with his brother and sister. Working with your family is not always easy, but through delegation and collaboration, Garrett has continued to succeed in each new mission he sets his mind to.  In fact, he has received patents on his ideas on how to improve online learning.  He also cofounded a startup utilizing these patents and hopes that within a few years many Psi U brothers will be using this innovative technology in their online university classes.

Gleim feels an obligation to volunteer for, and contribute to, something he loves: Psi U. Garrett is also a member of Delta Sigma Pi, and his experience in working with multiple chapters within this professional business fraternity excites him to join the international Psi U organization and come head to head with a range of perspectives.