A new student affairs staff member has been selected to advise, coordinate and promote a supportive and inclusive Greek community at Michigan State University.
“It’s important that we work closely with the Greek community to provide them the resources and support they need,” MSU Interim President John Engler said. “Through our safer campus actions, we are committed to ensuring positive on- and off-campus experiences for MSU’s fraternity and sorority members.”
Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life Guillermo Flores became the chief university contact on July 1 for the leadership of the university’s four Greek councils: Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and Panhellenic Council.
“MSU is fortunate to have Guillermo join our team as we strengthen our commitment to provide a successful collegiate experience and safe campus for all our student communities,” said Denise Maybank, vice president for student affairs and services. “Guillermo’s passion and background are just what our students need. Members of MSU’s fraternities and sororities represent 12 percent of the undergraduate student body and we want to assist them in successful programming, making sound decisions and having them be good stewards of the East Lansing neighborhoods they live in.”
MSU’s fraternities and sororities provide a variety of contributions to the campus and greater Lansing community through service and philanthropy. Many local organizations depend on the members’ time, talents and financial aid on an annual basis.
As part of the culture changes taking place at MSU, the Greek community will contribute to the education and prevention efforts regarding relationship violence and sexual assault. Flores will be responsible for supporting member participation in programs such as Greeks Take the Lead, a training program for chapter presidents, risk managers and general members. Scenario-based training sessions cover consent, intervention strategies, risk reduction tactics and the RVSM policy.
“Working with fraternity and sorority life is a passion of mine and I’m excited to help share the accomplishments and positive aspects fraternity and sorority life brings to Michigan State,” Flores said. “I’ve already connected with the four councils and it’s great to see how the students are bringing up the topics they feel need to be addressed to take care of issues before they happen.”
Additional duties Flores will perform include hosting the council presidents’ roundtable; overseeing new member education and leadership development programs; advising the Greek community judicial process; co-chairing the MSU Celebrations Committee; and facilitating discussions between the city of East Lansing and the university relating to the MSU Greek community.
Flores comes to MSU from the University of Houston’s Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life, where he served as fraternity/sorority housing coordinator, primary adviser to 13 organizations from five Greek councils and sat on committees focused on diversity and alcohol use. Flores has a master’s degree in student affairs administration in higher education from Ball State University and an undergraduate degree in speech communications from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.