Brothers,
It is with great excitement that I share with you the slate of officers for the 2021-23 biennium as recommended by the Committee on Nominations! The committee worked diligently on its task and took its responsibility very seriously to form the best possible team of officers from all qualified candidates. Our conversations were thorough and in the end, the decision to slate these individuals came from knowledge gained from candidate packets, personal experiences, interviews, podcasts and an extensive discussion at our in person meeting at the National Headquarters in Stillwater, Oklahoma. With our wealth of knowledge and our conversations together and with the candidates, the committee believes strongly in this slate of officers. We hope that you will agree that this slate provides our Fraternity the best possible team built from the declared candidates.
Fraternally, and on behalf of the committee,
Michael K. Osborn, Chair
National Committee on Nominations
Past KKPsi National President (2003-2005)
Life Member from the Zeta Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
2021-2023 Committee on Nominations
Jordan Barnes (Iota Xi)
Rose Bradbourne (Beta Psi)
Adam Cantley (Omicron)
TJ Coleman (Beta Lambda)
Chris Giles (Epsilon Chi)
Jack Gornick (Alpha Zeta)
Kalem Graham (Zeta Psi)
Donna Hyde (Epsilon Epsilon)
Maile Johnson (Kappa Delta)
Will Johnston (Theta Sigma)
Marci Jones (Northeast District)
Leslie McClure (Midwest District)
Martin Murungi (Theta Theta)
Michael Osborn (Zeta Epsilon, Chair)
Kayden Pintarelli (Nu Omicron)
Joey Sacino (Iota Kappa)
Barbara Schoener (Zeta Lambda)
Jennifer Taylor (Gamma Theta/Lambda)
The committee slates the following individuals:
President: Jessica Lee (Eta Alpha)
Vice President for Colonization and Membership: Bang Co (Alpha Zeta)
Vice President for Programs: Edward Savoy (Eta Alpha, Eta Omicron)
Vice President for Student Affairs: Connor Terry (Alpha)
Board of Trustees:
Dr. Kevin James (Zeta Eta)
Dr. Malinda Matney (Nu)
Eric Morson (Delta Omicron)
President: Jessica Lee
The committee was unanimous and enthusiastic in its support for Jessica Lee to serve as the 48th National President of Kappa Kappa Psi. Jessica has served with distinction in both the office of National Vice President for Student Affairs and in her current position National Vice President for Colonization and Membership. In fact, the committee felt she over-achieved in her current role by bringing in several new chapters, including several from Historically Black College and University band programs, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work with helping to coordinate online Ritual education, Colonization and Colony Installations, and so much more show her desire to not only get the work done, but to get it done well.
Jessica laid out a “reCHARGE” vision for her biennium that not only addresses the challenges our Fraternity faces coming out of the pandemic, but also moves us forward as we continue to Strive for the Highest. She is ready to continue work in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has the skills and abilities to push this effort forward to the benefit of our great Brotherhood. We look forward to her leadership as our next National President.
Vice President for Colonization and Membership: Bang Co
The committee had a long discussion regarding this position. In the discussion of the two candidates who have declared for this office, there were strong reservations raised about both. In keeping with our charge to create the best slate from among all qualified candidates, it was determined that we needed to open our thinking to include an additional candidate. That candidate was Bang. It was noted that Bang’s platform lined up nicely with Jessica’s, that several of his platform items are transferable to the office of Vice President for Colonization and Membership, and that together they would make the best team. As we have seen over the years, the teamwork between a National President and a Vice President for Colonization and Membership is vital to the success and future of our Fraternity, as that relationship nurtures and grooms the next President. Having the right partner for Jessica was a critical reason for our decision.
Bang’s work as the National Vice President for Student Affairs has been strong. He has shown exceptional leadership capabilities and the ability to communicate in a timely manner to students and chapters. Along with this, he has a desire to expand upon initiatives to address diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Fraternity in regards to colonization and membership involvement. Bang is creative and has found ways to engage the student members, have discussions on tough topics, coordinate with the Communications Team, and do work that has a direct, positive benefit to our Active Brothers.
While Bang has declared his intent to seek the office of Vice President for Programs, we felt that his experiences with student and chapter advocacy was needed for the office of Vice President for Colonization and Membership. The committee feels strongly that Bang is well suited to take on this role and be successful in this office.
National Vice President for Programs: Edward Savoy
Edward (Ed) Savoy has a long and distinguished track record of fraternal service. Prior to serving on the Board of Trustees, Ed had served as the chair of the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association. In that role, he was a non-voting member of the National Council and had a great level of understanding of the Council’s work and responsibilities. Much of Ed’s work over his time in leadership has been around the development and maintenance of various national programs. Even as a member of the Board of Trustees, Ed has continued his work with programming by coordinating the “Boh’s Birthday Bash”, a life membership program coinciding with Boh’s birthday for the last few years.
While the committee recognizes that Ed is running for re-election on the Board of Trustees, we felt that his fraternal experiences and skill-set lends itself best to the office of Vice President for Programs. His Trustee experience will lend maturity and an important viewpoint in the National Council’s work. As someone who has successfully led many program-based endeavors, we believe that Ed’s determination and task-orientation would be a great asset to the biggest project facing the office: overseeing the implementation of the Founder’s Circle Leadership Development Program.
National Vice President for Student Affairs: Connor Terry
The committee felt that Connor Terry was the best fit not only for the position of Vice President for Student Affairs, but also the best fit to round out the slated council. Connor has extensive Fraternal and professional experiences he can use to jump right into the role of Vice President for Student Affairs enthusiastically. As an academic advisor at Oklahoma State University, he has effectively guided college students, advocated for their needs, and championed their successes. These are key skills for a successful Vice President for Student Affairs. In other areas, he has extensive experience with social media and communication and has hosted podcasts for a global audience. These skills fit under the current portfolio of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the position’s role supporting and advising the Communications Team. We think Connor will do an excellent job building on the work Bang did this biennium. In his work at Oklahoma State, he has led efforts working for advocacy for under-represented groups which fits well with supporting the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Advocacy Task Force and its goals this biennium.
Connor’s platform of “Belong – Matter – Prepare” was clearly articulated with several achievable action items that meet current needs of our Brotherhood. These action items include work to help our Brothers regain a sense of community after more than a year of isolation, increased highlights of student successes, increased representation and visibility, and much more. The committee felt that the “Belong – Matter – Prepare” action items align well with the vision stated by incoming National President Jessica Lee.
National Board of Trustees (3 seats available)
The committee agreed that all 5 candidates for the Board of Trustees would make a great Trustee; however, slating 5 candidates was not constitutionally possible. Of the 4 that remained, after slating Trustee Ed Savoy for National Vice President for Programs, the committee identified the strongest candidates, in their opinion. Please note the slated candidates are listed alphabetically and there should be no other meaning taken by their order.
Dr. Kevin James
Kevin, or K.J. as many Brothers know him, has done incredible work as a college administrator. K.J. served as a college dean for 21 years and is currently serving as the President of Morris Brown College, a Historically Black College in Atlanta. Under his leadership, the college has come back from the brink of closing and recently regained the accreditation the college lost in 2002. As a sitting college president, K.J. has a unique sense of what is happening on college and university campuses, especially on the campus of a Historically Black College. Considering much of his work at Morris Brown has been in the area of large-scale fundraising, we feel Kevin will be a great contributor to the fraternity’s continued capital fundraising as a member of the Board of Trustees. K.J.’s path to leadership in Kappa Kappa Psi did not come through the National Leadership, nor the Alumni Association, which brings a fresh perspective to the Board of Trustees. The committee felt that Dr. James would be a great addition on the Board of Trustees based on his extensive accomplishments in the academic world, as well as the unique perspective he will bring to the Board as a current college president.
Dr. Malinda Matney
Malinda’s leadership in Kappa Kappa Psi has brought many great things to our Brotherhood. Her corporate memory in the National Leadership would be the longest of any member of next biennium’s national leadership. This will serve the Board of Trustees well as the Fraternity is able to re-engage and act on strategic work. Malinda was a key member and past Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee which was responsible for the recently completed fully-funded capital campaign. Her knowledge and work in long-term strategic fundraising and experience in higher education are valuable as we see through the changes coming to the Fraternity following the pandemic.
Malinda is a frequent speaker at district conventions and college band director meetings, such as the CBDNA Athletic Band Consortium and the HBCU Band Consortium. She will be able to draw upon her extensive relationships with many college band directors. As a chapter sponsor, Malinda maintains a direct tie to the student experience which can inform the Board of Trustees on many areas. The committee felt confident in slating Malinda for a term on the Board of Trustees for all these reasons and is confident she will continue to contribute to Kappa Kappa Psi’s successful future.
Eric Morson
Eric is the current Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, but that is not merely why he is slated. Eric has a significant and distinguished history of service to Kappa Kappa Psi. He was a Director in both the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association Board (where he also served as a Vice Chair) and with the National Alumni Association that preceded it. He has offered his service to the Fraternity in any way he has been asked to do. Eric is completing his second term as a member of the Board of Trustees and with that brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help the Board to continue to do great work for our Fraternity. His professional work is in the financial area which is also an area on which the Board works. Having Eric on the Board of Trustees gives the Board another set of trained eyes when it comes to managing our Fraternity’s investments to ensure that the investments are benefiting the Fraternity.
Eric has shown his ability to balance his time between many different responsibilities whether it be Kappa Kappa Psi, his family, his thriving business, or the Stamford City Council. The committee felt that Eric’s work earned him another term on the Board of Trustees. If elected to the Board and then elected as Board Chair, Eric plans to revisit the Fraternity’s long-term strategic plan. With all that the past year and a half brought to Kappa Kappa Psi, that work would be well timed.
Brothers – The Committee on Nominations along with the Communications Team and a Tech Team will be hosting Candidate Forums in the coming weeks for the purpose of asking questions of the candidates. More information will be presented in the coming days. Below you will find links to ask questions at the various forums. Please note these forums are meant for Active or Associate Members only. Graduating Seniors from the class of 2021 are considered to be Active for the purposes of these forums. Please feel free to fill out the form with your questions for our candidates.
National President:
https://forms.gle/5U4HdCVagu7G52bP7
National Vice President for Colonization and Membership:
https://forms.gle/8GwDyPZxxQN5GKNs9
National Vice President for Programs:
https://forms.gle/kMvidLiwr3k8wGiNA
National Vice President for Student Affairs:
https://forms.gle/g3hDUaG8q4F4JZzS6
National Board of Trustees:
https://forms.gle/bBitWtaLn9jfSdhW8