For New Directors at Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters

Schedule

  • April 15, 2025 - May 20, 2025

  • Six weekly sessions

  • Tuesdays, 12:00-1:30 p.m. Eastern

Program Details

RISE is partnering with FEA to offer a 6-week course for headquarters professionals in their first two years in a director-level position. The program will orient them to their role and the organization, clarify priorities and expectations, teach tactics for supporting their team, and develop their professional leadership approach. Participants interpret and apply lessons from each session through small group breakout conversations, work assignments that lead to a road map for their position, and weekly guided check-ins with their supervisors.

Objectives

EXCEL prepares participants to:

  • Align your efforts around organizational goals and objectives

  • Navigate interpersonal influence among stakeholders

  • Evaluate and shape organizational culture and systems

  • Build support plans around team member needs

  • Develop executive leadership skills for directing a department

The Experience  

Think of this as an applied course. Each session involves a short instructional segment followed by application activities and small group coaching sessions, where participants work with peers from similar organizations and functional areas to apply lessons learned. Participants complete work assignments between sessions to content directly in their job. The program follows an institute format, with interconnected content that builds on itself. Many insights emerge not just from the content, but from the group dialogue.

Participants 

EXCEL for New Directors is designed specifically for director-level staff of FEA member organizations with supervision responsibilities (volunteer or staff) within their first two years of the role.

This event is open to those employed by FEA member organizations. Attendance is capped at 24 participants so we can provide a personalized experience.

REGISTRATION

Registration will open March 5. The cost to attend is $475 per participant, which includes program attendance, guided work assignments between sessions, coaching sessions with faculty, all program materials, and supplemental resources before and after the program. Registration is only open to those employed by FEA member organizations.

Before you register, make sure you are prepared to:

  • Attend and participate fully in every session

  • Schedule time to complete work assignments between sessions

  • Share relevant organizational information

  • Collect the following information:

    • Participant's Name

    • Participant’s Current Role

    • Supervisor's Name

    • Headquarters

    • Title

    • Email Address for Participant and Supervisor

    • Mailing Address for EXCEL Summit Materials

    • Payment information

Faculty

Dan Wrona is the CEO & Project Leader of RISE Partnerships, where he has worked with more than 300 campuses and 30 organizations over the past 22 years. He has also served as a university administrator, a national fraternity staff member, and as a co

Dan Wrona is the CEO & Project Leader of RISE Partnerships, where he has worked with more than 300 campuses and 30 organizations over the past 22 years. He has also served as a university administrator, a national fraternity staff member, and as a consultant on NIC staff. Dan combines lessons from his MBA and his obsession with systems theory, organizational leadership, and productivity hacks to guide professionals in how to produce better results from their work in fraternity/sorority life.

Melissa Kish currently serves at the Executive Director for Sigma Delta Tau Sorority. She has served as a chapter advisor, National volunteer and officer, Fraternity Headquarters Chief Operating Officer, NIC staff member and university administrator with experience spanning campus recreation, wellness, fraternity/ sorority life, and leadership programs. Melissa believes in helping professionals at all levels think smarter about the work they do. Her daily mantra is: As students are dealing with big challenges, those who work closest with them to be at the top of their game - because that is what the students deserve.

Christian Wiggins is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. He began his career at Harrah's Entertainment, focusing on aligning human capital with data-driven customer experiences. He then served as Chief Operating Officer for Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, and later as CEO of FarmHouse Fraternity, guiding both organizations through periods of successful growth and fundraising.

Christian is the Founder and Principal of Lumen Leadership Strategies, LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to serving leaders in the association and higher education markets. The firm specializes in organizational development, governance, and fundraising strategies.

Christian holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management from Elon University and an MBA from the University of South Carolina. He is among the fewer than 5% of association leaders who have earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation. An active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Christian is also a scholar in the 2022-2024 Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP).

Questions?

Contact Dan Wrona for more details about the event.