A STRONG FACULTY FELLOW HELPS THE CHAPTER ACHIEVE SUCCESS

Alex Woodlief, Northeastern '11

Kevin McDevitt, Tulane ’03, the Faculty Fellow at Northeastern, recently won the Advisor of the Year award on campus, again. The award is given to the advisor who consistently challenges the organization they work with to improve and strive for excellence, while also providing the support necessary for success. McDevitt’s ability to sustain success over time at the chapter earned him the recognition two years in a row.

Massachusetts Eta has earned Fraternity of the Year and Most Improved Chapter awards two years running. Much of the chapter’s success has emerged by aligning priorities based on the Buchanan Cup application. Two key moves the chapter made were to bolster its Alumni and Volunteer Corporation and include a Faculty Fellow.

The AVC has gone from a four-member advisory board, to a certified mentorship committee for the undergraduates, with more than 10 members. McDevitt, a faculty advisor since 2008, was added to the AVC as a Faculty Fellow last semester. McDevitt works on staff at Northeastern University while pursuing a master’s degree in global development and health. McDevitt’s role in the chapter has evolved over the years. Initially serving as an external advisor, he provided support to the executive board and acted as a liaison between the chapter and the Northeastern administration. This year, his role has expanded.

“I think many advisors are relegated to signing paperwork and having very sparse interaction with the chapter,” he said. “It's been my pleasure to progress to a more meaningful relationship with the chapter and I have benefited from the relationships I've formed.”

With McDevitt’s support, Massachusetts Eta has set an all-time high in its GPA at 3.19. As part of the Phi Challenge, all members are encouraged to meet with McDevitt to discuss their academic goals. He provides support, while also referring members to the appropriate academic centers on campus. Members in the Epsilon Challenge utilize McDevitt as a mentor for their educational and academic planning. As part of the chapter’s Academic Program, members who are below the minimum GPA requirement are referred to McDevitt for guidance with time management.

“Kevin is great because not only does he support our chapter as an advisor, but as a fellow SigEp, he really feels like he has stake in the chapter and is paramount in our success,” said Vice President of Member Development Andrew Bosworth, ‘12.

When McDevitt isn’t busy mentoring students, attending officer transition retreats, meeting regularly with executive board members or attending chapter meetings, the door to his office in the Student Center is always open.

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