Delta Sigma Phi Executive Director and CEO, Patrick Jessee, has been recognized by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education in its inaugural 21^st Century Scholar Awards.

Jessee was recognized Distinguished Alumni Award winner at the 21^st Century Scholars Anniversary Awards Reception and Ceremony on December 2, 2015. The award recognizes individuals for their professional achievements, contributions to society and continued support of the 21^st Century Scholars Program.

Previously an attorney in Washington, D.C., Patrick Jessee joined the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity team as Executive Director and CEO on January 15, 2013. Jessee is the eleventh executive director of the Fraternity. He is a 2001 initiate of the Delta Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Phi, at Purdue University, and holds a juris doctorate from George Washington University.

An Indiana native, Jessee comes from a humble beginning, spending his childhood with his family in poverty, dependent on food stamps, food kitchens, and Section-8 housing. In the 8^th grade, Jessee suffered a catastrophic loss in the death of his mother; he and his sister Sarah were left in the care of an abusive father and an incredibly difficult environment to thrive. In his 8^th grade year, Patrick was enrolled in the 21^st Century Scholars program by his school’s guidance counselor. He credits the program for giving him hope and turning his outlook around.

Jessee graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA and went on to attend Purdue University, where he met members of Delta Sig’s Delta Delta Chapter, drawn in by their earnest commitment to values. “I had been going to recruitment events at various fraternities, and none of them were talking to me about the things the men at Delta Sigma Phi at Purdue were talking about – leadership, chivalry, a commitment to uplifting our communities through services, and a mission of Building Better Men.”

Tom Cycyota, National President of Delta Sigma Phi, said of Jessee: “Patrick embodies Delta Sigma Phi’s mission of Building Better Men, both in how the Fraternity impacted his life, and how, in turn, he has gone on to positively impact the lives of so many young men through his leadership at Delta Sigma Phi. His authenticity and sincere belief in our mission, strengthened by his wealth of knowledge and strong leadership, continue to push Delta Sigma Phi toward its vision of becoming America’s Leading Fraternity.”

For Immediate Release

December 16, 2015

Contact: Patrick F. Jessee, JD, Executive Director and CEO

Email: Jessee@deltasig.org

Delta Sigma Phi Closes Chapter at Towson University

On December 16, 2015, Delta Sigma Phi suspended our Eta Xi Chapter at Towson University. This decision, while extremely difficult, was made with critical insight from Towson University and done in the best interest of our Fraternity’s future at the university. The suspension of the chapter came as a result of the chapter’s multiple and egregious violations of university and National Fraternity policies.

Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity is committed to upholding our standards and fostering meaningful Fraternity experiences for our members. Despite the chapter’s strengths, a failure of undergraduate leadership and brazen disregard for the Fraternity’s policies prohibiting hazing activities ultimately prompted a strong response. There are good men from Eta Xi Chapter who now must pay a great price for the actions of other members; we are truly disheartened that those brothers will lose this undergraduate component of the Fraternity experience.

In October 2015, reports of serious and repeated hazing activities – later confirmed by a university investigation – highlighted behavior inconsistent with the high standards that Delta Sigma Phi demands. The Eta Xi Chapter accepted responsibility for harassing and humiliating men seeking membership within the Fraternity, and for hazing activities that included forced calisthenics and personal servitude. The National Fraternity determined, together with Towson University, it was not in the best interest of Delta Sigma Phi to continue operating Eta Xi Chapter. The Fraternity cannot, and will not, tolerate blatant disregard toward our policies and standards for members and chapters.

The National Fraternity and university have agreed to an initial period of suspension and disbandment of Eta Xi Chapter through the end of the 2017. Delta Sigma Phi is committed to providing a premier, values-based fraternity to Towson University and will utilize its resources to recruit new men who—upon our return to the university—will uphold our mission of Building Better Men. We are confident that we will once again have a chapter of men who are committed to the ideals of Delta Sigma Phi.

The news of the chapter’s suspension is—without a doubt—upsetting for all Eta Xi undergraduate members, Fraternity alumni and other supporters. While difficult in the short-term, the National Fraternity is committed to working diligently with our alumni and Towson community to restore Eta Xi Chapter with Men of Courage, Action and Excellence.