Many people may wonder what Greek Life is while others believe that being a part of a Greek organization is about parties, parties, and more parties, and that is not the case. Being a part of Greek Life means being able to obtain leadership skills, interpersonal skills, and much more.

This semester there are a lot of members of the Greek Executive Board that are graduating and taking a new step in their careers, but there are no worries as there are new members now to replace them. Below are descriptions of the members:

Whitney Wanton: Wanton will be taking the position of president of the Greek Executive Board. Wanton is a junior double majoring in communications media and Spanish and is a current member of the Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority Incorporated.“[As president], I would like to see an overall improvement of Greek Life,” comments Wanton, “whether it is through better programs, better attendance in community service, or an overall satisfaction within Greek organizations.” Wanton also comments on how being a part of Greek Life doesn’t just involve parties every other night, but it’s “about dedication, passion, the bond you create with your brothers and or sisters, and of course enhancing your leadership skills.” As president, Wanton would like to accomplish many things like keeping the popular events that have happened during the past two semesters, especially the events that had a greater impact on students like Meet the Greeks and the Greek Senate Barbeque. Not only that, but Wanton and the rest of the Greek Executive Board “would like to host workshops on recruitment targeted for the Divine 9 and Multicultural Organizations [D9].”

Jasleen Molina: The vice president of standards and conduct., Molina is currently a sophomore majoring in biology and is a member of the sorority Theta Phi Alpha. In her position, Molina “wish[es] to help organizations be the best that they can be, [to] hold their values high. I would like to get more people involved and participate in Greek Life at Kean University; but above all, I would love to see organizations do what their founders would want them to do.” As part of the Greek Executive Board, Molina hopes to gain personal development and “a sense of accomplishment when [she has] achieved all that [she hopes] to achieve.” Molina also comments on how the Kean University community should know that joining a Greek organization has given plenty of opportunities to grow and learn, and she has “gained a lot of worthy friendships and valuable knowledge and skills that I will need outside of Kean University.”

Eder Solano: Solano has taken the spot of vice president of programing, a position that consists of being in charge of events like Meet the Greeks, Greek Olympics, and among others. Solano comments on how being in this position, he “would like to set up, successfully, Greek Life events that bring more unity to the Kean community.” Not only does he hold this position as vice president of programming, but Solano is also the secretary for the fraternity that he is a member of, Sigma Beta Tau. Solano is also on the Kean University Men’s Soccer Team and a sophomore majoring in psychology, focusing on the physical therapy track. As being a part of the Greek Executive Board, “I hope to enhance my leadership qualities, meet different people that might share some similar interests as me, and overall just experience something that I can be very proud of.”

Terrance Somesonla-McCornelo: McCornelo, a junior who is majoring in special education with a focus of history, is taking the position of vice president of public relations. He is part of the fraternity Nu Delta Pi and would like “to show people how active our Greek Life is and to get people who are a part of the Kean community to become active with [not only] the school [but with] Greek Life [as well].” McCornelo will be keeping the community updated by posting different events related to Greek Life around campus and on CougarLink, take pictures of some of the many Greek Life events, as well as get more students involved in Greek Life. From the experience that McComelo will gain, he hopes to “meet new people, make new friends and to ultimately become a great leader for Kean University.”

Kyle Seales: Currently a junior majoring in environmental biology and a member of Beta Kappa Psi Black and Latino Fraternity Incorporated, Seales is now the treasurer of the Greek Executive Board. As part of the Greek Executive Board, Seales “hopes to add more memories to [his] experience.” As treasurer, it is his duty to make sure that all Greek organizations are keeping up with their payments and other finical issues. Seales comments on becoming a part of the Greek board, “I want to be able to make bonds with [the other members] of the Greek board. [What] I want to get out of this experience is a better sense of being on a team and what it takes to be able to be successful. I [also] hope to inspire people through the events that we do and show people that [members of Greek Organizations] are more than just their letters at the end of the day.”

Jordan Cahill: She will be taking the spot of secretary on the Greek Executive Board. Cahill is majoring in fine arts and minoring in psychology, as she hopes to earn a Master’s degree in art therapy. Cahill is currently a junior and is a member of the sorority Delta Phi Epsilon. Not only is she a part of the Greek Executive Board, but she also works for the office of residential student services as a customer service representative. A member of the Greek Executive Board, Cahill “hopes to get the opportunity to connect with members of all organizations on campus and be a part of furthering Greek unity on campus.” Cahill comments that although as secretary, she takes notes and keeps up with the financial record, “I wish to accomplish successful fluidity and organization of meetings and improve the overall quality of how Greek senate runs.”

Michael Marquez: A junior majoring in speech language pathology, a member of the fraternity Sigma Theta Chi, and Marquez is now the vice president of multicultural affairs and community service. With this position, Marquez hopes to obtain “a bigger role of responsibility and help get Kean [University’s] Greek [organizations] give back to the community.” The position of vice president of multicultural affairs and community service entails anything and everything that involves community. “I help set up and oversee all community service projects and make sure all goes well,” Marquez comments, “I want to get [all Kean University Greek Organizations] to reach out to all surrounding communities and give back any way possible.”

James Beaty III: The only member of the Greek Executive Board that is not new, James Beaty III is a senior, who will be finishing his last semester of college this fall, majoring in physical education: global fitness and wellness and is a part of the fraternity Nu Sigma Phi. “As vice president of rush and new member development, my position is to coordinate education processes of Greek Organizations who are taking in prospective new members, such as hazing videos and informational workshops for the president and new member educators of the organizations,” comments Beaty. As a member of the Greek Executive Board, Beaty hopes “to influence the benefits and positive aspects of Greek Life and the future it holds within a brotherhood or sisterhood,” before he steps off the college campus for good. He also hopes to influence more people to join Greek Life, as he would like to see an “increase of involvement members within [the] Greek organizations and the Greek community.” Not only is Beaty a part of the Greek Executive Board but he is also a Group Fitness Instructor. He comments on how he works for the Fit to be Kean personal wellness program and teaches the workout program “30-Minute Scorch,” a 30 minute cardio class.

Being a part of Greek Life requires its members to acknowledge that being a part of a Greek organization is a privilege that should not be taken for granted. Being a part of Greek Life can bring many opportunities to students on and off campus, including becoming a part of the Greek Executive Board. Members have a chance to become president, vice president of standards and conduct and amongst other positions and have a chance to enhance their leadership role. Congratulations to all Greek Executive Board members on obtaining their positions, and the Kean University community looks forward to what will be accomplished in the coming months.