R. Ethan Braden, Willamette ’02

General Session and Leadership College

Ethan is the Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Texas A&M University, where he leads efforts to elevate the university’s brand and reputation. Reporting to President Mark Welsh (a retired four-star general and former member of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff), he has spearheaded a bold, values-driven branding strategy that has dramatically increased visibility—most notably, a 21,000% rise in YouTube views—and positioned Texas A&M as the #2 most recognized public university in the U.S. Previously, Ethan served as EVP and CMO at Purdue University and Purdue Global, where his leadership earned multiple “Brands That Matter” honors and helped Purdue top Fast Company’s list of Most Innovative Companies in education. His marketing work has been recognized by outlets like Ad Age and NPR, and he was named “Marketer of the Year” in higher education by the American Marketing Association. Before higher education, Ethan spent nearly a decade leading global marketing efforts at Eli Lilly. He holds a BA from Willamette University and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. Ethan is a proud member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, where he worked on the Administrative Office staff after graduation and has served in a variety of volunteer roles over the last 20+ years, including a six-year stint on the Foundation Board of Directors. He lives in College Station, Texas, with his wife and three children.

Dr. Mike McRee

Chapter President’s Leadership Academy

Mike is the Principal of The Whitespace Group, where he helps clients focus on what matters most through consulting, coaching, and facilitation. He has over 30 years of experience in organizational development, training, and executive leadership, including roles as faculty at the Federal Executive Institute and leadership instructor for the Air Force and Department of Defense. Previously, he served as COO of the North American Interfraternity Conference, an adjunct professor at the University of Indianapolis, and VP at LeaderShape where partnered with Fortune 500 companies and higher education institutions to teach leadership and ethics. Mike has keynoted or facilitated at over 250 events, co-founded a nationally delivered Facilitation School, and received numerous national awards for his contributions to leadership and the fraternal industry. He holds degrees from Kansas State University and the University of Illinois, including a Ph.D. in Human Resource Education. Mike lives in Huntersville, NC with his wife Kirstin and daughter Zoe.

Nicki Joiner

Leadership College

Nicki is an engaging and impactful speaker who equips students with the tools to confidently navigate their career paths. With a background in corporate recruiting and a Master’s degree in Student Affairs, she brings a unique blend of industry insight and higher education expertise to every talk. As a featured speaker for Leadership College, Nicki’s sessions cover résumé building, job search strategy, networking, and LinkedIn optimization, offering students practical skills they can apply immediately.

Of the Revue’s 22 annual awards, the Beta Theta Pi and Chi Omega cast took home 11, the most of any Revue show since 2007. “Sweet Escape” claimed the top prize for best overall show, story, production number, choreography, costumes and overall chorus performance.

A few members of the cast took home individual awards, too. Ritter won Best Male Supporting Character for his role as Chip. Curnow and Techau, starring as iconic duo Mike and Ike, won Best Comedic Performance. Patrick O’Farrell ’27, won Best Male Ensemble Member and Keane won Best Female Supporting Character.

“By the time it was show week, everyone was just having fun.”

Joey Wood, Kansas ’25

The story of “Sweet Escape” follows Mr. Dad, played by Wood, a work-consumed father who is transported into the world of the board game Candyland. While trying to escape the game, he learns lessons about anxiety, laughter and working with others from the other leads in the show. Ritter’s Chip reminds Mr. Dad of his real-life, fun-loving and giddy son, while Curnow’s Mike was the boneheaded and quick-to-speak half of Candyland’s comedic duo, Mike and Ike.

The Beta-Chi O pairings included Wood as Mr. Dad with Mahloch’s Queen Bubblegum, Ritter as Chip complimenting Keane’s Smartie, and of course Curnow and Techau playing Mike and Ike. The group led the ensemble cast of near 50 through four songs and three scenes for a show lasting more than 25 minutes. Curnow, a senior, said it was one of his best experiences in college.

“At Beta, I have had the opportunity to hold many leadership positions, including being president of the Alpha Nu Chapter,” Curnow said. “However, being a Rock Chalk Revue director was the most rewarding experience throughout my four years because of the impact it makes on our community and the skills I learned by being on stage in front of thousands.”

As detailed by Doug’s son, Trent, his father “served in the U.S. Army and was assigned to Iran in the early 1960s when it was still our ally. He commissioned the hand-crafted tray while he was stationed there and proudly displayed it in our home his entire life.”

Upon graduation from the University of Oklahoma, Doug was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In June 1960, he was assigned as the assistant headquarters commandant of the Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing Flight School in Iran. There, he helped train Iranian military officers to fly helicopters and planes.

Naturally, being in a foreign country, Brother Banks wanted to take souvenirs back home to the United States. He purchased several hand-crafted brass trays of various shapes and sizes with exotic Persian designs carved into them from a small local shop. One of these trays was approximately five-feet in diameter, which his family used as a coffee table.

Realizing the brass tray shop did all the hand-crafting on site, he asked if they could carve Beta Theta Pi coat of arms onto a tray. The shop owner said he could and Doug commissioned the work to be done. Doug proudly displayed this 23-inch Pi brass tray in his home for his entire life.

Finding himself settled in Indialantic, Florida, he became a realtor and was heavily involved in the community, including Rotary Club. He passed away in 2004 at age 73.

As the Oklahoma chapter’s original dining room was converted into a stunning Beta museum when the house was expanded and renovated in 2015, the Banks server adds to Gamma Phi’s vast collection of treasures — symbolic of the chapter’s storied 118-year legacy at OU.

Christopher Cardenas, Texas ’24

Serving January 2024 to August 2025

Brother Chris studies advertising at The University of Texas at Austin and hails from Houston. He returns to his post on the Board with experience as the Beta Omicron Chapter’s vice president of administration. Chris attended his first General Convention — the 184th — as an intern and returned to Oxford in 2024 for both Wooden Institute and 185th Convention.

Joseph Kosak, Furman ’26

Serving January 2025 to August 2026

Brother Joseph, a spanish and history major student from Charleston, South Carolina, was recently reelected to a second term as vice president of finance for his chapter when he received his appointment as collegiate commissioner. On top of his Beta leadership, he is know stranger to representing his peers in a high office; he has also served as class representative on Furman’s Student Government Association. Joseph attended Wooden Institute in 2023 shortly after being initiated into the Zeta Lambda Chapter.

Phillip Miavelstück, George Mason ’25

Serving January 2024 to August 2025

A native to the D.C. area, Brother Phillip is pursuing a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science. In his first year as collegiate commissioner, he’s been a member of the Young Alumni Workgroup, collaborating on initiatives that strengthen the connection between Beta alumni and collegians.

“My experience as a collegiate commissioner has significantly enhanced my Beta journey by expanding my network of brothers across different chapters and regions,” he said. “It has also deepened my involvement within the Fraternity, giving me a greater appreciation for our shared values and goals, while also enabling me to contribute more effectively to Beta’s growth.”

Over the past year, he concurrently  served as the Epsilon Mu chapter president. Phillip’s leadership resume also includes a stint as the vice president of recruitment, along with attendance at two Keystone Conferences, 2023 Wooden Institute and 184th Convention.

Henry Jonas, Appalachian State ’25

Serving January 2025 to August 2026

Brother Henry has dedicated a lot of his college experience to his chapter. A native to Charlotte, North Carolina, he has served his brothers as chapter president, diversity, equity and inclusion chair, and on the Kai committee. Henry was chapter president during the 185th General Convention when the Appalachian State chapter petitioned for charter, which was approved by the delegates to be the Theta Iota Chapter. He also spent this past summer in Oxford as the lead intern for the Leadership and Education department at the Administrative Office, coordinating logistics for the 25th anniversary year of the Wooden Institute.

Jacob Polzin, Minnesota ’25

Serving January 2024 to August 2025

Following his term as chapter president, Jake took the next step in his fraternal leadership journey as a collegiate commissioner. In his first year, he had the opportunity to learn more about and offer perspective on the Cornerstone Insurance Program and capital improvements to GFHC’s property portfolio.

“What I am most passionate about is strategizing how housing plays a role in building community for our chapters and how it supports Beta’s strategic priorities of brotherhood, personal growth and home.”

His leadership resume also includes time as the vice president of finance and vice president of ritual for the Beta Pi Chapter. Jake, an accounting and finance major from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, has attended five of Beta’s leadership programs as a collegiate brother, including the 2022 Wooden Institute and 184th Convention.

Tyler “T.J.” Hockett, Florida State ’25

Serving January 2025 to August 2026

T.J., a biomedical engineering major from Sarasota, Florida, joins the GFHC with substantial leadership experience. For the Delta Lambda Chapter, he has served as vice president of member development and chairman for the alumni association and diversity, equity and inclusion. His leadership expands campus-wide, as well, elected director of collegiate affairs and the finance chair on Florida State’s Student Government Association. He attended his first General Convention in 2024, working behind the scenes as an intern.

Nafeh Ahsan, Case Western Reserve ’26

Brother Ahsan has held numerous positions in the Lambda Kappa – Beta Chapter, including vice president of recruitment and marketing chairman, and is now looking to offer his talents to the fraternity community. It’s a position that just made sense for him, following in the footsteps of his grand-big brother and past IFC president, Cameron Goodwin-Schoen ’24. A psychology and political science major, Nafeh has developed his leadership skills in his past positions and at Beta’s 2023 General Convention.

Lucas Carpenter, Wabash ’26

Wabash has its first Beta IFC president since 2019. Brother Carpenter previously served as the IFC delegate for the Tau Chapter before his promotion on the executive board. He’s a previous attendee of Wooden Institute and Leadership College at the 184th General Convention.

Charlie Fox, Creighton ’26

Sam Koch, Colorado Mines ’26

Gabe Phillips, Ohio State ’26

Similar to his brother across the continent, Brother Phillips is the first IFC president representing the Theta Delta Chapter in recent history. Hailing from Dayton, Ohio, this is the first step of fraternal leadership for this brother. Serving by his side on the executive council is Chief Justice Logan Bunker ’27.

Early into his tenure, he accepted the Jellison Award for Overall Excellence at the 2025 AFLV Central on behalf of Ohio State’s IFC.

Bartu Sevil, Miami (Fla.) ’27

Gunnar Swanson, High Point ’26

Dr. Eric Buller, Miami ’19

“My journey with Beta started here at Miami, so it’s apropos to be receiving it this year,” Brother Buller said, upon receiving the award at the 185th General Convention.

Eric has been a steadfast advisor at the Alpha Chapter for over a decade. His tenure started as a faculty advisor before transitioning to chapter counselor in 2016. A graduate of West Point, he first advised the chapter as a Friend of Beta. In 2019, the chapter welcomed him as a brother, initiating him into the chapter and penning him as No. 2886 on the official roll.

“What I had learned is that, when fraternity is done right, it’s incredibly powerful, and the research I had done at the time was that Beta does it right.”

His nominators said, “Eric’s extensive leadership development background and experience was instrumental in the successful return of our Alpha Chapter to Miami’s campus as once again one of the top fraternities on Miami’s campus.”

Brother Buller has shown what it means to earn his badge every day. Following his time as director of leadership and education at Beta’s Administrative Office, Eric continued to provide guidance to collegiate brothers across the domain by volunteering to facilitate at Keystone Leadership Conference and, most recently, at the John and Nellie Wooden Institute for Men of Principle.

“Award ceremonies aren’t really about the individual,” Brother Buller went on to say in his remarks. “We appreciate the work that they do, but award ceremonies are more about the organization because the organization has to stand up and recognize its own excellence within itself.”

The NIC to only named seven advisors among over 6,000 fraternity chapters across North America to receive the Advisor of Distinction Award in 2024.

Beta Omicron Chapter at The University of Texas at Austin

The Chapter of Distinction Award recognizes exceptional fraternity collegiate chapters demonstrating excellence in operations, involvement in their campus community and a commitment to a positive fraternity experience. The Texas chapter is one of only seven internationally to receive this award — among the 6,000 recognized by the NIC — and the 10th chapter of Beta Theta Pi to be recognized with an award of Distinction since 2004.

The Beta Omicron Chapter is well-recognized as a community builder. Within the city of Austin, the chapter has a tutoring partnership with Garza Independence High School. In terms of community health advocacy, it collaborated with NMDP (formerly Be The Match), Movember and “Texas 4000” in the fight against cancer. The 119 brothers in the chapter are quite active across campus activities, as well, including IFC, student government and more.

The brothers are highly engaged with the General Fraternity, some 40 have attended Beta’s leadership programs over the last three years including 11 graduates of the 2024 Wooden Institute. The chapter’s commitment to leadership culminated in two brothers named collegiate commissioners over the last two years: Max Gauger ’23, and Chris Cardenas ’24. Not to mention, the chapter received two consecutive Knox and Sisson Awards — and anticipate a third at the 185th General Convention.