Fraternity and Sorority Life Grows at A&M-Commerce

Fraternity and Sorority Life at Texas A&M University-Commerce has grown with the addition of more individual members and staff including Dr. Zachary Shirley  who was named Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life.

“Texas A&M University-Commerce is pleased to have an employee with Dr. Shirley's experience, knowledge, and positive relationships with students to lead our Greek Life initiatives,” said Vice President of Student Access and Success Dr. Mary Hendrix. “We are focused on improving student retention and graduation rates, as well as promoting the development of productive citizens. National research indicates students who are involved earn better grades, are more likely to stay in school and graduate, and are more active, contributing members of their communities.”

Throughout his career at the university, Shirley has seen the Fraternity and Sorority Life community grow substantially.  From fall 2010 to fall 2015, the university went from having 15 chapters and 338 members to 20 chapters and nearly 500 members (pending final recruitment outcomes from all councils). The growth of the program has allowed Fraternity and Sorority Life to become its own department rather than fall under the umbrella of the Rayburn Student Center, and the staff has grown with the addition of one professional staff member and a part-time administrative assistant being added to the previous staff of one professional staff member and a graduate assistant.

“I believe that Fraternity and Sorority Life will continue to play a major role in not only the recruitment of students to the university, but also to the development of those students who choose to involve themselves with a Greek-letter organization,” said Shirley. “Our role as the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life and as members of fraternities and sororities is to provide unique, intentional leadership opportunities for our students, and to advance the fraternity and sorority movement on campus, within the Commerce community, and ultimately, the world.”

The presence of Fraternity and Sorority Life is felt throughout camps with members serving as orientation staff, residential assistants, Student Government Association senators and leaders in other organizations. In addition, the president of Student Government Association and various homecoming kings and queens are typically members of the community.

“I believe that Fraternity and Sorority Life on this campus plays a role that coincides with that of our university, in that we place students in very diverse, interconnected communities that allow for opportunities for evolution in preparation to live as members of a global society,” said Shirley.

For more information about Fraternity and Sorority Life