Oxford, Ohio – Delta Zeta is proud to announce Shelly Brown Dobek, Gamma Omega, Southern Illinois University, has been named the 2024 recipient of the Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award. This award is one of the highest accolades a Fraternity/Sorority Life Professional can receive from the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA). It is presented to an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to fostering positive change on college campuses through the advisement of the fraternity/sorority community, building partnerships in higher education and the interfraternal community, had positive and lasting impact on both campuses of employment and the profession of fraternity/sorority advising and mentoring new and seasoned professionals. Only one other Delta Zeta has received this award. Barbara Swinney Robel, Lambda, Kansas State University, received the award in 1996. Shelly will be presented the Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award during the 2024 AFA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana this December.
Shelly holds both a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and a Master of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University. She has 26 years of experience as a fraternity/sorority advisor, including 23 of those at North Carolina State University (NC State) where she is currently the Director of the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life. In her current role, she works with her campus, interfraternal and community partners to collaborate on projects, programs, initiatives and conversations that can help chapters and their members have a positive and impactful sorority or fraternity experience. The fraternity/sorority community at NC State is comprised of 52 men’s and women’s organizations including over 3,400 students representing more than 11 percent of undergraduates. Shelly has led a significant initiative to revitalize chapter housing on her campus and to include groups beyond IFC and PHA in opportunities to create a community in a shared housing space. She believes in collaborating toward outcomes that can facilitate important change to preserve the future of fraternities and sororities. Alongside her career at North Carolina State University, Shelly has served on the AFA Board of Directors for almost a decade in multiple roles including President and chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee. She is also a previous recipient of the Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award.
“Through her dedicated service on a college campus and through her mentoring of fraternity/sorority life professionals and student leaders, Shelly has made an incredible impact on thousands of fraternity and sorority members,” said Cathy Painter, National President. “Delta Zeta is proud to call her a sister and congratulates her on this honor.”
As a Delta Zeta, you can honor Shelly through the “In Honor Of” fundraising campaign hosted by the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors Foundation. Click here to give to Shelly’s fundraiser. Include your information, and under Tribute Type, please select “In Honor Of” and then in the box below, please write “Shelly Brown Dobek.” If you prefer to make a donation in her honor to the Delta Zeta Foundation, you can do so by clicking here.
As an organization with a dedication to lifelong learning, Delta Zeta values members like Shelly who dedicate their careers to the Student Life and Higher Education profession. Delta Zeta’s campus partners are vital in supporting our collegiate chapters who work to ensure safe and positive experiences for our members. These professionals work in partnership with our local and national volunteers along with our National Headquarters team to provide our members with coaching and development to help achieve our mission to be a life-long, values-based membership experience for women. Delta Zeta sees the important and impactful work these professionals do every day as both mentors and educators on their campuses and applaud their work and efforts.
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About Delta Zeta: Delta Zeta Sorority is a global women’s organization whose shared values support a vision to truly inspire action and impact lives through leadership, service and philanthropy. Founded on Miami University’s campus in Oxford, Ohio in 1902, the Sorority has more than 300,000 alumnae and collegiate members in the United States and Canada. The Delta Zeta Foundation, a non-profit organization, makes possible gifts and support for scholarships, leadership, philanthropy and education. The Delta Zeta National Housing Corporation provides safe housing and chapter facilities for more than 2,000 collegiate students on more than 70 campuses. Learn more about our mission at deltazeta.org. For more information about the Delta Zeta Foundation, visit deltazeta.org/foundation.
For more information, please contact Cindy Menges, Chief Executive Officer, at [email protected].
About Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA): AFA is the premier community of professional practice for those committed to enhancing the fraternity/sorority experience and is the leading voice in creating a fraternity/sorority profession of ever increasing skill, value and inclusion. Learn more at: https://afa1976.org/.
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