Administration

Veldkamp named special assistant to VP for Student Affairs, to lead Greek reform

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Steve Veldkamp has been named special assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs to lead the implementation of vision and reform in the University’s fraternity and sorority communities.

“I am looking forward to helping create cultural change for Fraternity and Sorority Life at Penn State, and to fostering constructive relationships among undergraduates, alumni, national leaders and their organizations,” said Veldkamp. “As we are part of the national dialogue, I am also enthusiastic about creating a new vision for what Greek life can be that connects back to the founding principles of Pennsylvania and our nation.”

In his role, Veldkamp will function as the director of Fraternity and Sorority Life and ensure collaboration between the offices of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Fraternity and Sorority Compliance. He also will provide guidance, direction and coordination for Fraternity and Sorority Life on all Penn State Commonwealth Campuses and will represent Penn State at regional and national gatherings in conjunction with the vice president for Student Affairs.

"Penn State is fortunate to have attracted a leader in this area with Steve's exceptional experience, insight and reputation,” said Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs. “I'm increasingly confident that the strong and innovative approach we've adopted to responding to both the challenges and the opportunities fraternities and sororities offer will succeed at Penn State and become a model for others to follow."

Veldkamp is currently the executive director of the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research (CFSR) based on the campus of Indiana University Bloomington. In this role with the center, Veldkamp has developed and implemented a national assessment survey for campuses and headquarters. He is a frequent campus and fraternity and sorority headquarter consultant and national conference presenter, where he discusses the alignment of fraternity and sororities within higher education, which is based on his work with university presidents.

“My role with the CFSR provides the perspective of working with other campuses and researchers,” said Veldkamp. “In looking at data from the center’s national research survey on the fraternity and sorority experience, it’s clear that not all Greek life is equal. We need to create a more nuanced approach to working with fraternities and sororities because of those differences.”

Before joining Penn State, Veldkamp served as the assistant dean and director of Student Life and Learning at Indiana University Bloomington. He supervised four areas encompassing a Greek community of 75 chapters and 8,200 members, 810 registered student organizations, student government, curricular and cocurricular leadership programs, and community engagement programs. He is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors, and Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He also is the past director of the Interfraternity Institute.

Veldkamp received his bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s degree in organizational communications and management from Grand Valley State University in Michigan. He received his doctoral degree in higher education and student affairs from Indiana University.

Steve Veldkamp has been named special assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated April 17, 2018