Chandler Fern, Epsilon Psi (Slippery Rock), has been named the 2023 recipient of the Mark E. Timmes Interfraternal Leader of the Year Award. This award is named in honor of Mark E. Timmes, Alpha Epsilon (Florida), who served as Pi Kappa Phi’s chief executive officer from 1994-2022. Each year, this award recognizes a student member of Pi Kappa Phi who has demonstrated the most outstanding leadership as a member of his Interfraternity Council.
Fern graduated from Slippery Rock University in 2023 with a degree in sport management. During his time as a member of the Epsilon Psi Chapter, Fern served as his chapter’s philanthropy chairman, warden and treasurer, as well as the Interfraternity Council’s (IFC) vice president of finance and then president. For his achievements and leadership, he was recognized as Slippery Rock’s 2021 Fraternal Man of the Year. Apart from his undergraduate involvement, he is a member of the Pi Alpha Society, having been a member of the Gear Up Florida Crew in 2023 to raise funds and awareness for The Ability Experience.
When Chandler attended Pi Kapp College for Chapter Officers in 2020, he listened to Mark E. Timmes encourage the leaders within the room to step up and become involved with their Interfraternity Council if they saw challenges on their campus. When he got back to campus, he knew he wanted to run for a position, and he was successful. “Whether in an IFC role or not, it’s important to treat other chapters with respect and support them when you can,” said Fern, “The best thing for an IFC community is when all chapters have a common goal and are willing to do the work to achieve it.”
As a leader dedicated to the goals of both his own chapter and his entire IFC community, Fern described interfraternal leadership as “…understanding your responsibility to put the needs of every chapter above your own. This does not mean you care about your chapter less; you support your chapter by improving the community so that everyone can improve and thrive.”