Three Charterings, One Brotherhood
In November 2025, Pi Kappa Phi welcomed three chapters back to active status, each with its own story, but all committed to building an exceptional brotherhood. Across three campuses, groups of dedicated men saw months of work pay off in the moment they received their charter. A charter, while a piece of paper in a frame, is so much more than that. It is a tangible symbol of what a group has built and a reminder of the responsibility they now have.
Not long after this trio of charterings, Pi Kapp College for Chapter Officers came and went, and these three groups stepped into the Fraternity on a national level for the first time as active chapters, officially joining Pi Kappa Phi’s chapter roster. They learned alongside long-established chapters and set an example for current associate chapters that their hard work will eventually pay off. Now that undergraduate members and Pi Kappa Phi staff have settled into the spring semester, we wanted to recognize the significance of these events and share the stories of each rechartering weekend.
Iota Psi (Boise State)
On November 8, 2025, the Iota Psi Chapter was rechartered at Boise State, with 41 refounding fathers initiated and welcomed as Pi Kappa Phi brothers.
Originally chartered on December 6, 2014, the chapter was active until 2019. Following its closure, expansion efforts resumed in 2024, leading to rechartering in 2025. In just a year, expansion efforts transformed into a brotherhood with a strong foundation.
National President Joe Brady, Epsilon Omicron (Villanova), and National Vice President Wally Wahlfeldt, Upsilon (Illinois-Urbana-Champaign), served as installing officers. The initiation team included brothers from the Kappa Omega Chapter (Utah) and Kappa Iota Chapter (Idaho).
Throughout the rechartering process, the chapter relied on dedicated volunteers and campus partners, including chapter advisor Jackson Zrubek, Iota Psi (Boise State), and the Council of Advisors, who guided the refounding fathers through chartering requirements. Zrubek was recognized as Pi Kappa Phi’s 2025 Associate Chapter Advisor of the Year for his service. Cody Flynn, Boise State’s fraternity and sorority life coordinator and member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, was also instrumental in preparing the chapter for the weekend.
During the chapter’s chartering presentation, officers highlighted that the new Pi Kappa Phi brothers had built a culture in Iota Psi centered on connection and genuine support. By the weekend’s end, the refounding fathers had done more than earn a charter; they’d built a chapter grounded in Pi Kappa Phi’s values and genuine brotherhood.
Theta Omega (Binghamton)
On that same day, Pi Kappa Phi rechartered the Theta Omega Chapter at Binghamton University, initiating 56 refounding fathers during the celebration.
Installing officers included National Treasurer Andrae Turner, Eta Rho (Texas State), and Daniel Wrona, Zeta Chi (Albright). The initiation team consisted of brothers from the Lambda Beta (Vermont) and Psi (Cornell) chapters.
Originally chartered on October 30, 2010, Theta Omega was active until 2016. As the chapter prepared to recharter, members looked forward to showcasing their progress and shaping a vision for Theta Omega’s future on campus. After months of effort, the weekend represented both a return and a new beginning.
And the weekend wasn’t just meaningful for the men being initiated: Chapter Advisor Tim Szczesny and five alumni from his own associate member class came back for the weekend, a reminder that even when a chapter goes dormant for a time, the brotherhood never does.
The chapter’s chartering presentation allowed members to showcase their achievements and set goals for the future. For the men in the room, it was a chance to show who they are and the standards they plan to hold. Finally, the Ritual of Initiation took place, the official moment when these refounding fathers joined the lifelong brotherhood of Pi Kappa Phi.
The refounding fathers were proud of their recruitment and retention success since returning to campus, adding 25 new members in 2025 and maintaining an impressive 92 percent retention rate through the associate member education program. Just as importantly, they were proud of their campus involvement, including having a member serve as IFC president. These accomplishments are impressive, but perhaps even more impressive was that 56 men chose to lead and build something meaningful together.
Epsilon Omega (Texas Tech)
Two weeks later, on November 22, 2025, Pi Kappa Phi rechartered the Epsilon Omega Chapter at Texas Tech University, with 27 refounding fathers receiving their charter.
Originally chartered on March 1, 1986, Epsilon Omega experienced several closures and reopenings before rebuilding as an associate chapter in 2021, which led to this rechartering in 2025. For these men, chartering reflected their commitment, persistence and belief in Pi Kappa Phi’s potential on campus.
National Historian Russ Faulkner, Delta Psi (Texas-Arlington), and Chief Financial Officer Matt Zellars, Eta Pi (Coastal Carolina), served as the installing officers for the weekend.
The weekend featured a special initiation. Epsilon Omega Archon Tristan Tyner was able to initiate his father, Kelly Tyner, into Pi Kappa Phi as an alumnus. This gave Tristan a special chance to share the milestone he and his fellow refounding fathers had worked toward with his own father. In a weekend focused on rebuilding, this was a reminder of why the chartering process matters: it ensures that every Pi Kappa Phi chapter we charter is strong, built to last and something brothers can be proud to pass down, or in this case, pass up, for generations to come.
For the refounding fathers, receiving their charter was a long-anticipated moment, and chartering meant their hard work and perseverance had paid off. Now, with their charter, Epsilon Omega begins its next chapter with a commitment to leadership, service and maintaining the uncommon brotherhood they’ve cultivated at Texas Tech.
From the connections at Boise State to recruitment and leadership at Binghamton to the long-awaited charter at Texas Tech, fall 2025 showed that when members commit to our values and have support from volunteers, alumni and staff, Pi Kappa Phi can grow and thrive on campuses across the country. In every chapter, the story was the same: brotherhood is built on purpose. Through their efforts, these refounding fathers have embodied service, leadership and authentic community, representing the best of Pi Kappa Phi. Because of the dedication of these brothers, the future looks bright; not only for Iota Psi, Theta Omega and Epsilon Omega, but for the entire Fraternity.
