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Interim Director of Fraternity and Sorority Programs Robyn Paige is fulfilling her career goal of directing fraternities and sororities on a college campus after spending only three years at Eastern. She earned her master's degree at Eastern. (Robbie Wroblewski/The Daily Eastern News)

Duties of an interim director

Paige fills interim position

By: Kristina Peters/Editor-in-Chief

Posted: 8/26/08

Robyn Paige's career goal when she came to Eastern in 2004 for her master's degree in college student affairs was to become the director of fraternities and sororities on a college or university campus.

Three years later Paige is fulfilling that goal after being offered the position of interim director of fraternity and sorority programs on May 2. She officially began her duties in the position on July 1 when she took office.

"When the opportunity to serve in this role presented itself, I was both excited and challenged," Paige said. "I felt this was a unique opportunity for me to serve Eastern and have the chance to work in an area for which I have a passion."

Paige joined Phi Sigma Sigma in January 2001 while she was a freshman at Alma College, located in Alma, Mich.

"I had a very positive experience as an undergraduate sorority member," Paige said. "My membership led me to become involved on campus in a wide variety of activities that I doubt I would have sought out otherwise."

Some activities Paige was involved in are working for admissions, orientation and as a resident assistant. Paige was also active in student congress and served as president her junior year.

Paige remains an active volunteer in Phi Sigma Sigma after receiving her bachelor in music education from Alma College. She said most of the stories she has of Phi Sigma Sigma are from her years after college volunteering.

"I think many students don't think about the fact that joining a fraternity or a sorority is truly a lifelong commitment, and I have met so many amazing young women who are a part of Phi Sigma Sigma from all over the country and Canada through my volunteer roles," Paige said.

She said it is important to have a Greek community on campus and Eastern's Greek Chapters are nationally or internationally affiliated.

"Our chapters serve as places where students can develop their leadership abilities through serving as officers and chairs and learn how to plan and implement events of all types as well as many other skills," Paige said. "Many students have found that Eastern's fraternities and sororities have met those desires for what they look for when seeking to become part of an organization."

Eastern's Greek Court and the Housing and Dining Department attracted Paige to chose Eastern over other universities as well as its master's program.

"I decided I wanted to find a master's program where I could combine my love for living on campus and working with fraternities and sororities," Paige said.

"I didn't originally plan to stay on at Eastern, but each year as I have interviewed for positions at other campuses and at Eastern, the opportunities here have been the best fit for me."

The position became open last spring when Bob Dudolski, the former director, was removed on March 20.

"The vacancy occurred late spring and it was too late to conduct an external search," said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs.

"Because it was incredibly important to have a plan of action for covering responsibilities as soon as possible, I decided to conduct a search within the Division of Student Affairs."

Paige was serving as special assistant to the vice president for student affairs when she applied for the interim director position and has assisted Nadler in advising fraternities and sororities since April.

"She has an excellent background in advising fraternity and sorority organizations and is very familiar with the EIU campus and culture," Nadler said. "There was no doubt in my mind that Robyn was the perfect person to serve as interim director."

Paige will serve as interim director until
June 30, 2009 and Nadler said another search will be conducted during the Spring 2009 semester.

"Robyn is doing an excellent job, and we are very appreciative of her hard work and efforts," he said.

Past stories:

3/25/08: Director of Greek Life reassigned

4/1/08: Grad students to run Greek Week

4/4/08: Dudolski to step down April 11

4/17/08: Greek Life goes on without Dudolksi

Kristina Peters can be reached at 581-7936 or at kmpeters2@eiu.edu.