By Lisa Snyder, CLIE associate director for leadership education and development
The Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement (CLIE), in collaboration with Fraternity and Sorority Life, hosted the Alumni Leadership Speaker Series: Leadership in the Letters: Alumni Stories of Impact, held virtually on March 2. The event brought together current students and alumni to explore how leadership experiences at George Mason continue to shape professional journeys after graduation.
The program was facilitated by Andy Brown and Nicholas Cuevas, CLIE Student Leadership Consultants, who guided a panel discussion with four alumni representing different fraternities and sororities: Selena Chagolla-Segura (Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc.), Najeeba “Najee” Gassel (Zeta Tau Alpha), Kye Farrow (Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.), and Michael Marino (Delta Chi Fraternity).
Panelists reflected on how their involvement in Fraternity and Sorority Life and other student organizations helped develop leadership skills that continue to influence their professional lives. They emphasized the importance of leading with empathy, recognizing that leadership is not limited to positional roles, and that everyone has the capacity to lead and create impact within their communities.
“I was honored to be invited to speak on this panel because I am deeply passionate about service, given my experience in Mason Greek Life and now as a fundraiser for a national nonprofit,” said Gassel, who is campaign development manager for Blood Cancer United. “The skills, lessons, and experiences I gained with FSL have a direct connection to my career, and for that, I am so grateful.”
Valuable lifelong skills
Panelists shared that the experiences they gained as students—planning programs, managing budgets, collaborating with student organizations, navigating difficult conversations—directly prepared them for the responsibilities they now manage in their careers. They also highlighted how their time at George Mason allowed them to build meaningful relationships with staff, advisors, and mentors who helped guide their leadership development.
The alumni discussed the lasting impact of fraternity and sorority membership, noting that the values of brotherhood, sisterhood, service, and accountability continue to shape how they lead teams, support their communities, and approach their work.
Insights from the panelists reinforced a key message for current students: The leadership opportunities available at George Mason, both inside and outside the classroom, can serve as powerful foundations for future careers and lifelong leadership.
The Alumni Leadership Speaker Series aims to connect students with alumni whose experiences demonstrate how campus involvement can translate into meaningful professional and community impact long after graduation. If you are interested in collaborating on a future Alumni Leadership Speaker Series, please contact Lisa Snyder.