A couple who graduated from Butler University have donated $1.2 million to the school to develop a leadership training initiative within the fraternity and sorority system.
The Lori Ziemba and Ken Massaroni Greek Life Leadership Institute initially will focus on developmental training among Butler students who hold leadership positions in fraternities and sororities, Butler said in a Tuesday news release. Training programs will begin in the fall.
Ziemba, a 1982 alum, and Massaroni, a 1983 alum and former university trustee, said the gift was inspired by their own fraternity and sorority experiences at Butler and those of their daughter, Frankie Massaroni, who graduated in 2014. Those experiences included lessons on leadership, life, philanthropy and community building.
“Lori and Ken’s generous gift is a testament to the power of their own Greek Life experiences at Butler and their belief in the transformative potential of student leadership,” Butler University President James Danko said in the release. “The Lori Ziemba and Ken Massaroni Greek Life Leadership Institute will provide invaluable opportunities for growth, empowerment, and community impact, helping our students to thrive not just in their chapters, but in all aspects of their lives.”
At Butler, 26 fraternity and sorority organizations represent more than 1,200 of the university’s roughly 4,500 undergraduate students, according to the university. During the 2023-2024 academic year, fraternities and sororities at Butler raised about $455,000 for philanthropic causes and completed more than 17,000 hours of community service.
The institute will be housed within the Division of Student Affairs under the direction of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Examples of potential Institute programs include strengths-based development, emerging leaders experiences, an educational speaker series, and a leadership summit for chapter presidents and council executive board officers.
Plans call for later expanding the programming to serve larger audiences, Butler said.