Iotas

Leadership Highlight: Brandon Vanhook The President of Iota Phi Theta at WSSU

Photo Credit: Shakira Williamson @kirawilliamson__

In an effort to highlight the young leaders who are leading undergraduate chapters across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to the brothers of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc.’s Kappa Chapter at Winston Salem State University and did an interview with Brandon Vanhook the president of the chapter.

The position of president of an undergraduate chapter of a Black fraternity is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes. 23-year-old Brandon Vanhook has used the position to gain new leadership experience, improve the lives of other students on campus and help the community around him.

We interviewed the Information Technology major and talked about his position, goals, future and what it means to hold a leadership position on campus in the digital age.

Read the full interview below.

What does it mean to be a chapter president to you?
Being President of my Chapter means that I set the standard for not only my organization but my chapter as well. I also have the ability to set new goals for each member in my chapter. I represent my Fraternity on my campus, when my peers see me with my letters on I have to send a positive image.

What made you decide to attend Winston Salem State University for undergrad?
Winston Salem State University has a tremendous Computer Science program and roughly 85% of the students that have this major as well as Information Technology leave with a job after graduation.

What specific initiatives is your chapter heading up this year and how do you think they will improve the campus/surrounding community?
We are working with the local homeless shelter to help them make any improvements necessary. We also are visiting local schools for tutoring and mentor-ship. We want to help build our community as much as possible.

What made you want to pledge Iota Phi Theta?
They treated me like family the brothers I saw on campus were actually working to help make the campus better. These brothers let their work speak for them they never had to stroll in front of cameras to get people to know who they were because the community already did.

What is it about your specific chapter that makes it so unique?
We have never been suspended and have won numerous awards for the last 3 years

We now live in a digital world, what do you think undergraduate chapters across all orgs need to do to represent themselves online in 2018?
Yes I do because everything is online and you can reach numerous amount of people.

What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership is one of our principles so it means a lot to me. Being a leader means you get the chance to inspire somebody to be great. When we can inspire others we are building and strengthening each other.

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black greekdom?
Watch The Yard shows all of us succeeding not only as Greeks but as a community.

What does brotherhood mean to you?
Living and growing together succeeding and striving together as brothers.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?
Work for Nationwide building and creating apps as well as cyber security.

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Brandon Vanhook for his work as the president of Kappa Chapter which has a long legacy that spans back to 1970.