Just after sorority recruitment, news surfaced that Eddie Banks-Crosson would leave his position as the director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to become the director of Wharton's MBA Office of Student Life.
Nearly a month after the announcement, there is still no replacement for Banks-Crosson. Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs Hikaru Kozuma has temporarily assumed Banks-Crosson’s responsibilities while the administration searches for a new director.
Banks-Crosson officially left the position on Feb. 1, but Kozuma said the former director worked “until the last minute.” Kozuma added that this situation is “not unusual,” as “opportunities come up at various times a year.”
Kozuma said he anticipates the search for Banks-Crosson’s replacement will take most of the spring semester. He is hopeful, as people are usually looking for a new job or career path in the spring semester, typically in March or April. He said that he expects a “deep pool” of applicants.
Kozuma added that he has reached out to the Interfraternity Council, the Intercultural Greek Council, and Panhellenic Council presidents to offer them a role in the hiring process.
President of Beta Theta Pi and College junior George Avdellas said he has “nothing but respect” for Banks-Crosson and hasn't noticed much of a difference in his relationship with OFSL in Banks-Crosson's absence.
Avdellas said he realized in mid-to-late January that there had been a change in the position, but noted that his primary liaison has been Helen Xu, the IFC advisor and associate director for Diversity and Co-Curricular Education, so the day-to-day operations of the office did not change significantly.
“It really hasn’t been a tough transition for any of us,” Avdellas said.
Kozuma said that the OFSL employees are a “capable and talented group.”
“Not much of what they do on a day-to-day basis has changed,” Kozuma said, adding that there was no “ellipse” in the day-to-day responsibilities during rush, especially since the staff was already situated.
For many involved in Greek life, Banks-Crosson played a valuable role and will be greatly missed.
Wharton senior and former President of Kappa Sigma Andrew Jannetta said Banks-Crosson had students' "best interests in mind,” which Jannetta felt in both his personal and professional relationships with the director.
Jannetta added that being director of OFSL is a “super tough job,” and Banks-Crosson “really did a great job stepping into that role.”
Avdellas said that he hopes the new director will follow in Banks-Crosson’s footsteps. He said the director never held “confrontational” meetings and never made him feel “apprehensive” or “nervous.”
“Eddie is one of the great examples of how to lead in the 21st century because he’s so open-minded,” Avdellas said.
Jannetta said that Banks-Crosson always had a “nurturing demeanor.”
“I didn’t look at him as an administrator, I looked at him as almost a mentor,” Jannetta said.
Jannetta added that any future director should have a similar relationship with presidents, students, and other leadership on campus.
Kozuma said that Banks-Crosson’s role as mentor to students has not changed.
“He’s not gone away. A lot of relationships that he’s built with students he’s still able to maintain,” Kozuma said.
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