Melissa Cardenas Named National President
of Alpha Psi Lambda Fraternity
Contact: George E. Mauzy Jr., media specialist, 740-597-1794
Download a picture of Cardenas at:
www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/CARDENAS_MELISSA.JPG
ATHENS, Ohio (June 7, 2000) -- Ohio University Assistant Director of
Admissions Melissa Cardenas recently was appointed to a two-year term
as president of Alpha Psi Lambda, a national co-ed Latino-interest
fraternity.
The fraternity has about 1,000 members and was founded at Ohio State
University in 1985. Cardenas was one of 10 founding members of the
Ohio University chapter, which was created in 1996.
Cardenas, who graduated from Ohio University in 1996 with a
bachelor's degree in public administration, has worked in Admissions
for two years. She becomes president as the fraternity begins Phase II
of its development.
"Phase I consisted of setting the foundation and expanding the
membership and Phase II involves organizing the fraternity so that it
better serves its members and the community," Cardenas said. "I am
working on developing an operational calendar, designing a crisis
management plan and reviewing insurance policies, just to name a few
of my planned projects."
A native of Fostoria, Ohio, Cardenas is the first elected president of
the social and cultural fraternity and also serves as the Ohio
University chapter director.
"Our goal as a fraternity is to promote education, culture, community
service and leadership," Cardenas said.
Before coming to Ohio University, Cardenas worked two years in
Admissions at Kent State University. During that time, she served as
chapter director of the KSU and Ohio University Alpha Psi Lambda
chapters. While an undergraduate at Ohio, she was a student member of
the university's Board of Trustees.
"As president of Alpha Psi Lambda, I know I can make an
impact," Cardenas said. "The number of Latino Greeks is increasing, so
I am very excited about the organization's growth potential."
