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Dr. Jason L. Meriwether's Bio

Dr. Jason L. Meriwether is an experienced leader in higher education with research interests in hazing prevention, enrollment management, student retention, digital learning tools, adult student success, and social media engagement. In 2016, Jason was named to the Southern Indiana Business Source 20 under 40 Class of 2016. In 2014, Jason was selected to Louisville Business First’s Top Forty under 40 and as one of Business First's 20 People to Know in Education and Workforce Development. In 2014, Jason received the award of Outstanding Kentuckian and was commissioned to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

Jason is editor of Dismantling Hazing in Greek-Letter Organizations: Effective Practices for Prevention, Response, and Campus Engagement.

A native of Guthrie, Ky., Jason earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from the University of Louisville. He earned the Master of Arts Degree in Psychology from Fisk University and earned the Ph.D. in Educational Administration with a Specialization in Higher Education Leadership from Indiana State University.

Jason currently serves Campbellsville University as Vice President of Enrollment Management.

PRESENTATION: Risk Management & Hazing Prevention: Current Issues in Education, Policy, & Precedent

Greek Letter Organization (GLO) members, advisors, and university administrators must embrace preventive approaches to anti hazing education & policies for all students on their campuses. This interactive session will provide your students and leadership team with legally sound practices that protect students and the university, while engaging in robust discussion about the impact of “tradition” on hazing and violence in Fraternities & Sororities.

Student Learning Objectives
Workshop participants will leave with increased knowledge of the following:

• Empowerment to challenge physical and mental abuse in context of hazing situations by examining the value for life versus the need to belong;
• Recognition of relationship between injuries, psychological abuse, and loss of life associated with common hazing behaviors and the concept of tradition in GLOs;
• Evaluation of influence of GLOs on first-time college students with relation to responsibility, behavior, and community values;
• Recognition of educative options to combat hazing using peer-education & bystander intervention models; and
• Strategies to evaluate organizational rituals and chapter traditions to assess risks and hidden harms.

Training Goals
• To provide advisors and administrative team with legally sound practices to use as basis for anti‑hazing education;
• To empower students with educative options to combat hazing;
• To provide pertinent approaches to managing campus wide hazing policies and educational tools that are rooted in trends supported by legal decisions rendered across the United States;
• To share trends about behavior that indicates under‑the‑radar hazing rituals; and
• To identify existing educative programs & engagement tools that can be utilized on your campus

PRESENTATION: Leadership Isn't Always Easy: Success Strategies to Motivate & Generate Energy Among Chapter and Council Leaders

Fraternity & Sorority leaders are inundated by numerous theories positing methods to lead within a complex organization, while choices about leadership style are equally broad and varied. This interactive keynote session will challenge participants to prepare for and outlast moments of apathy, doubt, and exhaustion among leaders within their chapter or council. Attendees will be empowered with leadership tools that focus on substance and strategy, yet are still attentive to personal style. Participants will be empowered to look introspectively at strengths and opportunities to grow. FSL leaders will learn that failure is a doorway to success while building an individual leadership brand that will flourish within the context of each chapter, council, and the campus community.

Keynote Learning Outcomes
Student participants will leave with increased knowledge of the following:
• Familiarity with evaluation tools to measure current perceptions about apathy within sorority and fraternity culture and the university setting;
• Recognizing consequences of intended and unintentional elements of accountability within the context of chapter and council settings;
• Impact of leadership branding strategy on career trajectory within university system and after degree completion; and
• Ability to utilize best practices in shaping a leadership brand that enhances contribution to chapter motivation, morale, and productivity.

Keynote Goals
• To provide pertinent approaches to engage and influence organizational climate and culture from a lens of accountability and productivity;
• To empower attendees with tools to develop a personal and individualized leadership brand;
• To share trends about behaviors that indicate resistance or responsiveness to accountability; and
• To identify pertinent strategies to assess and maintain leadership brand effectiveness within the context of the chapter, the organization, and the council.
"I was delighted with Dr. Meriwether’s engaging presentation and insightful interaction with our students. I believe Dr. Meriwether displayed a keen understanding on the topic and was able to deliver his message in a way that resonated with our students; therefore, I wholeheartedly endorse Dr. Meriwether for any speaking engagement."
- Dr. Eddie Howard, VP of Student Affairs at Northern Kentucky University

PRESENTATION: Redefining Leadership & Tradition - Creating a Hazing-Free Student Athlete Experience

From Varsity Athletics to participation in Club Sports, student athletes, coaches, and university administrators must embrace preventive approaches to anti hazing education & policies. From the case of J.T. Todd, a 1980 University of Michigan Hockey player, to January 2020 allegations of hazing by former Penn State Football player, Isaiah Humphries, hazing within college athletics has come under increased scrutiny as risks to student athletes have become more pervasive due to violence, long-standing rituals, or excessive drinking. The culmination of educative approaches and policy measures requires a new a model that coaches and athletic leadership should leverage in order to address the complex and varied aspects of hazing. This interactive digital session will provide students, coaches, and athletic administration with legally sound practices that protect students and the university, while engaging in robust discussion about the impact of “tradition” on hazing and violence within the student athlete experience.

Learning Outcomes
Workshop participants will leave with increased knowledge of the following:
• Empowerment to challenge physical and mental abuse in context of hazing situations by examining the value for life versus need to belong;
• Increase familiarity with standards for eligibility and scholarship sustainability within context of NCAA anti-hazing rules and policies;
• Recognition of relationship between injuries, psychological abuse, and loss of life associated with common “low-risk” hazing behaviors and the concept of tradition in college athletics;
• Increase familiarity with effective practices to examine and evaluate formal & informal team traditions and bonding activities that present hidden risks for hazing; and
• Evaluation of influence of perceptions and stereotypes about athlete behavior on new and first-time college students with relation to responsibility, behavior, and community values.

Training Goals
• To provide university with legally sound practices to use as basis for anti‑hazing education;
• To empower student athletes with educative options to combat hazing using a peer-education model;
• To provide pertinent approaches to managing campus wide hazing policies and educational tools that
are rooted in trends supported by legal decisions rendered across the United States;
• To share trends about behavior that indicates under‑the‑radar hazing rituals; and
• To identify existing educative programs & tools that can be utilized on your campus.
"Dr. Meriwether personalized the trip and went above and beyond to truly help us not only tackle our culture concerns within our Fraternities and Sororities around hazing, but dug in deeper with our team to provide our advisors and our retention team members great insights about innovations for increasing retention overall and being better partners for our enrollment management team. Many of our Greeks live in the surrounding off campus area, and they have truly stepped up to be better neighbors to our local residents of Hempstead. You were part of that shift."
- Dr. Gabrielle St. Léger, VP for Student Development & Campus Life at Hofstra University

Hazing Prevention Workshop: Empowering Advisors & FSL Administrators

Fraternity & Sorority Advisors & professional staff must embrace preventive approaches to anti hazing education & policies for all students and prospective members. This interactive session will provide advisors, FSL professionals, and student affairs administrators with legally sound practices that protect students and the university. Participants will engage in robust discussion about the evolving and cyclical nature of hazing, drinking, and ritual violence within sororities and fraternities while exploring the hidden harms that hide under the mask of tradition.

Learning Outcomes for Professional Staff and Advisors
Workshop participants will leave with increased knowledge of the following:
• Tools to evaluate current processes & amend policies for campus wide implementation of anti-hazing education initiatives;
• Strategies to evaluate current rituals and traditions to assess risks and hidden harms;
• Recognizing policy loopholes or language that may not adequately meet legal precedent for due diligence by professional staff or advisors; and
• Ability to utilize effective practices in managing anti‑hazing education for fraternities and sororities.

Training Goals
• To empower advisors and student affairs administration with educative options to combat hazing using peer-education & bystander intervention models;
• To provide pertinent approaches to managing issues of reasonable foresight that are rooted in trends supported by legal decisions rendered across the United States;
• To share trends about behavior that indicates under‑the‑radar hazing rituals within the context of the FSL experience;
• To identify existing educative programs & engagement tools that can be utilized on your campus; and
• To provide university with legally sound practices to use as framework for anti‑hazing education.

"Dr. Meriwether’s interactive sessions have provided students, faculty and staff, and advisors with legally sound practices that protect students and the university while engaging in meaningful discussions about the impact of hazing and violence in fraternities and sororities. Jason’s authentic approach allows our students to openly engage in transparent discussions and create a sense of responsibility towards dismantling hazing tradition and increasing their servant leadership skills. Jason’s innovative approaches of engaging students play a crucial role in propelling them to the next level of leadership."
- Christopher Cook, Program Director, Chicago State University

PRESENTATION: From TRIO to Everywhere - Paving YOUR Path to Generational Change

TRIO students are inundated with numerous methods to be successful in college while navigating the complexities of a new environment, social relationships, and learning along the way. Choices about balancing academics, leadership, and campus life are equally broad and varied. This interactive session will challenge participants to design a consistent approach to campus engagement, classroom discourse, and personal interactions that is robust with substance and strategy, yet attentive to personal style. Attendees will be engaged to look introspectively at strengths and opportunities to grow, while building an individual success strategy that will flourish in the campus community and for the duration of their career after college.

Learning Outcomes Student participants will leave with increased knowledge of the following:

• Familiarity with current perceptions about transition to college within a residential and university setting;
• Recognizing elements of personal responsibility, life habits, and leadership capacity that impact the campus experience;
• Strategies to engage in dialogue and apply listening skills that enhance classroom learning and social involvement that are applicable along the path to graduation; and
• Impact of student success strategy on career trajectory within university system and after degree completion.

Workshop Goals:

• To provide pertinent approaches to engage and influence personal success from a lens of learning, thoughtfulness, and productivity;
• To empower attendees with tools to develop a personal and individualized student success strategy;
• To share trends about college transition that increases sense of belonging and connection on campus; and
• To identify pertinent strategies to assess and maintain academic and social success for every student with, or without, a flashy title.

About the Presenter:

Dr. Jason L. Meriwether is a proud TRIO alum. His experience in Educational Talent Search put him on the path to finishing high school, graduating from college, and earning a doctoral degree. Being a TRIO alum motivates Jason to connect with TRIO students and have honest, personal, and sincere conversation about college, life, and creating generational change for each student’s family. Jason is an experienced higher education leader who has led Enrollment Management, TRIO programs, Student Affairs, and NCAA & NAIA Athletics.
"Dr. Jason Meriwether was instrumental to getting our academic year started on the right foot for our fraternities and sororities. Dr. Meriwether kept our students engaged while educating them on hazing in the fraternity/sorority world and beyond. As our community gets back on track after a year significantly affected by the pandemic, this presentation was just what we needed."
- Curtis Tarver, Associate Director for Fraternity & Sorority Life, UNC Greensboro

PRESENTATION: Building a Model for Effective Chapter Operations & Leadership

Chapter leaders are inundated by numerous theories positing methods to lead within a complex organization, while choices about leadership and consistent engagement are equally broad and varied. This interactive session will empower participants to design a consistent system about chapter operations and strategic leadership that is robust with substance and strategy, yet attentive to fraternal mission. Attendees will be trained to adapt to the evolving challenges facing Greek-letter organizations, create new revenue models, while designing a measurable strategy for chapter operations that will flourish in the university community.

Learning Objectives:
This interactive session will frame the Nine Steps for Initiating Organizational Culture Change based on Cameron & Quinn’s 2011 book "Diagnosing and Changing Organizational Culture". Workshop participants will leave with increased knowledge of the following:

● Developing planning & service strategies to flourish within campus settings;
● Approaches to establishing and sustaining measurable effective practices in chapter leadership, event management, and evaluation of success;
● Strategy levers for effective on-boarding of new leaders and re-acclimating experienced chapter members to fraternal mission, values, and expectations;
● Empower attendees with tools to frame and measure leadership strategies for philanthropy, programming, and generating chapter revenue from new resources; and
● Share trends about behavior that indicate resistance or responsiveness to chapter leadership and creating systems for chapter accountability.

Workshop Goals:

● To provide familiarity with evaluation tools to measure campus impact and leverage to plan future events;
● To share strategies to ensure consistent and functional meeting, committee, and planning structures;
● To share individual engagement strategies so that individuals can leverage leadership tools during matriculation and after degree completion;
● To illuminate value of consistent partnership and leveraging written records during organizational leadership transition and to develop a long-term strategic plan at the chapter level; and
● To provide effective practices for shaping a chapter strategy that enhances contribution to team morale, diverse ideas & perspectives within the chapter, sustained accountability and organizational productivity.
“Dr. Meriwether’s approach created an open and safe space for conversation around a critically important topic. He was able to address a very serious and often times tragic situation through the lens of case law, in a way that resonated with students. His willingness to share his own personal experience allowed him to connect with a room of over 300 students, in a way that only Dr. Meriwether can deliver!”
- Kristie S. Gover, Ed.D., Senior Vice President and Dean of Students