If you have worked with a SigEp chapter within the state of Tennessee, you have likely run into our amazing volunteer, Jason Richards, Memphis ’97. Jason serves in multiple roles for Tennessee Alpha (Tennessee, which is on its way back), his home chapter, Tennessee Beta (Memphis), and Tennessee Epsilon (Tennessee Tech). Jason is a vice president of finance mentor, AVC member, soon to be Chapter Counselor, a past Carlson facilitator, and a member of the Executive Committee Review Taskforce. He is also DISC certified, allowing him to facilitate the Pathways to Potential experience in the new Balanced Man Program. Jason has given back to Sigma Phi Epsilon in so many ways, and we cannot thank him enough for all of his help and dedication to serving others.

Jason was inspired to become a volunteer after hearing a speech from Past Grand President Jack Wheeler, North Texas ’61. Jack had to shut down his own chapter due to drugs and alcohol, and Jason was going through a similar experience. This gave him the realization that he could help Tennessee Beta return and become a better chapter. When he became a volunteer, Jason became a better leader in the corporate world and it helped teach him how to have more empathy with undergrads, coworkers, and family. Past Grand President, Mike Williams, Memphis ’69, is also a huge influence on Brother Richards. One of the best things Jason keeps trying to do is engage other active volunteers and try to recruit new ones to our amazing fraternity. It is because of volunteers like Jason that we can raise our bBr and pursue our path to becoming the largest and best fraternity. Thank you Jason for your outstanding work and for being an amazing volunteer!

Q&A with Jason Richards:

What is your favorite thing to do as a volunteer?
Jason loves to share experiences and knowledge and try to help the undergrads connect them from their fraternity experience to the real world. He wants students to try to understand the why behind the what and how the decisions they make will impact them in the real world.

What keeps you up at night as a volunteer?
Jason thinks the most about his impact on the undergrads’ growth of learning. He wants the students to ask questions and help them figure out their versions of the truth. Undergrads get annoyed when advisors tell them how to do something or say, “this is how we did it.”

What is your biggest accomplishment/impact you have had/made during your time as a volunteer?
Rechartering Tennessee Beta at the University of Memphis. This was a big moment for him as it was Jason’s home chapter, and he got to see the chapter close and then reopen. Also, Jason would say that watching Tennessee Tech repay over $20,000 to SigEp and watching the men pick themselves up and dust themselves off and solve this problem on their own with the help of the volunteers was a very impactful experience.