Each month, Omicron Delta Kappa recognizes one of its alumni advisors, faculty advisors, or circle coordinators in appreciation for their service and devotion to the Society.
The honoree for September 2022 is Peter Rojas (Merrimack College, 2021). Peter is a relatively new advisor for the Merrimack College Circle. He was initiated shortly after being named the college’s director of student involvement and his appointment as its new circle coordinator. Today, Peter is the college’s assistant dean of intercultural initiatives. Prior to his roles at Merrimack, he served in administrative positions with Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Florida International University, and the American Digital Diversity Initiative.
In addition to earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Peter has a master’s degree in higher education administration from Florida International University. As an O∆K leader, he attended both the 2022 Circle Advisor Training Workshop and the 2022 National Leadership Conference. Peter has been an active volunteer for Phi Alpha Iota Fraternity, Inc. and professionally served as the organization’s director of chapter services for many years. He has also been an active member of several professional associations, including NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors.
The honoree for June 2022 is Leslie A. Werden (Morningside University, 2008). Leslie has served as both a circle coordinator and faculty advisor for the Morningside University Circle. In addition to local circle involvement, Leslie has written and edited articles for The Circle. In addition, she served on the National Advisory Council (2018-20), where she also chaired the Program Subcommittee in year one and the Circle and Membership Standards Subcommittee in year two. Leslie is the 2019 recipient of the Society’s Robert L. Morlan – Robert Bishop Outstanding Circle Advisor Award. She is currently a faculty/staff trustee and the immediate past chair of the Mission Committee. Leslie is a member of the Board Nominations Committee, and her term on the board will conclude in June 2022.
At Morningside University, Leslie is a professor of English and rhetoric. She has served the university as its First Year Writing Director, Chair of Writing and Rhetoric, and Chair of English/Spanish/Rhetoric prior to taking on the role of Department Head of Humanities. Leslie has been the faculty representative to the Morningside University Board of Directors and a member of various committees such as Promotion and Tenure, Curriculum Policies and Assessment, Advising, and Faculty Development.
The honoree for May 2022 is Ralph E. Johnson (Florida State University, 1982). Ralph has served as the long-time circle coordinator for the Washington Adventist University (WAU) Circle. During his tenure, the WAU Circle received Circle of Distinction honors in 2017. Ralph has also been a member of the Society’s Scholarship Review and Selection Committee, and he is a 2022 recipient of the O∆K Eldridge W. Roark, Jr. Meritorious Service Award. He obtained his B.S. from the University of Alabama, his master’s from Florida State, and his Ph.D. with a major in higher education administration from the University of South Carolina – Columbia.
In addition to being the circle coordinator at WAU, Ralph serves the university as its Vice President of the Center for Student Life. His professional and civic activities include the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), president of the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA), treasurer of the SACSA Foundation, and chairman of the Alpha Phi Alpha Education Foundation Board of Directors. He is past chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and a member of the Board of Directors for the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) in Higher Education, currently serving as the organization’s president.
The honoree for April 2022 was Brooke Lecky Supple (University of Maryland, College Park, 2001). Brooke the long-time circle coordinator for the Sigma Circle at Maryland. Professionally, she is the assistant vice president and chief of staff for the vice president for student affairs at Maryland. Brooke is a 2016 recipient of O∆K’s Eldridge W. Roark, Jr. Meritorious Service Award. She also received the Society’s Robert L. Morlan – Robert Bishop Outstanding Circle Advisor Award in 2018. In addition to her service at the circle level, Brooke has been a member of the 2018-19 National Advisory Council and a member of the Society’s Volunteer Engagement Committee. She obtained her B.A. from the University of Virginia, her M.Ed. from Vanderbilt University, and her Ph.D. with a major in education policy and administration from the University of Maryland.
