Leadership Highlight: Tyreek Cox the President of Iota Phi Theta at University at Albany, SUNY

In an effort to highlight the young leaders who are leading undergraduate chapters across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to the brothers of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc.’s Delta Rho Chapter at the University at Albany, SUNY and did an interview with Tyreek Cox the president of the chapter.

The position of president of an undergraduate chapter of a Black fraternity is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes. 20-year-old Tyreek Cox has used the position to gain new leadership experience, improve the lives of other students on campus and help the community around him.

We interviewed the Human Biology major and talked about his position, goals, future and what it means to hold a leadership on campus in the digital age.

Read the full interview below.

What does it mean to be a chapter president to you?

To me being a leader is being someone who paves a way for others to lead themselves. and I believe a chapter president has to be that leader who paves the way.

Photo Credit: @muh.lik

What made you decide to attend the University at Albany, SUNY for undergrad?

I decided to attend The University at Albany because I get extremely home sick and begin to miss my family and hometown friends and this school was the perfect distance for me to go back home whenever I feel its necessary to be with the people love.

What specific initiatives is your chapter heading up this year and how do you think they will improve the campus/surrounding community?

Our major initiative is to host a Banquet in order to bring awareness to modern day issues and bring out speakers who can clearly help you better understand these issues and how they affect our community. This is to better educate students, staff, and faculty on major hinderances to the people in the community.

What made you want to pledge Iota Phi Theta?

Many things about Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated attracted me to the latest and greatest fraternity in the D9. The sense of individuality, leadership and humility of the Brothers at the time (Now My Prophytes) displayed. Not only were they all themselves all the time but they did so while upholding major positions on campus and dominating the lime light. Finally, at the end of they day, they still made time to be for the people and invited everyone out to build genuine connections with everyone no matter how different or popular they were.

Photo Credit: @_nelly.d

What is it about your specific chapter that makes it so unique?

We are the “DeathRow” Delta Rho Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated and no one can do it like we can. We host major events that bring out enough people to fill the biggest spaces on campus. We also make sure to stay in the lab and be ready to perform great enough to keep the attention of the crowd even after we perform. Although this is the case, we make sure to shine off of the campus as well. We do many hours of community service, from going to the Downtown streets of Albany to pick up garbage, going to schools to teach the students that college is a necessity, to even creating and performing skits for younger students.

We now live in a digital world, what do you think undergraduate chapters across all orgs need to do to represent themselves online in 2019?

Continue to put out the great content they create. Don’t be afraid to spice things up and try to appeal to the younger students.

Photo Credit: @madprophet_production

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership means to show exemplary behavior in all aspects of life that others can see and take on in their own everyday life.

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black greekdom?

It displays lots of greek unity. Its hard to find greek unity amongst us D9 organizations and when you see examples of what your campus can look like it may motivate you to make a change on your own campus.

Photo Credit: @iameddiebankz

What does brotherhood mean to you?

To me, brotherhood means to create a bond so strong that it can never be broken. You should be able to count on your brother no matter what situation you’re in. They should be someone to confide in and use as a shoulder to cry on. A brother should always be there to help build the foundation you need to get back up.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

After I graduate in 2021, I plan to get a Master’s in Biology and then head on to Medical School where I plan to obtain my M.D. which I would use to specialize in Plastic Surgery.

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Tyreek Cox for his work as the president of Delta Rho Chapter which has a legacy that spans back to 2000.

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