Starting a new chapter

By: Sean Herlihy

Posted: 8/27/08

Eddie Banks-Crosson watches Saturday morning cartoons. He calls his mother most days before work. He sat on a stage in 2006 and let his students throw pies in his face to raise money for a local Alabama charity.

Syracuse University, meet your new director of fraternity and sorority affairs.

"I'm a big kid," the 29-year-old said. "My students jumped at the opportunity to pie me in the face several times."

After three years as the assistant director of student life at Jacksonville State University in Alabama, Banks-Crosson accepted SU's opening in April. He replaced Juanita Williams, former associate dean of students who served as interim director of fraternity and sorority affairs after Roy Baker stepped down from the position last August.

Banks-Crosson wasn't planning to leave JSU, but he was heavily recruited by Syracuse, he said.

He officially began his tenure April 28.

As a dedicated member of greek life for nine years, Banks-Crosson is looking to contribute his expertise to a school rich in fraternity and sorority traditions.

"I was very impressed with the students here," Banks-Crosson said. "I'm a relatively young director, so obviously that's a great opportunity."

Jessica Janssen, Panhellenic Association president at JSU, said she developed a friendship with Banks-Crosson while the two were together at the university.

"It's nice to work with someone who is willing to have fun and be our friend instead of just an authority figure," Janssen said.

Since Banks-Crosson is not much older than current college students, Janssen said he is able to relate to students in a way older administrators cannot.

Although Banks-Crosson prefers a friendly work relationship with his students, he still commands a certain level of respect from the undergraduates, according to former colleagues.

André Early, director of undergraduate and university affairs for the Kappa Alpha Psi national fraternity, said that although Banks-Crosson might occasionally act like a kid, he has a level of maturity about him that students respect. Early said another reason why Banks-Crosson gets along so well with students is because he genuinely cares about working with young people.

"Eddie has always believed that students come first," Early said. "Seeing all students succeed and be the best that they can be is what truly drives him."

Not only can Banks-Crosson relate to his students, he also has the ability to inspire.

Early said Banks-Crosson has a knack for getting the best out of his students by promoting an "education first" philosophy. While Banks-Crosson was the undergraduate advisor of Kappa Alpha Psi, the fraternity had the highest grade point average of any fraternity on campus.

Patricia Watkins, director of membership for the Alpha Kappa Alpha national sorority, said Banks-Crosson is a perfect fit for this career path because of his desire to help students.

"I've worked with a lot of people, and nobody is a stronger believer in students than Eddie," Watkins said.

The most telling example of Banks-Crosson's influence on his job is the JSU success story. JSU Dean of Students Terry Casey said greek involvement was at an all time low in 2005 - Banks-Crosson's first year as the director of greek life. After making recruitment a bigger priority, greek participation increased 125 percent the following year.

"Eddie succeeded in changing the students' mentality about greek life," Casey said. "His passion and overall commitment to the cause helped him accomplish what we all thought could not be done."

Banks-Crosson had a modest take on the story.

"One of my greatest strengths is my listening ear," he said. "Sometimes students just want someone to listen, and I was able to put their ideas into action."

Banks-Crosson has become renowned throughout the greek community by participating in numerous volunteer affiliations such as the Association of Fraternity Advisors, the Greek Advisory Council and the Interfraternity Institute.

"To be honest, my fraternity changed my life," Banks-Crosson said. "I'm a better man, a better professional, and a better leader because of my involvement in fraternity life."

For as much of an effect as Banks-Crosson has made in greek life, it took some convincing to get him to follow this career path.

"When I graduated college, I worked in corporate America for a few years," he said. "Yet I realized that involvement in my fraternity and interactions with undergraduates was what truly made me happy. My old greek advisor inspired me to work in this field, and she believed in me when nobody else would."

Casey attributed Banks-Crosson's success to his charismatic personality.

"His nickname is 'the social butterfly,'" he said. "He is so outgoing and passionate that he could find a complete group of strangers and pull them towards a common interest."

Even some of the older greek life advisors at the Association of Fraternity Advisors conferences see the young, charismatic speaker as a role model, Watkins said.

"Although Eddie is young, he seems like he has been around much longer," Watkins said. "He shares his success stories with the other advisors and they frequently ask him for advice."

Now Banks-Crosson brings his awards, accolades and success stories to SU. However, he said he is not driven by accolades, but merely wants to continue doing what he loves: educating students and helping young people realize their future.

"I could be the person behind the scenes and I'd still be happy," Banks-Crosson said. "I'm working for a cause that I firmly believe in, and the great thing about it is nobody asked me to do it. I own the responsibility."

stherlih@syr.edu