Chapter History
Kappa Kappa Psi at Towson University
The Iota Delta Chapter was founded on April 8th, 1989, becoming the 220th chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. The advising chapter during the colonization process was the Eta Gamma chapter from Morgan State University. The Founding Fathers of Iota Delta are Christopher Brunner, Darryl Elliott, Dan Magruder, Barry McGinnis, Len Morse, Gil Roberts, Rick Stewart, and Charles C. S. White. Soon after installation, Kathy L. Murray became the first female member of Iota Delta.
The first few years of Iota Delta’s life were spent recruiting and inducting new members, revising the constitution and officer roles, and finding new ways to better serve the bands. By the spring of 1992 Iota Delta had established itself, and began the process of recolonizing the Alpha Kappa chapter at George Washington University. Rick Hauf was elected to the position of Northeast District President, and SKIDZ was also “acquired” at this time. In the fall of 1992, Iota Delta welcomed two new Associate brothers, Erica and Lisa, from the inactive Eta Sigma chapter of Tau Beta Sigma.
In the spring of 1993 the chapter hosted the Southern Precinct meeting and in the fall Iota Delta began doing stadium cleanups after football games as a fundraiser. Then, in the spring of 1994, the Iota class was formed, the largest membership education class to date, with 13 members. It was also at this time that Joe Harman became the NED Secretary/Treasurer for the 1994-1995 academic year.
In 1995, Josh Lutz was voted NED President, making him the second Iota Delta brother to hold that office. Dr. Rothlisberger also acted as a District Governor for the ‘95-’97 term. Also, the first ever Benefit Concert was held, which yielded a small revenue for the Scholarship Fund. Even though not a great success, the chapter gained a lot of respect from the music department. This was also the year that the first annual Play Day was held. Four elementary students attended and the tradition was established that has remained today. In ‘95 the chapter was nominated for the William A. Scroggs Top Chapter Award, and while the chapter didn’t win the award, they had already proven their excellence by earning the nomination.
In 1996, the brotherhood had yet another NED officer elected when Jim Morrison was elected as NED Vice President. In the spring of 1997, Iota Delta held Southern Precincts again and was nominated for Top Chapter. The chapter was awarded the Music Education Awareness Award and the Chapter Communications Award form the NED. Dan Corcoran was then elected the NED Alumni Chair for the 1997-1998 academic year. The music department held its first MOSAIC concert and the chapter held the second Benefit Concert, which was very successful. Towson State University became Towson University.
In 2000, the Brothers of Iota Delta were faced with a daunting service project: the World Cello Congress III. This week-long project was one of the toughest projects any chapter could have taken on. From shuttling artists and participants to setting up and breaking down the entire show, the Brothers had their hands full. Over 17,500 people visited Towson throughout the week and the even was considered a resounding success. Many famous artists, including the world famous cellist Yo Yo Ma, personally thanked the Brothers at the end of the event.
The 2000-2001 school year saw another Benefit Concert that actually caused the chapter to lose money, but the experiences gained would help the chapter be better prepared for the next one. All this eventually led to the chapter’s nomination for Most Improved Chapter at the 2001 NED Convention. The chapter didn’t get the award but received recognition as one of the top chapters in GPA and the Chapter Communications Award. Matt Kessler was elected as Member-at_Large and Kateri Miller was elected as the Alumni Chair.
Throughout the 2001-2002 school year, Iota Delta spent a lot of time raising money. One of the largest fundraisers that occurred was the all new Silent Auction, which was very successful and received quite a bit of support from the department. At the 2002 NED Convention, Laura Dailey was elected to the office of NED Member-at-Large. The end of the school year also saw the restructuring of some of our offices, combining our secretary positions into one office, and combining our history and alumni positions into one office of Alumni-Historian.
Then in the fall of 2002, Iota Delta once again felt the joy and responsibility of being the advising chapter for yet another colony, the Eta Psi chapter, located at Delaware State University. The chapter elected Kevin Callahan to act as the chapter liaison with the colony who would work with Melvin Miles, Jr., the Eta Gamma chapter sponsor, as the colony’s alumni advisor. Eta Psi became a chapter in 2003. The chapter also continued to expand its horizons in the field of fundraisers by completing a four day phone book delivery fundraiser.
Iota Delta experienced a lot of growth and recognition at the Northeast District Convention of 2003, when the chapter was presented with the A. Frank Martin Top Chapter Award, Dr. Rothlisberger received the Top Sponsor Award, and Rai Mordente was elected Northeast District Alumni Liaison. Four years later, Jackie Blinke was elected to the office of NED Member-at-Large for the 2007-2008 term.
In 2009, Sarah Hopkins made the National Intercollegiate Band for the 45th National Convention. Erica Abbey was elected the Kappa Kappa Psi Vice President and Mike Blander was elected the Treasurer for the Northeast District Alumni Association for 2009-2010. At the 2010 NED Convention, Meghan Bowers was elected Historical Archivist and Alumni Liaison for the 2010-2011 term. The chapter also received recognition on the district level with a nomination for Most Improved Chapter and won the NEDAA Alumni Participation Award for the second year running for having the most chapter alumni involved in the NEDAA.
At the 2011 NED Convention, Meghan Bowers was elected Secretary/Treasurer for the 2011-2012 term. Erica Abbey was re-elected to the position of Vice President of the Northeast District Alumni Association, and Sarah Lambert-Fitzgerald was elected to the position of Secretary. The chapter also received the NEDAA Alumni Participation Award for the second year in a row. Also in 2011, Julie Houtz made the National Intercollegiate Band and Meghan Bowers served as the Ways and Means Committee chair for the 47th National Convention.
Iota Delta’s recognition in the Northeast District continued at the 2012 NED Convention when the chapter received the Music Education Awareness award for all their service to Towson University’s Music Department. At the same convention, Julie Houtz gave the Key Note sponsored by NEDAA.