BINGHAMTON, NY – Binghamton University Dean of Students April Thompson announces the appointment of Lester Coghill as director of Greek Life at Binghamton University, a position that has been upgraded from assistant director to strengthen oversight of Greek Life activities. Coghill, who comes to Binghamton from his position as assistant director of campus activities and student engagement at the University of Maine, Orono, will report directly to Thompson.

“This is an exciting time for Greek Life at Binghamton University,” said Thompson. “Lester brings with him a depth of experience and expertise working with Greek organizations that will serve us well as we move forward in our partnership with students.”

“Last Spring, we began a process of addressing systemic concerns within Greek life at Binghamton,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Brian Rose. “Our goal is to preserve and strengthen the positive aspects of fraternal organizations while simultaneously establishing much greater accountability to community standards and University policies. The hiring of Lester Coghill as our new director of Greek Life continues our work toward that goal. We now look forward to working with an external review team of Greek life professionals over the coming weeks as the next step in our process.”

Coghill holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a master’s degree in college student personnel from Western Illinois University. He has served as the main contact for over 1,000 student members of 22 national and two local fraternities and sororities at the University of Maine, advised its Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils and their subsidiary groups, and overseen all aspects of IFC and Panhellenic recruitment. Prior to joining the staff at the University of Maine, he was coordinator of Greek Life at Arkansas State University.

As director of Greek Life, Coghill will work closely with student leaders within Greek letter organizations and advise chapters and councils on programming, new member recruitment procedures, and ongoing membership education programs to promote responsible membership, citizenship and chapter management.

He will also collaborate with staff in the Dean of Students Office to develop and implement leadership development training, risk management programs and other programming for Greek organization leadership and members.

"I am excited to hit the ground running and help Binghamton University create a fraternity and sorority community that exhibits the values of leadership, scholarship and service while providing members with the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood that make the fraternity or sorority, as well as Binghamton University, a home away from home," said Coghill.

Coghill will begin his duties at Binghamton on Jan. 2, 2013.