SMU’s Dr. Jim Caswell, vice president for student affairs, was recently honored by the Fraternity Executives Association during their annual meeting on July 10, 2002, in Marco Island, Florida. Caswell is the sixth recipient to ever receive the FEA Order of Fraternity Excellence Award.
“It was unexpected and appreciated,” said Caswell an SMU alumni and Phi Gamma Delta member.
According to the association, the award is presented to a college or university administrator who has attained a level of professional accomplishment, relating to college fraternity, which is of such excellence as to merit signal recognition by the association.
Caswell has served SMU as vice president for student affairs since 1988. Responsible for most of the university’s out-of-class programs and services, Caswell understands the importance of greek life. This is his second year to volunteer as the national president of FIJI.
“You see both sides of the spectrum, working with greek advisors and alumni, as well as running a board of directors that governs 109 chapters around the country,” Caswell said.
Besides teaching a course in leadership, Caswell is an ordained United Methodist minister.
“Jim is a caring individual filled with integrity and concern for the students of today,” said Bob Baney, executive director of FIJI.
Caswell, who earned his Doctorate and Masters Degrees at Columbia University, was presented the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Oklahoma City University in 1999.
“He is looked at by many in our industry as a source of wisdom,” said Baney, who has worked closely with Caswell for the past 8 years.
In the spring of 2001, Caswell received the Pillar of the Profession Award for outstanding service in the field of student affairs from the NASPA Educational Foundation.
“Dr. Caswell truly role-models the values, ethics, and beliefs upon which fraternities and sororities were founded,” said Jim Barber the coordinator of student activities and fraternity programs.
“He is very deserving of this honor and I’m so happy that he has been recognized for his hard work,” Barber said.
FIJI has recently celebrated its 154th birthday and Caswell will end his two-year term as president this month in Portland, Oregon.
“Jim is wearing many different hats, staying very busy,” Baney said. “We are lucky to have Jim as a brother.”
