Featured Brother of the Month

We recently caught up with Brother Dave Griffith '76 to learn where life had taken him and reminisce with him about his time with Lambda. He's currently the Executive Director and Head Coach of Episcopal Community Services in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The focus of ECS is to address the issues of Intergenerational Poverty.

He is a nationally recognized speaker on Leadership, Governance, and Family Business. Dave is a guest lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania and has spoken at Harvard, Temple, Kenyon, and Rutgers.

He runs the blog Muddy Boots, and is a guest columnist at the Philadelphia Business Journal. Griffith is the founder and principle of “deg” Muddy Boots Consulting.

Dave is a strong advocate for the environment and the issues of poverty in America. He most recently keynoted on Poverty, Race, and Privilege at ECS ’s forum on Justice and Opportunity and Westminster.  He believes that we are all called to service and that the most powerful voice for change needs to be our own.

https://www.anspblog.org/challenge-from-new-board-chair/

He is a graduate of Kenyon College ’76 and The Westminster School ‘72. At Kenyon, he received his BA with honors in Economics and History. He played DIII Soccer and Lacrosse, volunteered with the local Fire Department, and worked as a resident advisor (as well as being a Lambda DKE).

He and his wife of forty years, Jacqui, have two married adult children, one grandson, and one active Westie. Dave is an avid fly fisherman and fly tier, and all things being equal would rather be on the waters of the Beaverkill.

We asked Dave some questions about his time with DKE. Read what Brother Griffith had to say below.

- Why did you decide to join Lambda DKE? What about the fraternity attracted you and convinced you to pledge?

I joined my freshman year. I played Soccer and Lacrosse, and several members were also DKEs. I enjoyed the folks as we had some common background. It was good to have some shared experiences as a freshman to go through the experience together.

- How involved are you in the fraternity now, and in what way? Why are you involved, either in giving or in attending in-person events?

Not as much as I would like given geography and my current responsibilities. I do support financially, and I am in touch with several brothers through email and the like.

- Would you encourage a younger relative to join Lambda DKE? Why or why not? What would you tell that younger relative that they can expect to get out of the fraternity experience? 

I would, although I am not sure I could get into Kenyon now. It has become much more competitive. I think any time you can find common values and build support and friendships, it is a good thing. At its best, that is what a fraternity ought to be, as well as a force for good in the community.  

- Do you have any particular best memories of Lambda DKE? Can you tell me about them?

A number of us also volunteer in the fire department, and that became a great experience. I also remember initiation as both a pledge and as upperclassmen and the bonding that took place.

- What happened after you graduated Kenyon? How did Lambda DKE prepare you for life after college?

I went to work for IBM. I think the lesson of dealing with people and as an officer of the frat gave me some scar tissue that helped me get off to the right start.

- Is your Lambda DKE experience still impacting you today? How so? 

We are all the sum of our experiences, and my time, both at Kenyon and as a member of Lambda, certainly shaped me. I think organizational dynamics are critical, and Lambda was an essential early experience.

- What would you say are some of your biggest successes in life? 

Husband, Father, Brother, Friend, would be first. Answering the call to service would be second.

- What are some of your focuses in life currently, and what are your plans for the future?

I am the head coach at Episcopal Community Services focused on intergenerational poverty and Chair of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel as well as a director in several for-profit companies. So I am busy. I am also a grandfather and a fisherman and I hope to spend more time there as my other interests wind down.