Matt Arnold, Southern Illinois '24, stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of Phi Kappa Tau, after more than three years of leadership, as he transitions to a new professional chapter. The National Council has appointed Allyn Shaw, Ph.D., Michigan State ‘85, as Interim CEO, and will begin a national search for a permanent CEO.
Under Brother Arnold's leadership, our Fraternity has accelerated recruitment and expansion, grown the Zenith Officers Institute to record attendance, and launched new programs like Phi Tau Thursdays. Brother Arnold played an important role in the development of our strategies, including new educational programming.
To ensure a smooth transition, Brother Arnold has agreed to stay engaged in an advisory capacity over the coming weeks. "Leading Phi Kappa Tau these past three years has been one of the great privileges of my career. I’m proud of what our team has built together, and I’m confident Brother Shaw and the Executive Offices staff are well-positioned to carry that work forward," he said.
National President Michael Lummus, Belmont '06, said: “Brother Arnold has been a strong advocate for Phi Kappa Tau during his time as our CEO. I’m grateful for his service and that he will work to ensure a smooth handoff over the coming weeks. On behalf of the National Council, I thank him for his important contributions to Phi Kappa Tau.”
Brother Shaw has been appointed Interim CEO, and has committed to leading the Executive Offices through the transition. Brother Shaw has an accomplished resume in student affairs and has been a Phi Kappa Tau volunteer at the local, regional, and national level for over 30 years.
The Executive Offices staff will continue to provide all programs and services as usual. In-person programs, including Zenith Officers Institute and Convention 2027, are likewise unaffected by this transition.
The National Council is working with an established non-profit executive search firm to find a CEO to lead us into the next chapter of our rich history. The search will consider both members and non-members. Announcements will be posted at phikappatau.org.
Members with questions are encouraged to consult the Frequently Asked Questions below, which has more information on this transition. Additional questions can be directed to Allyn Shaw, ashaw@phikappatau.org.
National President Lummus continued: “We are fortunate to have Brother Allyn Shaw lead the Executive Offices during this transition. He has always answered the call of service to Phi Kappa Tau, and we will benefit from his decades of experience in student life at this important time.”
Frequently Asked Questions
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Brother Matt Arnold stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of Phi Kappa Tau, after more than three years of leadership, as he transitions to a new professional chapter. The National Council thanks Brother Arnold for his contributions during his tenure. Brother Arnold has agreed to stay engaged in an advisory capacity as we move through transition.
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The National Council has appointed Allyn Shaw, Ph.D., as Interim CEO. Brother Shaw is a longtime Phi Kappa Tau volunteer and a student life professional.
Highlights of his career, include:
Allyn has worked in student life at Michigan State University for over 30 years, most recently as Assistant Vice President for Student Life & Engagement and Dean of Students
He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Michigan State University
Allyn has volunteered at the local, regional, and national level for Phi Kappa Tau, from Board of Governors to Domain Director to National Councilor, National Education Advisor, and Foundation Trustee.
He will lead the Executive Offices staff and work closely with the National Council throughout this transition.
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If you’ve been working with someone at the Executive Offices staff, you can continue to work with the same person. A staff directory can be found at https://www.phikappatau.org/staff-directory and the phone number is (800) PKT-1906
You can reach Allyn Shaw, the Interim CEO, at ashaw@phikappatau.org
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All our existing programming will continue as planned and on schedule. This also includes chapter services, education, recruitment support, billing, and expansion.
Brother Shaw, the National Council, and our next permanent CEO will lead us into another year of our growing Zenith Officers Institute in January and our next National Convention in Lexington, Kentucky, in July 2027. -
The National Council is working with an established, national non-profit executive search firm. Our national CEO search will consider both members and non-members. We will post a job description at phikappatau.org and send an email announcement when we are able to accept referrals and applications.
Members should sign up to receive email updates from the Executive Offices at https://www.phikappatau.org/update-info and monitor phikappatau.org for updates.
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The leadership transition at the Executive Offices should not affect how chapters operate this fall. For any questions, you should continue to work with your Chapter Consultants.