A Phi Delt Sea Change
Phis who are shaping the future of business and education
By Sean Wagner, Executive Vice President and CEO
One of the best parts of being CEO of Phi Delta Theta is seeing our experience in action. This means seeing Phis become the greatest versions of themselves by rising to the pinnacle of their careers to lead companies or institutions that drive the world around us, knowing that our values are foundational to their success.
Over the years, Phis have led well-known companies and brands such as Marriott, Phillips Petroleum, Sherwin-Williams, General Motors, Burger King, and more. In the final quarter of 2024, the next generation of Phis ascended to lead three of the best-known Fortune 150 companies in the world today.
In August, Brother Brian Niccol, Miami ’96, went from leading the company that served as the lunch plan of many of our undergraduate brothers at Chipotle to keeping them caffeinated by becoming chairman and CEO of Starbucks. Before being the chairman and CEO at Chipotle, he served as chief executive of Taco Bell, was in leadership roles at Pizza Hut, and began his career in brand management at Procter & Gamble. We were proud to honor Brother Niccol with the Nance-Millett Award for free enterprise at the 2023 General Convention and have him visit the General Headquarters with his wife, Jennifer, when he spoke at the 2024 Miami University commencement. Brother Niccol’s hallmark focuses on people and culture, brand, innovation, and operational excellence to drive growth and value creation.
Elliott Hill, TCU ’86, returned to Nike in September to become president and CEO after retiring in 2020 as president of consumer and marketplace. His initial stint at Nike started as an intern, eventually leading him to hold senior leadership positions across Europe and North America. There, he helped grow the business to more than $39 billion. Brother Hill is an inspiring leader, a strong driver of culture, and a connection to the Nike consumer.
A month later, in October, David Joyner, Texas Tech ’86, became president and CEO of CVS Health. Brother Joyner was most recently executive vice president of CVS Health and president of CVS Caremark. He has thirty-seven years of experience in healthcare and pharmacy benefits management and a history of leveraging technology in healthcare. He plans to create an integrated business model “to expand access and drive greater consumer affordability.”
In the higher education sector, in February 2025, Adam Hasner, Maryland ’91, was appointed the president of Florida Atlantic University. A leader in his community and a native of Palm Beach County, Brother Hasner served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010, including two terms as House Majority Leader. As Speaker, Brother Hasner spearheaded the efforts to enact the Chad Meredith Act in 2005, which made hazing in high schools and colleges in Florida a first-degree misdemeanor when it creates a substantial risk of physical injury or death, escalating to a third-degree felony if the act results in serious bodily injury or death. Brother Hasner has attended many Fraternity events and spoke about the law and the dangers of hazing at the 2009 Emerging Leaders Institute.
Brother Hasner joins other Phis leading institutions such as Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, Creighton, president of Creighton since 2015; P. Barry Butler, PhD, Illinois ’79, who has been at the helm of Embry Riddle University since 2017; Santa Ono, PhD, British Columbia, president of the University of Michigan since 2022; and Dr. Chris W. Brussalis, Allegheny ’87, and Dr. Jay Bernhardt, Rutgers ’92, who respectively took their roles at Point Park University and Emerson College in 2023.
Although he started the role in 2023, Brother Brussalis was officially inaugurated in September 2024. In his first year, he boosted student enrollment by 10 percent, moved Point Park’s athletics to the Division II Mountain East Conference, and established the Center for Experiential Narrative Technologies. As the 67th President of the General Council and a driving force behind the Fraternity’s strategic plans, Phi Delt 2020 and 2030, it’s no surprise that Brother Brussalis is now pursuing a strategic vision to make Point Park a catalyst for revitalizing Downtown Pittsburgh by creating more living opportunities and leveraging their world-class Conservatory of Performing Arts.
We congratulate these brothers on their accomplishments and thank them for serving as role models for future generations of Phis on their individual journeys to fulfill their potential.
