Kappa Theta Pi (KTP) featured member: Julianne Frary, active member

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Information, ‘23, focusing on Information Analysis

Home: Ambler, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia

Goal of organization: Kappa Theta Pi is a co-ed fraternity founded at the University of Michigan and is the first professional technology fraternity in the country. The Alpha Chapter of Kappa Theta Pi at the University of Michigan strives to bring together students of different backgrounds including informatics, computer science, business, design, computer engineering and information and provides academic, professional, technological, and personal support for all members. Through project teams, study groups, professional development workshops, and everything in between, the brothers of KTP are supported and encouraged to pursue opportunities related to their passions for technology. 

Why I’m involved: As someone who has always had a passion for technology, I wanted to find an organization on campus that reflected that, but also reflected values I hold for myself. When I attended an open house, I saw a lot of these values, including friendship, empathy, loyalty, and not taking yourself too seriously. I also loved the diversity within KTP and wanted a community outside of my immediate circle of friends at the University of Michigan. 

Membership: Anyone is welcome to rush. KTP gladly accepts and encourages rushees from all backgrounds. The only requirement is that you must have at least three semesters left after your pledging semester, so you can get the most out of KTP. There are 84 brothers and 16 current pledges.

Noteworthy: The people. It is so amazing to be a part of an organization of people who all share the same passion for technology. KTP is a community of diverse brothers who all strive to support each other through thick and thin. Every brother is always there and willing to help with job recruiting, schoolwork, or even just there to chat. I have never seen a community as tightly knit as KTP, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.

A good reason to join: Meeting people from so many different backgrounds and still being able to find a connection with each brother.

Important events/activities: Professional development is a large part of KTP. The fraternity offers several workshops to ensure that all brothers are prepared with their resumes, LinkedIns, and any career-based opportunities. In addition to professional development, KTP offers a plethora of committees specifically focused on tech-related topics including app development, user-experience design, ethics of tech, and many more. Most importantly, the organization’s main goal is for brothers to bond and find connections to each other. 

Meetings and activities: The meetings and activities are more fun than anything else. There is no pressure to perform a certain way and brothers are always open and welcoming to curious minds.

Time commitment: The amount of time depends on how involved a member would like to be. There are several events every week, and while brothers are encouraged to attend them, there is no requirement. I would say a typical member spends about four to six hours a week on KTP-related activities. 

Interesting project: Last semester, KTP conducted a KTPalooza event, which consisted of teams completing a list of tasks and games and getting the most points to be the final winner. It allowed brothers to bond with each other, with a little friendly competition, in a fun and lighthearted way. 

How to get involved: If a student is interested in rushing, they go through a series of open and closed rush events. The open rush events include open house, a DEI Panel, virtual resume and application office hours, and meet & greets. Once the open rush events are over and applications are due, a rushee may or may not be invited to continue to closed rush for the final process of joining KTP. 

More information: https://kappathetapi.com/contact.html

Kappa Theta Pi is the only coed Professional Technology Fraternity at the University of Michigan. We pride ourselves on diversity and passion. KTP is built on three pillars of development: professional, technical and social. We offer exclusive recruiting events, resume workshops, web and mobile development skill training, professional photography, leadership roles, community service, study groups, networking, and social events. Email: [email protected]