“Become the greatest version of yourself,” reads Phi Delta Theta’s mission.
When Idaho Governor Brad Little attended UI in the ‘70s, he joined Phi Delta Theta, a fraternity that still thrives on campus. After graduating, he went on to serve as an Idaho state senator for eight years and Idaho lieutenant governor for ten years. He now serves as governor, after winning last year’s election .
Little spoke with members of UI’s Greek community about leadership Monday afternoon at the “Greek to Governor” event.
Little shared stories about his family, his life on campus and how his time at UI influenced his work life. He spent a semester in Washington, D.C. interning for the joint finance and appropriation committee, where he learned how finances work in the political world. Little only took one political science class while he was at UI — he graduated with a degree in animal science and agribusiness.
“The message here is go ahead and stay in your major, but reach out a little bit,” Little said. “Pick something that’s a little different because that’s what an education is about, being able to look at some of those decisions through a different lens.”
Little answered questions from the audience for the latter half of the event. When asked about important leadership traits, Little emphasized the importance of understanding what is important to those he wants to lead, finding a mentor within the organization he wants to lead and learning to compromise with those you work with.
“Nobody’s style is the same,” Little said. “The last thing you want to do is not create your own style. You need to learn from those mentors, but you need to learn where you’re comfortable in your own skin because what you want to know from a leader is ‘I know how you voted or acted while I was standing here, I want to know when I go home, when I’m gone, how are you going to act?’ That’s what’s incredibly important.”
Interfraternity Council President James Trayford credited College Panhellic Council Vice President of Membership Development Robi Salisbury and IFC Director of Membership Development Cody Flynn with taking the initiative on organizing the event.
Salisbury said the Greek community aims to bring strong leaders, preferably alumni, to teach Vandal Greek students more about leadership.
“One of the core values of all of our fraternities and sororities is civic engagement,” Trayford said. “To have Brad Little, the politician, the governor of the state of Idaho come talk, it just speaks to our devotion to civic engagement, civic leadership and involvement in the community.”
Little said he believes in doing what is right, regardless of what action may be popular in the moment. He advocated that the young Greeks around him do the same.
“The right thing is still the right thing,” Little said. “(Even if) it’s popular at home, the right thing is still the right thing. I hope I take that with me my whole career.”
Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]