Dan Scott – A familiar face to lead the Educational Foundation and ensure the future of Pi Lambda Phi
Dan Scott (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ’89), a proven leader of our fraternity, welcomes the challenges of directing the financial future of Pi Lambda Phi as the new President of the Educational Foundation.
As president of the International Executive Council (IEC) for two terms from 2006-2010 and 2016-2022, Dan steered the fraternity through some trying times. There were serious financial challenges, waning membership, and attrition. During his tenure, the fraternity did a number of things to encourage consistency and expectations, including setting merit-based standards for the brotherhood that helped with reputation and retention.
Dan also served as a trustee of the Educational Foundation and praised the work of his predecessor, Gary Sanders, who diligently served for seven years as the president.
Goals for the Foundation
Dan has a vision of expansion and growth for Pi Lambda Phi to ensure the future of our fraternity and enable future generations to enjoy the Pilam experience. He wants to support an aggressive plan of expansion and re-establishment of chapters that have closed.
Re-establishing chapters and expansion to new campuses requires support and funding. Sometimes it can take years to get accepted, and when we do, we have to put “boots on the ground” to recruit and educate new brothers.
Dan hopes to build an environment for the Foundation that celebrates Pilam spirit and encourages alumni support to the point where Pilam can become more efficient and independent in fundraising. To make more connections and commitments, Dan envisions growing our own internal resources who understand what the Pilam experience means, and can better connect with alumni.
He believes the key is reaching our network of brothers who want to make sure that the fraternity that they cherish is not only existing, but flourishing.
Why Pilam became an important part of his life
Dan admitted that his interest in Pilam started as a family matter saying, “My sister was dating a Pilam brother. So she took me to the house and said, ‘These are my friends, and you should join this fraternity.’ I didn’t know much about fraternities, but I liked the brothers I met and decided to join. I loved it, and had a great time in college.”
For Dan, like many brothers, the ideals and the Creed became more important as he experienced brotherhood. He said, “When you learn about the Creed and the fraternity, you adopt those ideals, and you realize that’s how you should be living your life.”
Dan said his experiences in Pilam, “helped me come into my own. I gained a lot of confidence, and grew to become more of a leader.” That turned into a lifelong process of self-reflection and understanding what it took to be a better leader.
He never lost touch with his brothers
Dan said, “I have very close ties with a number of my Pilam brothers. I’m still in touch with a ton of people. I still have a monthly poker game with my classmates. A group of nine of us hosts on a monthly basis.” They’ve been doing this for 30 years.
He’s excited for the potential of the Foundation supporting the return of his own chapter in the next few years.
About Dan and some of his accolades
Dan resides in Northbrook, Illinois with his wife and three daughters. He practices real estate and personal injury law in his practice, Chepov & Scott, LLC.
Dan is earnest in his vision for the fraternity and joked, “I know I’m an attorney, but I usually am pretty honest.”
For his contributions to the fraternity he received the Pi Lambda Phi Council Key in 2008, and Diamond Chip 2022. In 2011, he received the Edward Goldman Alumnus Achievement Award.
Please join us in welcoming Dan’s “not four years, but a lifetime” commitment to Pi Lambda Phi, and the good fortune his leadership will bring the Educational Foundation.