Written By: Chris Carter The Executive Office of Sigma Pi Fraternity, International would like to congratulate PGS Dr. Robert L. Burns (Delta-Phi, Wisconsin-La Crosse ’71) on being recognized with the Alumni Award of Distinction by the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). The Alumni Award of Distinction recognizes the fraternity man who has given of his time, talents, and service to the betterment of the Fraternity. The service can be given at the local, regional, or national level.
Each year the NIC seeks to recognize outstanding contributions to the fraternal movement. In a year where a record number of nominations were received, the NIC is proud to recognize the recipients of this year’s Awards of Distinction.
PGS Burns is a charter member of Delta-Phi Chapter, and was first elected to the Grand Council as Grand Herald in 1976. He served as Grand Sage from 1979 through 1982, has served as Faculty Adviser, Chapter Director, Province Archon, and on numerous Fraternity boards and committees. He was presented with The Founders Award in 2006.
Dr. Burns is retired from a career in higher education that included roles as student, tenured faculty, Deans,Vice Presidents, Provost, as the founding director of a planning consortium of five of Wisconsin’s comprehensive universities. Additionally, he held the position of President of two public institutions. His career achievements have had significant impact especially in Kentucky, Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska, Florida, and Washington, D.C. He was the American Editor of The William Wilberforce Papers, an Anglo-American scholarly project funded by universities and foundations in this country and in Great Britain.
In retirement, he continues serving as a consultant in higher education administration, venture capital programs, economic development, organizational management, inter-agency cooperation/development, and in local, state, and federal lobbying. Burns has wide experience with numerous non-profit organizations at the state, regional and national levels, including board memberships and chairmanships. He has served two terms on the Board of Directors of the NIC.
NIC President & CEO, Pete Smithhisler commended the award recipients and nominators saying, “The Awards of Distinction provide excellent examples of the fraternity experience done right. From undergraduates and chapters to alumni, these awards give the fraternal movement a measure of success and goal for further development. The NIC is incredibly proud of the hard work of these fraternity men.”
Sigma Pi Fraternity was founded in 1897 at Vincennes University, in Vincennes, Ind. Our Executive Office is located in Lebanon, Tenn. The Fraternity is one of the top men’s collegiate organizations in North America, with more than 120 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada. With over 101,000 alumni and 5,000 undergraduates, our men strive for excellence by living our core values to promote fellowship, develop character and leadership, advance heightened moral awareness, enable academic achievement, and inspire service. Sigma Pi is the only Greek-letter organization with an international service program, The ACE Project, specifically designed to give back to our host institutions.