Chapter Advisor

A Letter From Our Chapter Advisor

My name is Matt Montgomery, and I am a 2004 Beta Kappa initiate and a 2008 graduate of the University of Oklahoma.

A born-and-bred Okie from Purcell, I came to OU as a triple legacy of Beta Kappa and am now a fourth-generation graduate of Oklahoma on both sides of my family. Sigma Chi and the University of Oklahoma have always been a significant part of my family and my life, so becoming a member of Beta Kappa was something that carried a great deal of meaning for me from the very beginning.

After graduation, I stayed in Norman and transitioned into an Assistant Chapter Advisor role. I became the Chapter Advisor full-time in 2011 and remained in that role until 2015. Since 2021, I have also been a member of the Housing Corporation, and in April of this year, I returned to the Chapter Advisor role. Coming back to a position that meant so much to me as a young alumnus has been incredibly rewarding and has reminded me of just how important Sigma Chi continues to be in my life.

Sigma Chi was one of the most important and meaningful parts of my college experience. When I joined the fraternity, I was looking for a sense of community, friendship, and an opportunity to meet people who shared similar values, but I gained much more than I ever expected. Sigma Chi quickly became more than just an organization I was a member of; it became a place where I developed some of the strongest friendships of my life and a community that helped shape who I am today. My brothers were there for me during some of the best moments of college, but they were also there during the more difficult and uncertain times. The experiences we shared, the traditions we built, and even the everyday moments of living and spending time together created memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

More importantly, Sigma Chi taught me the importance of loyalty, trust, accountability, humility, and being willing to support the people around you. It gave me a genuine sense of belonging and showed me how powerful a group of people can be when they are committed to one another and to something bigger than themselves. Those lessons have stayed with me well beyond my college years and have influenced the way I approach my personal relationships, professional career, and responsibilities to others.

My experience in Sigma Chi also played a significant role in my personal development and helped me become a better leader. Through my involvement in the chapter, I had opportunities to take on responsibility, work with people with different personalities and perspectives, solve problems, and learn from both successes and mistakes. I learned that leadership is not simply about holding a position or being the person in charge. It is about earning the trust of others, setting an example, taking responsibility when things do not go as planned, and being willing to put the needs of the organization and the people around you ahead of your own. Those are lessons that I continue to carry with me today.

That is why serving as a Chapter Advisor is so important to me. Sigma Chi had a tremendous impact on my life, and I believe one of the best ways I can give back is by helping provide current and future members with the same opportunities that I was fortunate enough to have. I remember what it was like to be a young member trying to navigate college, friendships, leadership responsibilities, academics, and the many decisions that come with becoming an adult. Having older members and mentors who could provide perspective and guidance made a difference in my life, and I want to be able to serve in that role for the next generation of brothers.

Having already served as Chapter Advisor, I also understand the responsibility that comes with the position. I want young members to know that they have someone they can turn to when they need advice, perspective, or simply someone willing to listen. I want to be a resource for them without trying to make their experience my own. Every generation of Sigma Chi brothers will have different challenges, opportunities, and experiences, and part of my role is to help them navigate those experiences while allowing them to learn and grow on their own.

As a Chapter Advisor, I hope to help members understand that their experience in Sigma Chi can be about much more than their four years of college. It can be an opportunity to develop the leadership, communication, accountability, and relationship-building skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives. I want to encourage members to challenge themselves, take on leadership opportunities, learn from their mistakes, and make decisions that will benefit both themselves and the chapter. At the same time, I understand that advising is not about telling young members what to do. It is about listening, asking the right questions, providing perspective when it is needed, and helping them become the best versions of themselves.

Ultimately, serving as a Chapter Advisor is a meaningful opportunity for me to give back to an organization that has given so much to me and my family. I am incredibly grateful for the friendships, experiences, leadership opportunities, and lessons that Sigma Chi provided during my college years. My connection to Beta Kappa has now spanned more than two decades, and it is something I value deeply. I want to help ensure that future members have the opportunity to experience that same sense of brotherhood, belonging, and personal growth.

If I can help even a few young members become more confident leaders, make better decisions, build meaningful relationships, or simply have a more rewarding college experience, I would consider that a tremendous privilege. Sigma Chi played an important role in shaping the person I am today. Having the opportunity to now give back, mentor young members, and help shape the future of Beta Kappa is something I do not take for granted. I am proud to be a Sigma Chi, proud to be a Beta Kappa, and grateful for the opportunity to help carry that brotherhood forward for the next generation.