Pictured: Alpha Tau new brothers with the undergraduates from Alpha Nu at Muhlenberg

Zeta Beta Tau always strives to reach more and more college students each year, while standing by the traditions and history of the world’s first Jewish Fraternity. Recruitment is the lifeblood of ZBT, and the Fraternity’s international leadership has placed great emphasis on energizing our campuses!

ZBT is proud to share more on the eight new chapters started in the 2024-2025 year.

Interest Group successes

When the students – future ZBTs – drive the founding of a new chapter, the group starts with a great energy and positivity. ZBT welcomes interest outreach from students on campuses familiar and new. This is a prime opportunity for ZBT legacies!

• Franklin & Marshall: A ZBT legacy, Sam Hecker, Alpha Tau 2027, contacted the college and ZBT International Headquarters, and soon enough an Interest Group of Sam and his friends was nearer to becoming a chapter of Zeta Beta Tau. Since its first Founding Father Initiation in February, the Alpha Tau Prospective Chapter has gotten involved in campus, particularly with Jewish life and Chabad; hosted an alumni barbecue; and hosted a ZBTahiti themed drive for Gift of Life.
• West Virginia: No ZBT at the WVU campus didn’t stop now-Brother Evan Means, 2028, from carrying on his dad’s Brotherhood for a Lifetime connection. Since re-founding ZBT’s group in Morgantown last fall, the Prospective Chapter has attended several ZBT national programs to meet other brothers, gotten involved across campus, grown, and hosted their first brotherhood banquet to close the academic year.
• Stephen F. Austin State: The strong alumni brotherhood of his father inspired Travis Gilliland, Zeta Lambda 2028, to work to bring ZBT back to the university. The new group was initiated in March. They love the outdoors and hanging out as ZBTs.
• Florida State: Re-starting in 2023, the same sense of legacy brotherhood drove Founding Father Zach Marks, Zeta Alpha 2026, to be interested in ZBT. This group has grown to over 40 men and is doing well at Florida State. It is likely they will celebrate their Chartering in the next academic year.

ZBT takes great pride in growing our family. Know a legacy? Please send their names to ZBT, as we follow up with the chapters and campuses where these students are matriculating. If an alumnus or friend doesn’t provide notice on a legacy, our chapters may not know.

Friends of ZBTs and general knowledge

ZBT has an incredible reputation in the interfraternal world. Often, a campus or some students wants to grow the Jewish community on campus through a fraternity, and ZBT is the best choice to combine a Greek and Jewish group for today’s student.

• UNC-Wilmington: A group of Jewish men sought fraternity experience through ZBT due to our values and heritage. They are a phenomenal new chapter, started in February, participating in community service and philanthropy events, and representing their brotherhood well at ZBT national programs. This is the first time ZBT has ever had a chapter at Wilmington.
• Albany: There has been interest in bringing back the Epsilon Gamma Chapter with its alumni connections since the group was unfortunately closed a few years ago. After a push with the university in early spring, ZBT was able to initiate more than 20 new brothers into the Chapter in March. Welcome ZBT’s newest Prospective Chapter.

History in the making

The Mu Chapter at Georgia is one of the oldest Jewish fraternity chapters in the country. ZBT’s Phi Chapter at Michigan is the home of thousands of alumni, several of which are very prominent in the ZBT realm, such as Past International President Richard (Dick) S. Simon, Phi 1943, of blessed memory.

Both of these groups are in the early stages of growth, working with ZBT staff and alumni to recruit brothers. A full Prospective Chapter for each will open in Fall 2025. If any alumni have connections or would like to assist in this process, please reach out to ZBT IHQ.

Fall 2025

ZBT will be expanding at three more campuses in the fall – it’s going to be a great year! We welcome referrals and connections at The Ohio State University (Nu Chapter), Loyola-Chicago and Kennesaw State University.

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