McKenzie Pendry: Fraternity/Sorority Life and Conflict/Crisis Resolution Consultant
On this episode of the ForCollegeForLife Podcast, we’re introducing you to McKenzie Pendry, a consultant and educator helping fraternity and sorority communities rethink culture, accountability, and what values-based leadership actually looks like in practice.
Drawing from nearly a decade of experience working with collegians nationwide, McKenzie specializes in leadership development, equity and inclusion, men and masculinities, and organizational health. Her work challenges communities to move beyond reactive conversations about risk and instead intentionally create environments where accountability, compassion, and healthier cultural norms can thrive.
Throughout the conversation, McKenzie discusses how hazing behaviors are often embedded into our culture long before students ever join fraternities or sororities. We unpack how middle school, athletics, extracurricular activities, and social environments can normalize harmful behaviors and shape the ways students understand belonging, leadership, and acceptance.
The episode also explores the importance of telling the full story of where fraternity and sorority life has been and how that history informs where communities need to go next. McKenzie shares why culture change requires more than policies and programming, especially in organizations constantly experiencing member turnover through graduation and recruitment.
We also discuss the importance of intentional and sustainable recruitment practices and how the people organizations choose to bring into their communities ultimately shape long-term chapter health, accountability, and culture.
Through research, storytelling, and practical insight, McKenzie challenges listeners to think critically about how fraternity and sorority communities can better live into the values they were founded upon while creating safer, healthier, and more authentic experiences for students.
Learn more about McKenzie's programs at: ForCollegeForLife.com/McKenzie [https://ForCollegeForLife.com/McKenzie]