Brady Poisal did not inherit a thriving fraternity. He inherited a problem.
When the Phi Gamma Delta chapter at Illinois Wesleyan University had dwindled to just 10 members, Poisal — a Political Science major from Tremont, Illinois, with minors in Psychology and Pre-Law — did not look for an easy fix. He developed a strategic recruitment and engagement plan that cut across multiple student organizations and stakeholder groups, and within a single academic year, he had grown the chapter from ten men to fifty.
“It made me one of the best leaders I could be,” Poisal said of the experience. “I had to learn how to lead and rebuild an entire organization, and so it taught me what persistence and hard work truly looks like as a leader.”
That lesson carried him directly to the Student Senate, where Poisal now serves as President of the student government at Illinois Wesleyan. The same instincts that saved his chapter — strategic thinking, relentless outreach, and a willingness to do the unglamorous work — define how he approaches campus governance.
Ditching the Slogans
For students at smaller institutions who aspire to student government leadership, Poisal has a pointed message: forget the campaign slogans.
“For a small campus, ditch the slogans and develop real connections,” he said. “Face-to-face talking with people helps the most out of anything. Develop those people skills and use your relationships from groups and organizations.”
It is a philosophy rooted in authenticity rather than political theater — and one that reflects a broader truth about fraternity and sorority membership. The relationship-building, the uncomfortable conversations, the learning to speak and listen inside a chapter — these are not soft skills. They are the core competencies of effective representation.
Poisal’s tenure in the Senate has already produced tangible results. Among his most significant accomplishments: the passage of a resolution pushing for Affordable Course Materials in the classroom — a policy win that directly reduces the financial burden on students across the university.
Saying Yes
Poisal credits much of his trajectory to a single habit: saying yes.
“You have to say yes,” he said. “Yes to trying new things, to meeting new people, to public speaking, to doing something that seems scary. It’s the only way you can be a true and vocal leader for an entire campus.”
That orientation toward growth extends to how he builds his team. His advice for anyone stepping into student government is to prioritize surrounding themselves with leaders who will challenge them. “Build a team of good leaders that have diverse experiences and will challenge you to be the best version of yourself,” he said.
Outside the Senate chamber, Poisal serves as a Resident Advisor, sits on the Senior Class Committee, and edits the Political Science Journal — a workload that reflects the same ethos of full engagement that has defined his time at Illinois Wesleyan.
Standing on Shoulders
One of the most mature pieces of counsel Poisal offers is also one of the most frequently overlooked: honor what came before you.
“Look at what those who came before you have done,” he said. “Use their success and build off it because at the end of the day, you’re there for only a year in this type of role, so you can only just push the needle in the right direction. Also, trust those that have been there for some time and take their advice. If they’re giving you honest, unfiltered advice, that’s the stuff you want the most.”
It is a philosophy of stewardship — one that recognizes student leadership not as a personal platform but as a link in a longer institutional chain. The same principle, it turns out, applies to fraternity membership: every generation of men inherits something, and every generation has an obligation to leave it better than they found it.
What Comes Next
After graduation, Poisal plans to take his experience in student advocacy to Washington, D.C., pursuing a career in public policy and public interest work. The path from a ten-man chapter to the Capitol — built on persistence, relationships, and a willingness to do hard things — is exactly the kind of pipeline the ENGAGE initiative was designed to support.
His chapter’s motto says it simply: Do Well, Do Good.
For Brady Poisal, that has never been just a phrase on a wall. It has been a mandate.
