By Bradley Radu / Staff Writer

After two years helping rebuild and expand Greek Life at Missouri Valley University, Austin Kostelnik is preparing to leave Valley for a new opportunity at the University of Missouri.

During his time as coordinator of Greek Life, Kostelnik said the Greek community grew from seven members in one organization to four organizations with more than 70 members involved across campus.

When Kostelnik first stepped into the position, Theta Phi Alpha was the only active organization with approximately seven members. During the following two years, he worked with organizations attempting to return to campus, helped develop chapters establish themselves and worked to expand Greek involvement at MVU.

For Kostelnik, however, the biggest accomplishment was not simply increasing membership numbers.

“Building relationships,” Kostelnik said. “All the Greeks, a lot of the fraternity and sorority members, are like family to me.”

Those relationships are also what he expects to miss most when he leaves.

Kostelnik graduated from Missouri Valley in 2023 before later returning to work at the university. Coming back gave him the opportunity to work at the same institution where he had spent four years as a student.

He said Valley’s close-knit environment became one of the most important parts of his experience.

“Valley is what you make of it,” Kostelnik said. “Do nothing and it’ll be nothing. Do everything and it will be everything.”

That philosophy became part of how Kostelnik approached Greek Life. Rather than viewing involvement as something that happens automatically, he encouraged students to build relationships, become active on campus and create opportunities for themselves and their organizations.

Director of Student Activities James Rowlett described Kostelnik as someone who excelled at forming those relationships.

“He’s great at his job and making connections,” Rowlet said.

Kostelnik credited the students involved in Greek Life for the progress made during his time in the position.

“All the success that we’ve had so far is all because of them, not because of me,” Kostelnik said. “I got to be where I get this opportunity because of them.”

He said he was happy to play a role in the growth, but believes the students themselves are responsible for creating the community that now exists.

They are truly the reasons why we have so much success here, Kostelnik said. I just was happy to be a part of it.

Kostelnik will continue working with Greek organizations in his next position at the University of Missouri. There, he said he will advise the Interfraternity Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council.

The move also represents the next step in a career Kostelnik said he was not originally sure he wanted.

When he first took his position at Valley, Kostelnik said he did not know whether higher education or working with students was the career path for him. His experience at MVU changed that.

“I didn’t know if I wanted to be in higher ed, and I didn’t know if I wanted to work with students,” Kostelnik said.

He credited former Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Terry Russell helped him discover a passion for the work.

“I had a great mentor in Dr. Russell who showed me the beauty of it, and I found a true passion here,” Kostelnik said.

Kostelnik also credited the people he worked alongside for making his time at Valley meaningful. He described the relationships he built with colleagues and students as something that will be difficult to replace.

“We have a lot of talent here, Kostelnik said. We have a lot of great students, we have a lot of great people.”

No replacement for the Greek Life position had been selected at the time of Kostelnik’s interview. Kostelnik said he expects the university to post the position and expressed confidence that Valley will select the right person to continue working with the Greek community.

As he prepares to leave, Kostelnik’s message to students involved in Greek Life is to continue what they have already started.

“Stay connected,” Kostelnik said. Keep showing love in the community, on campus, and keep growing and keep expanding your horizons.”

Although he is leaving for a new opportunity, Kostelnik said his connection to Missouri Valley will remain.

“I will always continue to support the growth of Missouri Valley University to the day I die,” Kostelnik said.