Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors names Georgia Southern Associate Dean recipient of distinguished service award
Georgia Southern University’s Associate Dean of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Francisco M. Lugo, Ed.D., was named one of five recipients of the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors’ (AFA) 2026 Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award.
“If you had told this kid from San Juan, Puerto Rico, that one day he would be in Chicago receiving the Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award, I’m not sure he would have believed you,” Lugo explained. “My fraternity and sorority journey began in the Midwest, first at the University of Dayton and later as a new professional at Miami University. Returning to the Midwest for this recognition during AFA’s 50th anniversary makes it a truly full-circle moment.”
Presented annually, the award recognizes individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the advancement of AFA through membership and volunteer service while also contributing broadly to the fraternity and sorority profession or its body of knowledge. The 2026 recognition is especially significant as AFA celebrates its 50th anniversary and five decades of service to the fraternity and sorority profession.
Lugo, who has served the students of Georgia Southern since 2013, has spent more than a decade strengthening and advancing the University’s vibrant fraternity and sorority community.
“I’m most proud of the community we have built at Georgia Southern and the students and advisors who continue to shape it. Their commitment to leadership, service, mentorship and something larger than themselves is what makes our fraternity and sorority community so vibrant,” Lugo said.
His dedication to the fraternity and sorority profession extends beyond Georgia Southern. He has served on the AFA Board of Directors and held leadership roles with the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO). He currently serves as Chair of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Fraternity and Sorority Knowledge Community.
Lugo is also a member of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He previously served as the executive director and now serves on the fraternity’s Board of Trustees and as a trustee for The 1931 Foundation, its educational foundation. Additionally, in 2025, Sigma Nu Fraternity named him Campus Advisor of the Year for his work with Georgia Southern’s Theta Kappa Chapter.
He holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of New England as well as a Master of Education in College Student Personnel and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Communication from the University of Dayton.
Recipients will be recognized beginning on Monday, Oct. 5, during AFA’s Awards and Recognition Week. Toward the end of the year, awards will be presented to each winner at the AFA Annual Meeting in Chicago from Dec. 2 to 5.
Lugo said, “This recognition allows me to reflect on the people and experiences that have shaped my journey while also motivating me to keep moving the work forward. I’m excited about the continued growth of fraternity and sorority life at Georgia Southern and the opportunity to help students find belonging, develop as leaders and make a meaningful impact.”