Fourth Estate/ Jamie Gholson

Exploring the impact of Theta Tau on Mason’s engineering program and its students

BY JAMIE GHOLSON

Theta Tau, a co-ed engineering fraternity at Mason, is committed to fostering professionalism and service among STEM students, and establishes efforts to create a supportive community for all students in STEM-related fields. 

Theta Tau was established at Mason in 2008, and the university’s chapter leans heavily into service, brotherhood and professional development. The fraternity’s mission is “to develop an engineer that is well rounded, social and can network while working well with others,” senior Samuel Hever, rush chair member said.

The fraternity’s goal is to give back to their community through different projects. Mason’s chapter creates hygiene kits for unhoused people in Washington D.C. They are also a part of Habitat for Humanity where they help build houses in Florida.  

For Hever, Theta Tau influenced him to give back to the community. As a volunteer firefighter in Dale City, Va. he has completed more than 600 hours of community service in the last two semesters.  

Theta Tau is not only limited to fraternity members. They encourage STEM students at Mason to join and are open to all students interested.  

Sophomore Shriya Pasyavala, risk management member, said that despite being in a male-dominated field, Theta Tau has made her feel welcomed and equal amongst her peers. As an organization, Theta Tau wants more women to become a part of the family.  

“Theta Tau has made me feel welcomed despite engineering being a male-dominated field…  They treat me the same as they treat everyone else,” Pasyavala said. “Overall, I feel accepted and valued within the group.”

Pasyavala encourages women to join STEM-related fields and not feel intimidated. She says it is  important to recognize that women’s perspectives are valuable and joining a supportive community like Theta Tau can help them make meaningful connections and learn from fellow engineers.  

Senior Shashank Moola, vice president and tech chair, considers Theta Tau a family. Engineering students tend to carry a heavy academic load and often feel stressed. Oftentimes, there isn’t a lot of time to connect and make friends. Theta Tau helps members come out of their shells and become social with others who understand their struggles, according to Moola.  

Members value professional development and use their connections with alumni to connect with the outside world. The Alumni Advisory Board for Theta Tau focuses on recruitment, alumni relations and resume workshops to help them succeed after they graduate. 

As Mason’s engineering program grows, the hope is that Theta Tau will grow as well. STEM students at Mason are encouraged to join the fraternity in order to help prosper during and after college. 

Theta Tau offers a lifetime of meaningful connections, and members see the fraternity as a lasting lifeline with fellow STEM majors.  

For those who are interested in joining, or for more information about Theta Tau, visit their website here.