By Dara Harper
When David Aitken ’94, G’97 first arrived at Syracuse University over 35 years ago, he couldn’t have imagined that Hendricks Chapel would shape his life.
Now, as the inaugural chair of the Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board, Aitken brings decades of engagement with the chapel as a student employee, building coordinator, parent, board member, and devoted alumnus to a role that will help shape its future as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2030.
“This is the center point for me of my connection to the university,” says Aitken, who graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1994 and earned a master’s degree from the School of Education in 1997. “While I’m a proud alum of Newhouse and the School of Education and a big Syracuse University fan, Hendricks Chapel is the heart of campus.”
Aitken’s journey with Hendricks Chapel began almost immediately upon his arrival on campus. In the spring of his first year, he started working as a proctor (now known as a Hospitality Associate) in the dean’s office under then-Dean Richard Phillips, a position Aitken describes as being “a little bit like being in an air traffic control tower because you see all of the different facets of what takes place here.”
From that vantage point, Aitken witnessed a full spectrum of chapel life: faith-based communities gathering, student organizations meeting, community service efforts launching, and countless programs and service bringing people together. He participated in the Interfaith Student Council (now known as the Student Association of Interfaith Leaders or SAIL) and joined a diverse group of students on a trip to Israel/Palestine in 1993. Even after graduating, he continued working at the chapel as a building and wedding coordinator through 1997.
The significance of Hendricks Chapel in David Aitken’s life is deeply personal. His mother’s memorial tree grows in the Orange Grove near the chapel, the closest available spot when he secured it through the Alumni Association. In 1992, Aitken nominated his parents for Parents of the Year, an honor they were awarded. His mother, who raised seven children and adopted three more, passed away 25 years ago this December, but her influence remains strong.
“Family, faith and friends are sort of what make us who we are,” Aitken reflects, “and I was very, very strongly influenced by my mother.”
The chapel connection has extended through generations of Aitken’s family. His nephew Brian worked at Hendricks Chapel while earning a master’s degree at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. More recently, David’s son Tyler graduated in 2025 from Newhouse after working at the chapel for three of his four years at Syracuse University.
Aitken has served on the advisory board since its founding, watching it evolve from a concept into an increasingly engaged and strategic body under the leadership of Dean Brian Konkol. This growth has been essential to the chapel’s success as the team prepares for its centennial celebration.
“Regardless of the day of the week, regardless of how challenging the outside world is and what’s taking place—whether it’s tragedy, whether it’s protests, whether it’s political issues, whatever the case may be—Hendricks Chapel is a constant calming voice and a place for people to be together,” he said. “Hendricks can help everyone through a difficult situation.”
As inaugural chair, Aitken plans to focus on several key priorities. Working closely with Dean Konkol and university leadership, he aims to formalize working committees around programs, marketing, student assistance, and the centennial anniversary.
But perhaps most importantly, Aitken emphasizes the importance of listening—to the Chancellor, the dean, the staff, the students, and the chaplains who serve the community.
“The most important thing to do is observe, listen and understand what Syracuse University students need,” he says. His proximity to campus as a Syracuse resident allows him to attend events and meetings, maintaining a pulse on the chapel and the broader campus.
Aitken brings a wealth of professional experience and a philosophy of continuous learning shaped by countless mentors. He believes in hard work, strategic planning, and bringing the right people together to study challenges carefully. “I’m a utility player,” he says. “I’m a simple guy.”
He also sees opportunity for growth in strengthening connections between the University and the broader Syracuse community, pointing to the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and more recent successes like the community singalong and the chapel’s involvement in the Syracuse International Jazz Fest. “The university and the community are inherently linked together” Aitken observes, “and I see that as an opportunity for growth.”
“David Aitken embodies the roots, reach, spirit, and soul of Hendricks Chapel and Syracuse University,” remarked Rev. Brian Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel. “As we journey toward the 100th anniversary of Hendricks Chapel in 2030, there is no better person to serve as the inaugural chair of the Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board, and I am left excited for our future.”
As Hendricks Chapel looks toward its second century, it does so under the board leadership of someone who has witnessed and participated in nearly four decades of its evolution. For Aitken, stewarding the advisory board represents not just a full-circle moment, but a continuation of a lifelong commitment to the place that has shaped his life and defined his connection to Syracuse University.
For more information about Hendricks Chapel of Syracuse University, visit the website or call 315.443.2901.