Introduction

The Phi Beta Kappa Society is the oldest preeminent collegiate honor society for the liberal arts in the United States. Established in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, Phi Beta Kappa now comprises 270 chapters throughout the United States. Induction into Phi Beta Kappa represents a strong love of learning through diligence and academic merit.

In 1994, the American University Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, Zeta of Washington, D.C., was founded. It is a force for the three goods indicated by the stars in the upper left corner of the Society's key: Friendship, Morality, and Literature. The pointing hand in the lower corner of the key symbolizes aspiration. On the reverse, the letters S and P represent the second name of the society, Societas Philosophiae, which translates as "the society of the love of knowledge." American University is well suited to cultivate the virtues of Phi Beta Kappa. With the intimacy of a smaller college and strong intellectual enterprises, students at American University are able to pursue rewarding studies in the liberal arts.

Selection Procedure

Election is highly selective. It is based on performance as measured by GPA in liberal arts courses. All other courses (for example, pre-professional classes or internships) are excluded from the calculation. Students from most programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as from the School of International Service and School of Public Affairs, are potentially eligible, provided the number of credits and GPA for liberal arts courses are sufficient. Students enrolled in majors in the School of Communication, the Kogod School of Business, and the School of Education are not eligible unless they have a second major in a qualifying liberal arts program. Induction represents lifetime membership. Students must have 75 percent of their work in liberal arts courses and at least 60 credits earned in courses at American University. Students who are eligible either in their junior or more often senior year will be notified during spring semester if elected. There are no applications.

 

Dinner and Induction Ceremony

Each spring American University's Zeta Chapter welcomes new members through a dinner in their honor. This dinner is followed a few weeks later by the induction ceremony, which takes place the Saturday before graduation. Parents, friends, and faculty members are invited to attend both the induction ceremony and the reception that follows.

 

Officers and Contact Information

Faculty and staff representing many departments and schools are members of American University's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.The chapter's current officers are:

Historian: Dr. Robert Griffith
Secretary: Dr. Karen Bushaw-Newton
Treasurer: Mr. Brock Brady
Vice President: Dr. Patricia Sykes
President: Dr. Anthony L. Riley

For more information please contact either of the following:

Vivian Feggans, feggans@american.edu, Senior Administrator, College of Arts and Sciences, ph: 202-885-2447

Dr. Karen Bushaw-Newton, bushaw@american.edu, Department of Biology and Environmental Studies, ph: 202-885-2203

 

Congratulations 2007-8 Inductees!

Tiffany Anderson Alicia Arnold Brittany Aubin Kelsey Ayres Brittany Bond Jacob Bourgeois Sarah Burke Alaina Chamberlain Marissa Chmiola Denise Crivello Marjorie Dieter Jonathan Duncan Ryan Else Alicia Fierro Amy Frame Lesley Fredin Anna-Claire Friedlander Joshua Garvin Charlotte Gerard Sarah Goldberg Emily Goldberg Laura Goodwin Daniel Greeley Melinda Hall Kenneth Hammitt Sonya Hetrick Rachel Hitow

Russell Hull Nathan Hunerwadel Madison Iannone Aleksander Ivanov Katelyn Jennings Ronald Jones, Jr. Lisa Katsir Chad Kistler Kathryn Kuhn Stephanie LaPorte Lindsey Marburger Meghan Mason Travis McArthur Constance McCarney Megan McGirt Casey McNeill Mark Meyer Alexander Mikulsky Melissa Miranda David Moak Michelle Moy Vanessa Mueller Nawal Mustafa Craig Nadeau My Nguyen Miroslav Nikolov Emily Noll

Soyen Park Marieta Pehlivanova Robin Pohlman Holly Polish Alexandra Rice Blair Rinne Katie Rotella Kathryn Ryan Jordan Segall Amanda Seibel Colleen Smith Vanessa Stevens Jennifer Taber Mara Theophila Katharine Thirion Emily Thomas Erin Turner Lauren Turner John Tylwalk Emily Venturato Nicole Vitale Susanna Weber Ashley Westerman Ryan Williams Rachel Wise Kathryn Young

 

 

Current Faculty & Staff Members

Patricia Aufderheide Naomi Baron Robin Barr John Benjamin Robert Blecker Brock Brady Deborah Brautigam Richard Breitman Robin Broad Norma Broude Karen Bushaw-Newton Linda Chase David Crosby Nathan Dietz Robert Dinerstein Lynn Fox Mary Garrard Mary Gray

Robert Griffith Mark Hager Jane Hall Lavelma Hughes Patrick Jackson Alan Kraut Peter Kuznik Elizabeth Lang William LeoGrande Robert Lerman Allan Lichtman Jonathan Loesberg David Lublin Linda Lubrano James May Mieke Meurs Binny Miller Kermit Moyer

Shoon Murray Kay Mussell Andrew Pike Jamin Raskin Jeffrey Reiman Sally Reynolds Anthony Riley Ira Robbins Roberta Rubenstein Teemu Ruskola Bradley Schiller Susan Sherzer Leonard Steinhorn Patricia Sykes Robert Vaughn Paul Wapner Donald Williamson Alfred Zuck