2012 ΦBK Video Series: "Who's Minding the Chicken Coop?" from Joe Mathewson
Joseph D. Mathewson is a former Wall Street Journal reporter and the author of The Supreme Court and the Press: The Indispensable Conflict (Northwestern University Press, 2011). He covered the Court for the Journal, later practiced law in Chicago, and is an assistant professor of media law and journalism at Northwestern University. He's also the author of Up Against Daley (Open Court, 1974), about Chicago politics. Mathewson currently writes for The Chicago History Journal about historical Supreme Court cases that emanated from Chicago and the prominent lawyers who argued them. He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as an undergraduate at Dartmouth College, and earned his J.D. at the University of Chicago Law School.
Here, Mathewson notes the shrinking newspaper coverage and paucity of editorial commentary about recent Supreme Court decisions, many of which have limited individual rights. He identifies this phenomenon as a failing that undermines newspapers' traditional commitment to individual rights.
To receive the next ΦBK Video Series installment straight to your inbox, please e-mail our Coordinator of Communications.
2012 ΦBK Video Series: "Iran: Recent History and Current Tensions," from Jamsheed Choksy
Jamsheed Choksy is a professor of Central Eurasian studies, history and India studies, and an adjunct professor of religious studies at Indiana University. He is a current member of the National Council on the Humanities. Choksy has held fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. He has received grants from the American Academy of Religion, American Council of Learned Societies, American Numismatic Society and Social Science Research Council. He has been consulted by UNESCO, the United States Department of State, the National Geographic Society and been cited in print and broadcast media reports on contemporary, historical, and religious questions. Choksy is the author of three books: Evil, Good, and Gender: Facets of the Feminine in Zoroastrian Religious History (Peter Lang Publishing, 2002), Purity and Pollution in Zoroastrianism: Triumph over Evil (University of Texas Press, 1989), and Conflict and Cooperation: Zoroastrian Sub-alterns and Muslim Elites in Medieval Iranian Society (Columbia University Press, 1997). Choksy's research examines the development of sectarian communities in Central Asia, the Near East, and South Asia—where he has traveled extensively—through interdisciplinary approaches involving anthropology, archeology, history, languages, linguistics, literatures, numismatics, and religious studies.
In this video, Choksy discusses the evolution of modern Iran and examines the motivations for the current government's political actions and reactions.
To receive the next Phi Beta Kappa Video Series installment straight to your inbox, please e-mail our Coordinator of Communications.
Burton Richter on "Beyond Smoke and Mirrors: Climate Change and Energy in the 21st Century"
On December 2, 2011 Professor Burton Richter of Stanford University was honored with the Science Book Award from The Phi Beta Kappa Society. During an interview at Society headquarters, he discusses his book, and how he came to have written it.
Burton Richter on winning the 2011 Science Book Award from Phi Beta Kappa
On December 2, 2011 Professor Burton Richter of Stanford University was honored with the Science Book Award from The Phi Beta Kappa Society. During an interview at Society headquarters, he describes what it was like to learn that he had been awarded this honor.
Timothy Snyder on "Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin"
On December 2, 2011 Professor Timothy Snyder of Yale University was honored with the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award from The Phi Beta Kappa Society. During an interview at the Yale, he discusses his book, and how he came to have written it.
Timothy Snyder on winning the 2011 Ralph Waldo Emerson Award from Phi Beta Kappa
On December 2, 2011 Professor Timothy Snyder of Yale University was honored with the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award for literary criticism from The Phi Beta Kappa Society. During an interview at Yale, he describes what it was like to learn that he had been awarded this honor.
2011 ΦBK Video Series: "Trade Policy Protectionism and the Great Recession," from Chad P. Bown
Chad P. Bown is a senior economist in the World Bank's Development Research Group, Trade and International Integration in Washington, D.C. Bown is also a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, an adviser to the American Law Institute project Principles of the Law of World Trade, and serves on the editorial board for the World Trade Review. Bown served as a senior economist in the White House on the President's Council of Economic Advisers during 2010-2011. He is formerly a tenured professor of economics at Brandeis University, where he received numerous teaching awards, including the Michael L. Walzer ’56 Award for Excellence in Teaching and a Kermit H. Perlmutter Fellowship Award for Teaching Excellence. Bown’s research spans the economics of international trade laws and institutions, trade policy negotiations, and trade frictions. The author of the book Self-Enforcing Trade: Developing Countries and WTO Dispute Settlement (Brookings Institution Press, 2009), and the co-editor, with Joost Pauwelyn, of The Law, Economics, and Politics of Retaliation in WTO Dispute Settlement (Cambridge University Press, 2010), Bown is also editor of a recently published volume on the global economic crisis titled The Great Recession and Import Protection: The Role of Temporary Trade Barriers (CEPR and World Bank, 2011). Bown holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa as an undergraduate at Bucknell University.
Here, Bown frames the 2008-2009 onset of the Great Recession in terms of trade policy. He discusses protectionism and the role it played in the Great Depression of the 1930s, as well as the Great Recession of 2008-2009. Using examples from his own research for the volume The Great Recession and Import Protection, Bown demonstrates the importance of trade policy in international economics and points out surprising actions taken by governments during this recent recession.
To receive the next ΦBK Video Series installment straight to your inbox, please e-mail our Coordinator of Communications.
Randall Fuller on "From Battlefields Rising: How The Civil War Transformed American Literature"
On December 2, 2011 Professor Randall Fuller of Drury University was honored with the Christian Gauss Award for literary criticism from The Phi Beta Kappa Society. During an interview at the national office, he discusses his book, and how he came to have written it.
Randall Fuller on winning the 2011 Christian Gauss Award from Phi Beta Kappa
On December 2, 2011 Professor Randall Fuller of Drury University was honored with the Christian Gauss Award for literary criticism from The Phi Beta Kappa Society. During an interview at the national office, he describes what it was like to learn that he had been awarded this honor.
Todd Breyfogle of the Aspen Institute on the ΦBK Book Awards and "Eccentricity & Liberal Education"
On December 2, 2011 Phi Beta Kappa member and Aspen Institute Director of Seminars Todd Breyfogle spoke at the Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards Dinner. During an interview at the national office beforehand, he spoke about the Aspen Seminars and the eccentricity one often finds in successful academics, businessmen and artists.
Visiting Scholar Richard Shweder interviewed at Wells College
On October 28, 2011 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Richard Shweder was interviewed at Wells College. He spoke about the Visiting Scholar Program, the importance of culture, and the future of our society.
Visiting Scholar Teofilo Ruiz interviewed at Amherst College
On November 8, 2011 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Teofilo Ruiz was interviewed at Amherst College. He spoke about the Visiting Scholar Program, medieval history, and the witch craze.
Visiting Scholar Teodolinda Barolini interviewed at College of the Holy Cross
On November 8, 2011 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Teodolinda Barolini was interviewed by student Mattea Cumoletti at College of the Holy Cross. She spoke about the Visiting Scholar Program, the future of academia, and Dante's Inferno.
Visiting Scholar Teodolinda Barolini at College of the Holy Cross: "Dante's Sympathy for The Other"
On November 7, 2011 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Teodolinda Barolini visited College of the Holy Cross to present "Dante's Sympathy for The Other, or the Non-Stereotyping Imagination: Sexual & Racialized Others in the Divine Comedy. " The visit was sponsored by the Pi of Massachusetts chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
ACAD-ΦBK Conference: "English Professors and Everyone Else," from Mark Bauerlein
On November 10-12, the American Conference of Academic Deans and the Phi Beta Kappa Society hosted their fourth biennial conference, “Are the Humanities Now a Luxury?” The conference was designed to promote sustained inquiry about the role of the humanities in American higher education. Within the academy, colleges and universities make cuts in order to focus on programs with more enrollment appeal and apparent practical relevance. At the same time, the humanities also receive wider public critique, and conservatives and liberals alike, differing in their perceptions of the humanities' role, stand to share an imputation of shortcoming, even failure. These questions and more were raised by conference speakers and participants alike.
Emory University Professor Mark Bauerlein spoke at the closing plenary session of the Conference. His talk was entitled "English Professors and Everyone Else," which outlined the terrible costs of the research productivity model in literary studies, a model which dominates more than 700 departments of language and literature in the United States.
Mark Bauerlein is Professor of English at Emory University, where he has taught since 1989, apart from a term as Director of the Office of Research and Analysis at the National Endowment for the Arts (2003-05). He received his doctorate from UCLA in 1988. His books include Literary Criticism: An Autopsy (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1997), Negrophobia: A Race Riot in Atlanta, 1906 (Encounter Books, 2001), and The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (Tarcher, 2008). His scholarly articles have appeared in PMLA, Partisan Review, Yale Review, and Philosophy and Literature, while his commentaries and reviews have appeared in Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, The Weekly Standard, TLS, Boston Globe, Commentary, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and elsewhere. He is currently working on a study of research and publication in literary studies.
ACAD-ΦBK Conference: "Fluency Across Boundaries: A Compelling Case for the Humanities in the 21st Century," from Ronald A. Crutcher
On November 10-12, the American Conference of Academic Deans and the Phi Beta Kappa Society hosted their fourth biennial conference, “Are the Humanities Now a Luxury?” The conference was designed to promote sustained inquiry about the role of the humanities in American higher education. Within the academy, colleges and universities make cuts in order to focus on programs with more enrollment appeal and apparent practical relevance. At the same time, the humanities also receive wider public critique, and conservatives and liberals alike, differing in their perceptions of the humanities' role, stand to share an imputation of shortcoming, even failure. These questions and more were raised by conference speakers and participants alike.
Wheaton College President Ronald A. Crutcher spoke at the second plenary session of the Conference. His talk was entitled "Fluency Across Boundaries: A Compelling Case for the Humanities in the 21st Century."
Ronald A. Crutcher became the seventh president of Wheaton on July 1, 2004 and was inaugurated on April 16, 2005. A recognized leader in the field of higher education, President Crutcher serves as co-chair of LEAP (Liberal Education and America's Promise), the Association of American Colleges and Universities' national campaign to demonstrate the value of liberal education. A past chair of the AAC&U board, he also is a member of the Board of the Berklee College of Music, and the Posse Foundation. He previously served on the Board of the American Council on Education. An active musician and scholar, President Crutcher holds a faculty appointment at the college. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in March 1985 and has several recordings to his credit. His publications include journal articles on higher education, leadership, chamber music, and Black classical music.
ACAD-ΦBK Conference: "The Ketchup's in the Bag & the Check is in the Mail: the Humanities, Economic Opportunity & Social Justice," from Lynn Pasquerella
On November 10-12, the American Conference of Academic Deans and the Phi Beta Kappa Society hosted their fourth biennial conference, “Are the Humanities Now a Luxury?” The conference was designed to promote sustained inquiry about the role of the humanities in American higher education. Within the academy, colleges and universities make cuts in order to focus on programs with more enrollment appeal and apparent practical relevance. At the same time, the humanities also receive wider public critique, and conservatives and liberals alike, differing in their perceptions of the humanities' role, stand to share an imputation of shortcoming, even failure. These questions and more were raised by conference speakers and participants alike.
Phi Beta Kappa Senator and Mount Holyoke College President Lynn Pasquerella spoke at the opening plenary session of the Conference. Her talk, "The Ketchup's in the Bag & the Check is in the Mail: the Humanities, Economic Opportunity & Social Justice," framed the issue of whether the humanities are now a luxury within the broader context of matters of social justice.
A teacher, scholar, and prominent ethicist with a career marked by local and global engagement, Lynn Pasquerella became the 18th president of Mount Holyoke College on July 1, 2010. Throughout her leadership, she has focused on providing access to academic excellence, interdisciplinary as well as strongly discipline-based teaching and research, connections with and service to the community, and the enduring power of liberal education. Pasquerella has written extensively in the areas of medical ethics, theoretical and applied ethics, metaphysics, public policy, and the philosophy of law.
2011 ΦBK Video Series: "Handwriting after Gutenberg: John Milton to Steve Jobs," from Edward Tenner
Edward Tenner is a historian of technology and culture. An independent writer and speaker on the unintended consequences of innovation, Tenner holds a Ph.D. in European history from the University of Chicago and was executive editor for physical science and history at Princeton University Press. Tenner is a former member of the Harvard Society of Fellows and was awarded the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in 1991. He has been a visiting lecturer at Princeton University and is the author of several books, including Our Own Devices: The Past and Future of Body Technology (Knopf, 2003). He was a founding advisor for the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center, where he remains a senior research associate. Tenner was elected to Phi Beta Kappa as an undergraduate at Princeton University.
Here, Tenner looks at the evolution of handwriting from the Middle Ages up to today, with an emphasis on the various factors that have contributed to its diversity and character. Using colorful examples from history, he discusses the technological advancements that have affected handwriting over the past 700 years and gives prescriptions for the future of the art.
To receive the next ΦBK Video Series installment straight to your inbox, please e-mail our Coordinator of Communications.
ΦBK Lecture Series Presents David M. Abshire
On October 13, 2011, diplomat and statesman David M. Abshire spoke on the importance of heroic leadership in American History. The lecture was held at George Washington University. David M. Abshire is president of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress in Washington, D.C. and also president of the Richard Lounsbery Foundation of New York, which gives grants in the fields of science and education. He is vice chairman of the board of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., which he co-founded with Admiral Arleigh Burke in 1962, and served as its chief executive for many years. In 2002, he led in the establishment of the Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy at CSIS.
The Phi Beta Kappa Lecture Series was established by the national office of the Society in order to provide members with greater opportunities for intellectual fellowship and to allow the Society to return to its historic role of participation in larger, national dialogue about the important issues of our time. This series also gives the national office an opportunity to collaborate with Phi Beta Kappa associations and chapters in cities throughout the U.S. in an effort to bring interesting and relevant speakers to our members.
2011 ΦBK Video Series: "Heroic Leadership in American History," from David M. Abshire
A distinguished statesman, David M. Abshire, Ph.D., is president of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress in Washington, D.C. He is vice chairman of the board of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., which he co-founded with Admiral Arleigh Burke in 1962. Abshire served as Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations from 1970 to 1973 and later as the first chairman of the U.S. Board of International Broadcasting. He was a member of the Murphy Commission on the Organization of the Government, the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, and the President’s Task Force on U.S. Government International Broadcasting. During the transition of government in 1980, Abshire was asked by President-elect Ronald Reagan to head the National Security Group, which included the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Information Agency, and the Central Intelligence Agency. More recently, from 1983 to 1987, he was U.S. Ambassador to NATO where, in reaction to the threat posed by Soviet SS-20 missiles, he was the United States' point man in Europe for deployment of Pershing and cruise missiles. It was this NATO success that convinced the Soviets to sign the historic The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and withdraw their missiles. As ambassador, Abshire initiated a new conventional defense improvement effort so that NATO would not have to rely heavily on nuclear weapons. For this, he was given the highest Department of Defense civilian award—the Distinguished Public Service Medal. In December 1986, at the depths of the Iran-Contra crisis, he was called by President Reagan to leave NATO to serve in the Cabinet, as Special Counselor, and help restore confidence in the Presidency. David M. Abshire also spoke as part of the ΦBK Lecture Series at George Washington University on October 13, 2011. Tickets are available on our website. All are welcome to attend.
In this video, Abshire underlines the importance of quality leadership in American history. Using historical as well as anecdotal evidence from his many years in government service, Abshire notes instances throughout history in which strong and even unexpected leadership has contributed to positive action. He emphasizes the importance of civility and compromise for successful government and diplomacy, and he paints a hopeful picture of the future, in which history won't repeat itself, but will create pleasant "rhymes" with the past.
To receive the next ΦBK Video Series installment straight to your inbox, please e-mail our Coordinator of Communications.
2011 ΦBK Video Series: "The June 5, 2012, Transit of Venus," from Jay M. Pasachoff
Jay M. Pasachoff is a prominent astronomer and the Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy at Williams College. He is also the Director of the Hopkins Observatory at Williams College. His work has been sponsored by the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the National Geographic Society, among others. Recipient of the 2003 Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, Pasachoff's work focuses primarily on total solar eclipses, occultations of stars by Pluto and objects in the outer solar system, and transits of Venus and Mercury. He is coauthor of the textbook The Cosmos: Astronomy in the New Millennium as well as author of A Field Guide to the Stars and Planets. Asteroid 5100 Pasachoff is named for him in recognition of his groundbreaking astronomical work. His expedition to the 2004 transit of Venus was, and his expedition to the 2012 transit of Venus will be, supported by the Committee for Research and Exploration of the National Geographic Society. Pasachoff earned his A.B. in 1963 and his Ph.D. in 1969 from Harvard University. He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa at Williams College in 2000 and is a long-time book reviewer for The Key Reporter.
Here, Pasachoff describes the nature of a transit of Venus, and marks the upcoming transit, which will take place on June 5, 2012. This will be the last chance to see a transit of Venus until 2117. Pasachoff also puts the study of this particular transit in context, giving a fascinating and delightful history of those who have gone before. Finally, he gives advice and instructions for those who are interested in witnessing this historical event.
To receive the next ΦBK Video Series installment straight to your inbox, please e-mail our Coordinator of Communications.
2011 ΦBK Video Series: "Health Reform: A Play in Three Acts" (Comedy or tragedy, to be determined) from Henry J. Aaron
Henry J. Aaron is currently the Bruce and Virginia MacLaury Senior Fellow in the Economic Studies program at the Brookings Institution. An expert on budgetary policy, health care cost & rationing, and entitlements, Aaron served as the director of Brookings' Economic Studies program from1990 through 1996. Henry Aaron earned a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as an undergraduate at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Here, Aaron frames the ongoing debate about the Affordable Care Act as a play in three acts. He discusses the effects that the courts, Congress, and state governments will have on the longevity and shape of the Act and points out potential pitfalls. Aaron also gives his predictions on the denouement of the fight over the law, and introduces arguments that will be (or have been) made by both sides.
To receive the next Summer Video Series installment straight to your inbox, please e-mail our Coordinator of Communications.
Visiting Scholar Jack Goldstone at Wofford College: "An Entirely New world: Demographic Change and Global Futures"
On October 28, 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Jack Goldstone visited Southwestern Univ. to present "An Entirely New world: Demographic Change and Global Futures." The visit was sponsored by the Beta of South Carolina chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2010-2011 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community.
The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
2011 ΦBK Video Series: "How Wars End," from Gideon Rose
This month we present a video from Gideon Rose, editor of Foreign Affairs magazine, published by the Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to joining Foreign Affairs in 2000, he was the Olin senior fellow and deputy director of national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Rose is a former National Security Council official in the Clinton administration and an expert on national security and terrorism. He earned a Ph.D. in government from Harvard University and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as an undergraduate at Yale College.
Here, Rose discusses his research for "How Wars End," which the New York Times called a "chilling yet fascinating account of what can go wrong in the Situation Room." He notes recurring patterns in war planing--or lack thereof--that lead to unsuccessful political conclusions of America's wars. He traces this failure to plan for the aftermath of military actions throughout U.S. history, illustrating his points with engaging vignettes, and substantiating them with thorough research.
To receive the next Summer Video Series installment straight to your inbox, please e-mail our Coordinator of Communications.
Visiting Scholar Doug McAdam at Hiram College: "The Long Term Impact of Youth Activism: The Curious Contrast between Freedom Summer & Teach for America"
On April 18, 2011 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Doug McAdam visited Hiram College to present "The Long Term Impact of Youth Activism: The Curious Contrast between Freedom Summer & Teach for America." The visit was sponsored by the Mu of Ohio chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2011-2012 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community.
The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
Visiting Scholar Peter Smith at Whitman College: "The History of Mars as Revealed by Space Missions in the Last Decade"
On April 7, 2011 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Peter Smith visited Whitman College to present "The History of Mars as Revealed by Space Missions in the Last Decade." The visit was sponsored by the Beta of Washington chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2011-2012 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community.
The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
2011 ΦBK Video Series: "U.S.-Russia Relations Post-Reset" from Matthew Rojansky
Matthew Rojansky is the Deputy Director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. An expert on U.S. and Russian national security and nuclear weapons policies, his work focuses on relations among the United States, NATO, and the states of the former Soviet Union. He has served as executive director of the Partnership for a Secure America, an organization that seeks to rebuild bipartisan dialogue and productive debate on U.S. national security and foreign policy challenges. Mr. Rojansky earned a J.D. at Stanford Law School and was inducted to Phi Beta Kappa as an undergraduate at Harvard University.
Here, he discusses the 2009 Obama-driven "reset" of U.S.-Russian relations. He notes cultural, economic and geopolitical factors affecting this relationship, and gives policy prescriptions for the future of U.S.-Russian collaboration.
To receive the next Summer Video Series installment straight to your inbox, please e-mail our Coordinator of Communications.
Visiting Scholar Michael McCormick at U. of Maine: "Climate Change & the Fall of the Roman Empire"
On April 24, 2011 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Michael McCormick visited the University of Maine to present "Climate Change & the Fall of the Roman Empire." The visit was sponsored by the Delta of Maine chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2011-2012 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community.
The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
Visiting Scholar Jane C. Ginsburg at Grinnell College: "The Author's Place in the Future of Copyright"
On April 21, 2011 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Jane C. Ginsburg visited Grinnell College to present "The Author's Place in the Future of Copyright." The visit was sponsored by the Beta of Iowa chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2011-2012 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community.
The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
Visiting Scholar Jack Goldstone at Southwestern Univ.: "Global Trends in the Quality of Governance and Democracy"
On October 28, 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Jack Goldstone visited Southwestern Univ. to present "Global Trends in the Quality of Governance and Democracy." The visit was sponsored by the Theta of Texas chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2010-2011 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community.
The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
Visiting Scholar Herbert Gintis at Union College: "Moral Sentiments and Material Interests"
On September 20, 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Herbert Gintis visited Kansas State University to present "Moral Sentiments and Material Interests." The visit was sponsored by the Alpha of New York chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2011-2012 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community.
The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
Visiting Scholar Ronald Mellor at Wake Forest Univ.: 'East Meets West: Encounters Along The Ancient "Silk Road"'
On November 18, 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Ronald Mellor visited Wake Forest Univ. to present 'East Meets West: Encounters Along The Ancient "Silk Road."' The visit was sponsored by the Delta of North Carolina chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2010-2011 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community.
The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
Visiting Scholar Jack Goldstone at the Univ. of Wyoming: "Global Populations Trends & How They Shape Our Future Well-being."
On November 1, 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Jack Goldstone visited the University of Wyoming to present "Global Populations Trends & How They Shape Our Future Well-being." The visit was sponsored by the Alpha of Wyoming chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2010-2011 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community.
The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
Visiting Scholar Terry Castle at Kansas State Univ.: "Here's a Problem for You: Outsider Art"
On March 4, 2011 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Terry Castle visited Kansas State University to present "Here's a Problem for You: Outsider Art." The visit was sponsored by the Beta of Kansas chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2011-2012 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community.
The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
Visiting Scholar Peter Smith at Iowa State University: "The Next Phase of Martian Exploration: The Search for Life on Mars"
On February 14, 2011 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Peter Smith visited Iowa State University to present "The Next Phase of Martian Exploration: The Search for Life on Mars." The visit was sponsored by the Zeta of Iowa chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2011-2012 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community.
The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
Visiting Scholar Terry Castle at the University of South Dakota: "Becoming an Orphan: Estrangement and Education"
On February 28, 2011 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Terry Castle visited the University of South Dakota to present "Becoming an Orphan: Estrangement and Education." The visit was sponsored by the Alpha of South Dakota chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2011-2012 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community.
The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
ΦBK Lecture Series Presents Elon Musk
On January 8, 2011, engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist Elon Musk spoke on the subject of sustainability in energy production and transportation. The lecture was held at the University of California, Los Angeles, and was co-sponsored by the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Perhaps best known as a co-founder of PayPal, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), and Tesla Motors, Musk has been fascinated by electric cars for two decades. After earning bachelor’s degrees in physics and business from the University of Pennsylvania, he worked briefly on ultracapacitors at Pinnacle Research in Silicon Valley to understand their potential as an energy storage mechanism for electric vehicles.
The Phi Beta Kappa Lecture Series was established by the national office of the Society in order to provide members with greater opportunities for intellectual fellowship and to allow the Society to return to its historic role of participation in larger, national dialogue about the important issues of our time. This series also gives the national office an opportunity to collaborate with Phi Beta Kappa associations and chapters in cities throughout the U.S. in an effort to bring interesting and relevant speakers to our members.
Visiting Scholar Herbert Gintis at Spelman College: "Evolution and Morality"
On November 11, 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Herbert Gintis visited Spelman College to present "Evolution and Morality" The visit was sponsored by the Epsilon of Georgia chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2010-2011 will visit 80 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community. The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation.
The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,784 visits have been made by the 577 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 54 years.
V.A. Kolve accepts 2010 Christian Gauss Award
The Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards are given annually in December. This year, Susan M. Reverby received the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award for Examining Tuskegee: The Infamous Syphilis Study and Its Legacy , V.A. Kolve received the Christian Gauss Award for Telling Images: Chaucer and the Imagery of Narrative II and Melanie Mitchell received the Phi Beta Kappa Book Award in Science for Complexity: A Guided Tour. The Society presented the awards on December 3 at the Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C. Gail Paster, Director of Folger Shakespeare Library, gave the keynote address. Christian Gauss Award Committee member Regina Janes introduced V.A. Kolve.
Melanie Mitchell accepts 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Book Award in Science
The Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards are given annually in December. This year, Susan M. Reverby received the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award for Examining Tuskegee: The Infamous Syphilis Study and Its Legacy , V.A. Kolve received the Christian Gauss Award for Telling Images: Chaucer and the Imagery of Narrative II and Melanie Mitchell received the Phi Beta Kappa Book Award in Science for Complexity: A Guided Tour. The Society presented the awards on December 3 at the Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C. Gail Paster, Director of Folger Shakespeare Library, gave the keynote address.
Susan M. Reverby accepts 2010 Ralph Waldo Emerson Award
The Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards are given annually in December. This year, Susan M. Reverby received the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award for Examining Tuskegee: The Infamous Syphilis Study and Its Legacy , V.A. Kolve received the Christian Gauss Award for Telling Images: Chaucer and the Imagery of Narrative II and Melanie Mitchell received the Phi Beta Kappa Book Award in Science for Complexity: A Guided Tour. The Society presented the awards on December 3 at the Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C. Gail Paster, Director of Folger Shakespeare Library, gave the keynote address.
ΦΒΚ Lecture Series Presents John C. Bogle
John C. “Jack” Bogle, the creator of the first index mutual fund, is founder of The Vanguard Group (one of the two largest mutual fund organizations in the world) and president of Bogle Financial Markets Research Center. On November 3, 2010, Bogle will discuss his most recent book Don’t Count on It!: Reflections on Investment Illusions, Capitalism, Mutual Funds, Indexing, Entrepreneurship, Idealism, and Heroes (forthcoming from Wiley in November 2010). The lecture was held in Philadelphia on the Temple University campus.
Widely acclaimed for his role as the conscience of the mutual fund industry and an advocate for individual investors, Bogle has led a tireless campaign to restore common sense to the investment world. In 2004, Time magazine named Bogle one of the world’s 100 most powerful and influential people. In 1999, Fortune designated him as one of the investment industry’s four “Giants of the 20th Century.” Bogle has served as Chairman of the Board of the National Constitution Center since September 1999. He is a member of The Conference Board’s Commission on Public Trust and Private Enterprise, the American Philosophical Society, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also served for many years on the ΦBK Investment Committee.
The Phi Beta Kappa Lecture Series was established by the national office of the Society in order to provide members with greater opportunities for intellectual fellowship and to allow the Society to return to its historic role of participation in larger, national dialogue about the important issues of our time. This series also gives the national office an opportunity to collaborate with Phi Beta Kappa associations and chapters in cities throughout the U.S. in an effort to bring interesting and relevant speakers to our members.
ΦBK President Fred Cate Welcomes New Members
In this short video, Phi Beta Kappa President Fred Cate congratulates new members and introduces them to the Society.
Video introduction to Phi Beta Kappa
Curious about Phi Beta Kappa? This video will give you an overview of who we are and what we represent.
"The Uses of the History of Ideas" Summer Video Series Pt. 3 from Visiting Scholar Alan Ryan
Ryan is former warden of New College and a preeminent scholar whose fields of study include: liberal education, theories of property and philosophy of the social sciences. He has written extensively on these topics, including the books Liberal Anxieties and Liberal Education, John Dewey and the High Tide of American Liberalism, and Bertrand Russell, A Political Life.
Here, Ryan remarks on the importance of confidence and humility and how academic freedom serves as intellectual liberation.
For a transcript of this video, please e-mail our Coordinator of Communications.
"Academic Freedom as Intellectual Liberation" Summer Video Series Pt. 2 from Visiting Scholar Alan Ryan
Ryan is former warden of New College and a preeminent scholar whose fields of study include: liberal education, theories of property and philosophy of the social sciences. He has written extensively on these topics, including the books Liberal Anxieties and Liberal Education, John Dewey and the High Tide of American Liberalism, and Bertrand Russell, A Political Life. Over the course of the summer, we will post one installment per month of Professor Ryan's videos, each on an original and timely topic.
Here, Professor Ryan discusses freedom of expression and its role in higher education, from Germany's Lehrfreiheit to the dismissal of Edward A. Ross from Stanford in 1900.
To receive the next Summer Video Series installment straight to your inbox, please e-mail our Coordinator of Communications.
"Do We Really Believe in Democracy?" Summer Video Series Pt. 1 from Visiting Scholar Alan Ryan
Alan Ryan is former warden of New College and a preeminent scholar whose fields of study include: liberal education, theories of property and philosophy of the social sciences. He has written extensively on these topics, including the books Liberal Anxieties and Liberal Education, John Dewey and the High Tide of American Liberalism and Bertrand Russell, A Political Life.
Here, he compares Athenian, Roman, and modern American democracies and raises questions of what Athenian democracy would look like in present-day America. What if we were all required, as citizens, to spend a few years as members of Congress?
To receive the next Summer Video Series installment straight to your inbox, please e-mail our Coordinator of Communications.
Visiting Scholar Faye Ginsburg at U of Oklahoma: "Native Intelligence: A Short History of Debates on Indigenous Media"
On March 11, 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Faye Ginsburg visited the University of Oklahoma to present "Native Intelligence: A Short History of Debates on Indigenous Media" The visit was sponsored by the Alpha of Oklahoma chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2009-2010 will visit 48 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community. The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation.
The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,736 visits have been made by the 565 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 53 years.
Visiting Scholar Linda Gordon at LSU: "Visual Democracy: How Dorothea Lange Used Photography to Promote Equality"
On April 15, 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Linda Gordon visited Louisiana State University to present "Visual Democracy: How Dorothea Lange Used Photography to Promote Equality" The visit was sponsored by the Beta of Louisiana chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2009-2010 will visit 48 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community. The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation.
The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,736 visits have been made by the 565 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 53 years.
Visiting Scholar Jean Comaroff at Austin College: "Nations With/out Borders: The Problem of Belonging in Africa & Beyond"
On April 20, 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Jean Comaroff visited Austin College to present "Nations With/out Borders: The Problem of Belonging in Africa and Beyond." The visit was sponsored by the Iota of Texas chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2009-2010 will visit 48 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community. The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation.
The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,736 visits have been made by the 565 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 53 years.
Installation of the Phi Beta Kappa Chapter at the College of St. Benedict - St. John's University
On April 27, the Theta of Minnesota chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was installed at the College of St. Benedict - Saint John’s University. Phi Beta Kappa Secretary John Churchill and Associate Secretary Scott Lurding represented the national office of the Society as part of the installation ceremony. ΦBK Vice President Kate Soule also attended.
The installation ceremony marked the commencement of Scholarship and Creativity Day for CSB/SJU.
“Phi Beta Kappa is extremely thorough; the Society put us through a real test of endurance as well as a very detailed examination of our faculty, our curriculum, our administration and our budgets,” said Richard Albares, associate professor of sociology at CSB/SJU and one of the faculty leaders of the chapter application process. “It took the efforts of dozens and dozens of people to make this happen.”
“Phi Beta Kappa membership is a validation of College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University’s place among the nation’s best liberal arts and sciences institutions, and a reflection of our long history of academic excellence,” said College of St. Benedict President Mary Ann Baenninger and St. John’s University President the Rev. Robert Koopmann, OSB, in a joint statement. “The granting of the chapter both acknowledges the teaching and scholarly accomplishments of our faculty and offers an opportunity for our very best students to become members of this illustrious honor society.”
Visiting Scholar Andrew Odlyzko at Augustana College: "Technology Manias: from Railroads to the Internet and Beyond."
On March 25, 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Andrew Odlyzko visited Augustana College to present "Technology Manias: From Railroads to Internet and Beyond." The visit was sponsored by the Zeta of Illinois chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2009-2010 will visit 48 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community. The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation.
The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,736 visits have been made by the 565 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 53 years.
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Installation of the Phi Beta Kappa Chapter at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Part I
On March 17, the Xi of Virginia chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was installed at James Madison University.
The chapter installation ceremony was part of the annual James Madison Week.
John Churchill, the national secretary of Phi Beta Kappa, spoke at the installation on the importance of the liberal arts and sciences. In his address to the first class of inductees, Churchill reflected on how Phi Beta Kappa has affected his life, and the lives of other inductees, over the years.
James Madison University President Linwood H. Rose believes that having a Phi Beta Kappa chapter is a reflection of the excellence of the JMU community. “Selection by Phi Beta Kappa signifies a broader awareness of the quality of our faculty while also recognizing the scholarly capability of a bright and talented student body,” he said.
Installation of the Phi Beta Kappa Chapter at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Part II
On March 17, the Xi of Virginia chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was installed at James Madison University.
The chapter installation ceremony was part of the annual James Madison Week.
John Churchill, the national secretary of Phi Beta Kappa, spoke at the installation on the importance of the liberal arts and sciences. In his address to the first class of inductees, Churchill reflected on how Phi Beta Kappa has affected his life, and the lives of other inductees, over the years.
James Madison University President Linwood H. Rose believes that having a Phi Beta Kappa chapter is a reflection of the excellence of the JMU community. “Selection by Phi Beta Kappa signifies a broader awareness of the quality of our faculty while also recognizing the scholarly capability of a bright and talented student body,” he said.
Visiting Scholar John Coatsworth at UFL: "Latin America and the U.S.: A New Era?"
On March 29th , 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar John Coatsworth visited the University of Florida to present "Latin America and the United States: A New Era?" The visit was sponsored by the Beta of Florida chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Visiting Scholar Program makes available every year a dozen or so distinguished scholars. The men and women participating during 2009-2010 will visit 48 colleges and universities, spending two days at each one, meeting informally with students and faculty members, taking part in classroom discussions, and giving a public lecture open to the entire academic community. The visits are designed primarily for undergraduate participation.
The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. A total of 4,736 visits have been made by the 565 Visiting Scholars who have taken part in the program during the past 53 years.
Historian Thomas Bender at the 2009 Triennial Council
On October 3, 2009 Historian and Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Thomas Bender presented "American History in a Global Perspective" to the delegates of the 42nd Triennial Council.
The legislative body of the Phi Beta Kappa Society is the Council, which convenes every three years to transact business for the Society as a whole. The Council alone has the authority to charter new chapters. Delegates to the Council are the representatives of the Phi Beta Kappa chapters and associations. They are elected for a term of three years, with each chapter electing up to three delegates and each association (with 25 or more members) electing one delegate. Associations of 200 or more members may elect two delegates.
Installation of the Phi Beta Kappa Chapter at Butler University in Indianapolis
Butler University became home to a new chapter of Phi Beta Kappa on February 4.
The installation ceremony for the Theta of Indiana chapter was combined with the university's Founders Day Celebration on the Butler campus, entitled a Celebration of Scholarship. Butler was one of four new chapters approved by the Society on Oct. 2 at the 42nd Triennial Council in Austin, Tx. Phi Beta Kappa Secretary John Churchill spoke at the event. Twenty Butler faculty and staff members are Phi Beta Kappa members, including President Bobby Fong. Paul Valliere, McGregor Professor in the Humanities, chaired the committee that submitted Butlers formal chapter application in October 2007.
Inaugural Phi Beta Kappa Lecture Series, New York City
Five days before President Barack Obama took the oath of office, Phi Beta Kappa members in New York City participated in the inaugural Phi Beta Kappa Lecture Series, “The Changing of the Guard in Washington — What to Expect?” The speaker, broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff from “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer,” discussed the outlook for the new president, problems facing the United States, and the domestic and international issues his administration will face. Immediately following Woodruff’s lecture, Bill Baker served as the moderator in a roundtable discussion with other journalists. Baker is the Claudia Aquaviva Distinguished Professor of Education Journalist-in-Residence at Fordham University and president emeritus of Educational Broadcasting Corporation. The lecture was held on the evening of January 15, 2009, at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Campus.
Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards 2008, Williamsburg, Va.
The Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards are given annually in December. This year, Leor Halevi received the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award for Muhammad’s Grave: Death Rites and the Making of Islamic Society, Peter Brooks received the Christian Gauss Award for Henry James Goes to Paris and Neil Shubin received the Phi Beta Kappa Book Award in Science for Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body. The Society presented the awards on December 5 at the Williamsburg Lodge in Colonial Williamsburg, Va. Donald Lamm, former chairman of the board of W. W. Norton, was the keynote speaker.
Churchill Inaugurates ODK Distinguished Lecture Series at Emory University
John Churchill, the secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, gave the first Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Lecture on February 20, 2008. Using leadership models from the Heroic Age to the Age of Reason, with an eye toward leadership for more contemporary times, Churchill explored the ethical dimension of leadership. This lecture marks the beginning of a new program by ODK, America’s national leadership honor society.
Paul Farmer at Occidental College, Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa
New York entrepreneur Robert Merriman Ruenitz has given Occidental College $320,000 to establish the Phi Beta Kappa Distinguished Speakers Forum. This initiative will bring a provocative speaker to the campus each spring.The inaugural program was held February 17, 2008. Paul Farmer of Partners in Health and Harvard University addressed an overflow audience on "Global Health Equity Examples from Haiti to Rwanda." After the presentation, he joined students for a luncheon at the home of Occidental President Susan Prager.