The Phi Beta Kappa Society Elects New President and Vice President at 46th Triennial Council

WASHINGTON, DC, August 5, 2021 — The Phi Beta Kappa Society announces the election of Peter Quimby, Head of School at the Governor’s Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts, as President of the Society. Esther Jones, Associate Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, was elected as Vice President. Both positions are for a three-year term from 2021-2024. The election took place August 5, 2021 at the Society’s 46th Triennial Council. 
  
The Triennial Council is the legislative body of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society, founded in 1776. The Council convenes every three years to carry out the business of the Society. 
  
Frederick M. Lawrence, Secretary and CEO of the Society, praised the election of Quimby and Jones. “Both Peter and Esther have distinguished records of service to Phi Beta Kappa,” said Lawrence. “We look forward to working with them as they bring their experience and vision to the leadership of the Society.” 

President Peter Quimby 

Peter Quimby, Head of School at The Governor’s Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts, earned his B.A. at Bowdoin College and received his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Since then, he has served in several ΦBK chapters, including as Secretary of Alpha of Wisconsin (UW-Madison) (1998–2000), an active member of Alpha of Connecticut (Yale University) (2001–2005), and Secretary of Beta of New Jersey (Princeton University) (2006–2011). At the national level, he was on the Committee on Qualifications (2009–2012) and the Phi Beta Kappa Senate (2012–2018), where he also served as Chair of the ΦBK Awards Committee (2012–2018) and on the Senate Executive Committee (2015–2018). Most recently, he served as Vice President of the Society (2018–2021). 
  
Quimby was previously the Assistant Dean of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1998–2000), the Dean of Davenport College at Yale University (2001–2005), the Associate Dean of the College at Princeton University (2005–2008) and later the Deputy Dean of the College (2008–2011). He has served as the Head of School at the Governor’s Academy since 2011.

"I have witnessed the transformative power of education in my own life, and in the lives of thousands of students at both the college and high school levels, and that education has been deeply rooted in the arts and sciences,” Quimby stated. “Phi Beta Kappa has championed these values since the founding of our nation, and I am honored to be assuming new leadership responsibilities as president. The Society's efforts to promote academic excellence and advocate for the liberal arts and sciences are vital to the future of our democracy, and I look forward to working with the Society's staff and Senate to advance these efforts in the coming years."
 

Vice President Esther Jones   

Esther Jones is the Associate Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts which shelters the Lambda of Massachusetts chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She has served as Vice President for two years, and President for seven years at the Lambda of MA chapter. Concurrent with her service as President of Lambda of MA, Jones has served on the Phi Beta Kappa Senate as an at-large member for six years, serving on the Committee on Chapters for three years, and currently serving on the Executive Committee. In these increasing levels of leadership within the Society, Jones has succeeded in heightening student awareness of Phi Beta Kappa and the value of a liberal arts and sciences education, strengthening alumni ties and connections with the university chapter, and increasing opportunities to serve as a convener of Society-related events that promote the love of learning as foundational to cultivating a meaningful life of consequence.   

On her election Jones stated, “I am humbled and honored to have been elected Vice President of the Phi Beta Kappa Society at the 2021 Triennial Council. I look forward to a higher level of service promoting and advocating for the enduring value of arts and sciences education on college campuses and in our society writ large.”