On April 13, the Eta of North Carolina chapter of Phi Beta Kappa will be installed at Elon University.
The establishment of this new chapter will be part of the Elon University Honors Convocation.
Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Nicholas D. Kristof (right) of The New York Times will speak at the event.
Phi Beta Kappa Secretary John Churchill and Associate Secretary Scott Lurding will represent the national office of the Society as part of the installation ceremony. ΦBK President Fred Cate and Senator Don Wyatt will also attend.
“We’re delighted because this is such a wonderful ending to a long and hard journey, but also because this process has been to the benefit of the whole university,” said Russell Gill, Distinguished University Professor, Maude Sharpe Powell Professor of English and chair of the faculty’s Phi Beta Kappa Committee.
Elon’s formal application for the chapter was submitted in November 2006 by Gill.
“Elon’s journey toward Phi Beta Kappa has always been about the pursuit of academic excellence,” said Steven House, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Our focus has been to support our outstanding faculty with enhanced facilities, resources and programs, so that they can create an innovative, challenging and learning-centered environment for our students. I am deeply grateful for the faculty and staff who worked so hard during the entire process. Elon is a far richer university because of this journey.”
Phi Beta Kappa has also awarded chapters to Butler University in Indiana, College of Saint Benedict-Saint John’s University in Minnesota and James Madison University in Virginia. All of the chapter installations are taking place this spring.
For more information, contact Cara Engel, director of chapter relations, (202) 745-3249 or cengel@pbk.org.