Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa (PBK), America’s most elite honor society, recognizes the freeing power of a liberal education. Members have impeccable academic records. They have delved broadly and deeply into their studies. They are of strong moral character. They have earned the highest mark of Intellectual discipline and achievement.
Membership
Invitations to join Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) are extended each spring to students—usually seniors—of exceptional academic achievement in liberal studies. To be eligible for consideration for membership, students must complete at least 96 credits in courses deemed by the national Society to be “liberal studies” (as opposed to “vocational” in nature).
The diversity of one’s college program, academic excellence, and exceptional character are the primary factors considered in deliberations among Phi Beta Kappa resident members (faculty and staff) who vote by secret ballot on candidates for membership.
In addition to sponsoring campus events that are consistent with the overall mission of the Society, each fall Washington College’s Theta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa recognizes students who achieved the highest GPA in their first year at the College, and each spring presents the Gerda Blumenthal Award to a first- or second-year student for special scholarly work in the humanities.
About the Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary as the nation’s first academic honor society. Over two centuries later the Society’s mission continues to be to honor and advocate the ideals of a liberal arts education. Society members prize freedom of inquiry and expression, rigorous scholarship within and among the disciplines, breadth of intellectual perspective, the cultivation of skills of deliberation and ethical reflection, and the pursuit of wisdom. Among the programs of the national Society are academic and literary awards, lectureships, fellowships, visiting professorships, and publication of The American Scholar, an award-winning quarterly journal.
Chapter Officers
President
Sean Ross Meehan, Associate Professor of English
Vice-President
Katherine Maynard, Associate Professor of French
Secretary-Historian
Philip Walsh, Visiting Assistant Professor of English
Treasurer
Rebecca Jayne, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Resident Members, 2012-13
Theta of Maryland, Phi Beta Kappa
H. Louise Amick
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Initiated at Washington College, 2010
Collin Ashmore
Visiting Instructor of Spanish
Initiated at Truman State University, 2005
T. Clayton Black
Associate Professor of History
Initiated at Denison University, 1986
Bridget Bunten
Assistant Professor of Education
Initiated at Gettysburg College, 2001
Martin A. Connaughton
Associate Professor of Biology
Initiated at Lafayette College, 1988
Melissa Deckman
Professor of Political Science
Initiated at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, 2010
Alvin Drischler
Adjunct Professor of Political Science and Business Management
Initiated at the University of California, Berkeley, 1969
W. Robert Fallaw
Professor of History, Emeritus
Initiated at Duke University, 1956/57
Rachel Field
Program and Intern Coordinator for CES
Initiated at Washington College, 2011
Rebecca Jayne (Treasurer)
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Initiated at McDaniel College, 2006
Karly Kolaja
College Relations Coordinator
Initiated at Washington College, 2011
Alisha R. Knight
Associate Professor of English and American Studies
Initiated at Drew University, 2004
Juan Lin
Professor of Physics
Initiated at the University of California, Santa Barbara, 1971
James Lipchock
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Initiated at McDaniel College, 2004
Lauren Littlefield
Associate Professor of Psychology
Initiated at Washington College, 2008
Lindsay Lusby
Assistant Director, Rose O’Neill Literary House
Initiated at Washington College, 2008
Kay MacIntosh
Director of Media Relations
Initiated at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, 1977/78
Julie Markin
Teaching Fellow in Anthropology
Initiated at the University of Alabama, 1994
Katherine S. Maynard (Vice-President)
Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Initiated at the University of Michigan, 1993
Kate McCleary
Director of International Programs
Initiated at Muhlenberg College, 2001
Sean R. Meehan (President)
Associate Professor of English and Director of Writing
Initiated at Princeton University, 1991
Corey A. Olsen
Assistant Professor of English
Initiated at Williams College, 1996
Andrew L. Oros
Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies
Initiated at the University of Southern California, 1991
Michele Santamaria
Research/Information Literacy Librarian
Initiated at Emory University, 1995
Caren Saunders
Novice Women’s Rowing Coach
Initiated at the University of Virginia, 1995
Jesse Schaefer
Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Associate
Initiated at Washington College, 2012
Ruth C. Shoge
College Librarian
Initiated at Howard University, 1973
Phil Ticknor
Sports Information Director
Initiated at Goucher College, 2001
Dale Trusheim
Assistant Provost For Institutional Research And Assessment
Initiated at Washington College, 2012
Aileen Tsui
Associate Professor of Art
Initiated at Yale University, 1988
Philip Walsh (Secretary-Historian)
Visiting Assistant Professor of English
Initiated at the College of William and Mary, 1999
Peter Weigel
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Initiated at Marquette University, 1989
Initiated Members
Eta Class - February 26, 2013
- Lindsey G. Altomare
- Amanda G. Anastasia
- Ryan J. Bankert
- Jasmine A. Bibbs
- Emily N. Blackner
- Michael D. Bonadies
- Maegan M. Clearwood
- Natasha E. DeGraw
- Gary L. Fenstamaker
- Dale G. Frymark
- Sophia H. Gassman
- Rachel M. Hughes
- Brittany E. Krueger
- Michael W. Kuethe
- Allison L. Kvien
- Molly K. Leach
- Jennifer E. Lee
- Jessica A. Magdeburger
- Timothy E. Marcin
- Ashley E. McAvoy
- Parker A. McIntosh
- Nicole L. Musho
- Jillian R. Obermeier
- EshanU. Patel
- Christopher R. Paul
- Mariah J. Perkins
- Jenna B. Schmaljohn
- Abigail M. Schwartz
- Nina L. Sharp
- Rebecca H. Sussman
- Katherine S. Thornton
- Amanda M. Venable
Here is a video profile of four, PBK student-athletes from the Eta class.
Zeta Class - February 29, 2012
- Bethany Jordan Ackerman
- Courtney Rebecca Burton
- Natalie Lauren Butz
- Douglas Stewart Carter
- Lindsay Ann Dodd
- Michael Steven Drake
- John Matthews Eglseder
- Ann Catherine Eickelberg
- Melissa Gaye Erdman
- Jamie Skylar Frees
- Beverly Obenewaa Frimpong
- Kristina Lynn Gavin
- Megan Rose Gentry
- Sarah Janney Hartge
- Gretchen Ann Hook
- Taylor Malcolm Johnson
- Katelyn Rose Laury
- Meghan Elyse Lepley
- Virginia Agnes Long
- Kathryn Jeanne Manion
- Taylor Anne Morton
- Kendall Powell Mulligan
- Brittany Nicole Palasik
- Kimberly Nicole Pittman
- Amanda Anne-Marie Pruzinsky
- Maria Noelle Queen
- Leah Rae Sbriscia
- Jesse James Schaefer
- James Hoitsma Schelberg
- Samantha Ruth Simpson
- Caroline Tudor Stanley
- Michael Ryan Vanaskie
- Alyssa Lynne Wagner
- Marta Lee Wesenberg
- Dale Trusheim ’72 (alumni member initiated)
Here is a picture gallery from the 2012 induction dinner.
Epsilon Class - March 1, 2011
- Brittany Leigh Bonday
- Eugene Charles McGregor Boyle III
- Marshal Clinton Cahall
- Rachel Elizabeth Field
- Tessa Elaine Fox
- Lisa Beth Jones
- Joshua Robert Kahan
- Caroline Amelia Knuth
- Karly Joan Kolaja
- Mary Elizabeth Landskroener
- Heather Michelle Lawson
- Christine Marie Lynch
- Danyelle Lee Martin
- Jacqueline Ann Melvin
- Meaghan Chelsea Moxley
- Katherine Ambry Linhein Muller
- Rebecca Jane Nicely
- Denise Petrik
- Michael David Powell
- Nicole Christine Robinson
- Catherine Alicia Rappole
- Elizabeth Ann Shandor
- Kelly Nicole Topita
- Christina Marie Ullrich
- Emily Victoria Willen
- Mikhail Alexandrovich Zaborskiy
Here is a picture gallery from the 2011 induction dinner.
Delta Class - February 23, 2010
- Emily Kathryn Aiken
- Melanie Elizabeth Beaver
- Jessica Lynn Becker
- Alyse Kathleen Bensel
- Joseph Conner Blouin
- Matthew Peter Boucher
- Kelli Jolene Canada
- Riley Alexandra Carbonneau
- Khadiza Chowdhury
- Anna Gudbjorg Cowden
- Richard Andrew Davis, Jr.
- Mary Elizabeth DiAngelo
- Allison Elizabeth Fischbach
- Kellie Lynn Foster
- Michael Lemel Hauss
- Nichole Rose Horn
- Krista Lynne Jensen
- Robert Ray Lee, Jr.
- Ericka Jean Malow
- Mary Eileen O’Connell
- Brittny Marguerite Parsells
- Hailey Lauren Reissman
- Brandon Andrew Riker
- Andrea Carrie Roth
- Juliana Kathryn Schoettler
- Maureen Elizabeth Sentman
- Kaitlin Kelley Wedge
- Megan Linn Wise
- Lauren Ashley Zeitschel
- Professor H. Louise Amick ‘69 (alumni member initiated)
Gamma Class - April 14, 2009
- Patricia Ann Bonman
- Gillian Margaret Bourassa
- Aileen Nicole Brenner
- Brenna Kathleen Helm Bychowski
- Darla Therese Cornett
- Chelsea Marie Crum
- Brian Drew Danver
- Christine Marie DiEleuterio
- Brittany Athena Doggett
- Faith Noel Erline
- Kali Beth Erstein
- Samuel Edward Blain Evans
- Todd Dylan Green
- Rebekah Lauren Herbold
- James David Kielek, Jr.
- Kerith Brook Kiewra
- Audrey Rae Kossman
- Mary Eleanor Lide
- James Patrick Maguire
- Jennifer Elizabeth Malat
- Elyse Joelle McGlumphy
- David Randall Melnick
- Capella Elisabeth Meurer
- Katie Elizabeth Poore
- Isaac Smith Schendel
- Brianne Elizabeth Slizofski
- Lauren Marie Thomas
- Elizabeth Donohue Trout
- Alexis Erin West
- Garth Johnstone Wilson
Beta Class - April 15, 2008
- Stephanie Jo Coates
- Antonia Robertson Domino
- Karen Lynn Ferguson
- Barbara Leigh Harrington
- Caroline Elizabeth Herman
- Katie Masitta Himmelberger
- Daniel Joseph Holles
- Maoko Ishikawa
- Reilly Dylan Joret
- Katie Lynn Juromski
- Michelle Nicole Laque
- Kristin Elise Larson
- Marielle Theresa Latrick
- Lindsay Patricia Lusby
- Kevin Thomas McGarry
- Meredith Lindsay Peterson
- Kimberly Ialene Proctor
- Heather Michelle Roberts
- Wesley John Schantz
- Emma Louise Sovich
- Lauren Nicole Stranahan
- Brian Moffett Taylor
- Lauren Montenegro Littlefield ’91 (alumni member initiated)
Alpha Class - April 17, 2007
- Ceren Barlas
- Christina L. Bell
- Lindsay A. Bell
- Cindy Anne Chin Wing
- Reid A. Cohn
- Meredith A. Collier
- Kerry A. Delaney
- Astra Haldeman
- Justine C. Hendricks
- Edward G. Hohenstein IV
- Brandon C. Horbal
- David S. Hosey
- Albin J. Kowalewski
- Kimberly N. Kraeer
- Victoria A. Larson
- Aja M. Martin
- Jonathan R. Martin
- Carly J. Mitchell
- Caitlin A. Orsini
- Emily L. Richardson
- Brandon P. Righi
- Lindsey A. Riley
- Jacob M. Risner
- Erika R. Salomon
- Ryoko Sawada
- Amy P. Shaw
- Ashley N. Smith
- Jennifer M. Smith
- William F. Steinwedel
- Emily R. Storm
- Amara Steuhling
- Erin S. Thorp
- Megan M. Walburn
Charter Members
Charter membership of the Theta Chapter of Maryland, Phi Beta Kappa Society, was extended to faculty members and College administrators who were initiated as Phi Beta Kappa members at the institutions granting their undergraduate degrees.
- Christopher Ames, Provost and Dean of the College
- T. Clayton Black, Associate Professor of History
- Jeffrey D. Brown, Assistant Professor of Biology
- Martin A. Connaughton, Associate Professor of Biology
- W. Robert Fallaw, Professor of History, Emeritus
- Alisha R. Knight, Assistant Professor of English
- Juan Lin, Professor of Physics
- Katherine S. Maynard, Assistant Professor of French
- Davy H. McCall, Lecturer in Economics, Emeritus
- Corey A. Olsen, Assistant Professor of English
- Andrew L. Oros, Assistant Professor of Political Science
- Rosette M. Roat-Malone, Adjunct Professor of Chemistry
- Ruth C. Shoge, Director of Miller Library
- John B. Taylor, Professor of Political Science
- Baird Tipson, President of the College
- John S. Toll H’04, President Emeritus of the College
- Aileen D. Tsui, Assistant Professor of Art
- Peter J. Weigel, Assistant Professor of Philosophy
- Jennifer M. Whitehead, Director of Math Center
Foundation Members
Foundation membership of the Theta of Maryland was extended to select members of the alumni body.
H. Lawrence Culp ’85
Graduated magna cum laude with degree in economics
President & CEO, Danaher Corp.
William B. Johnson ’40 H’75
Graduated second in his class with degree in economics
Retired CEO & Chair, Illinois Central Railroad
Karen A. Johnson ’68
Graduated magna cum laude with degree in chemistry
Chief, Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Research Group, National Cancer Institute
Terumi Kohwi-Sigematsu ’71
Graduated magna cum laude with degree in chemistry
Senior Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Mark S. Micale ’77
Graduated magna cum laude with degree in history
Associate Professor of History and the History of Medicine, University of Illinois
Ralph Snyderman ’61, H’04
Graduated with a degree in psychology
Former Senior VP at Genentch; Past Chancellor for Health Affairs, Duke University; President & CEO, Duke University Health System
New Brochure!
Galleries
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Phi Beta Kappa is the most highly regarded mark of academic distinction in America. Society membership is extended to only about 10 percent of the nation’s institutions of higher learning and only about ten percent of those institutions’ graduates. -
Phi Beta Kappa and the Cater Society of Junior Fellows hosted a mixer for students interested in pursuing membership in both groups. -
The Cater Society of Junior Fellows and Phi Beta Kappa hosted a mixer for students interested in becoming a Junior Fellow or learning about the high honor of being chosen to join the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Students spoke with their peers, professors, and staff about research projects and pursuit of academic distinction. -
Phi Beta Kappa is the most highly regarded mark of academic distinction in America. Society membership is extended to only about 10 percent of the nation’s institutions of higher learning and only about ten percent of those institutions’ graduates.
Gerda Blumenthal Phi Beta Kappa Award
PLEASE NOTE: The deadline for applications for the 2012-2013 school year is Feb. 15, 2013.
The Gerda Blumenthal Phi Beta Kappa Award is awarded annually to a rising sophomore or junior to support special scholarly work in the Humanities. Upon completion of the project, recipients will present their projects to the members of Phi Beta Kappa. Depending on the availability of funds, award money will range between $800 and $1200.
This award is made possible by a gift from Dr. Robert Kirkwood, former Dean of the College, who established the prize as a way to honor the memory of Dr. Gerda Blumenthal, a former Professor of Modern Languages at Washington College. She has been described by Dr. Thomas Pabon, Professor of Spanish Emeritus, as “a great teacher, a luminary who had a major impact on a lot of students.” This award carries on Dr. Blumenthal’s legacy by supporting students in their pursuit of intellectual excellence.
Dr. Blumenthal was born in Berlin and immigrated to the US with her family in 1939. She studied at Hunter College, where she became a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She later earned a Master’s degree and a PhD from Columbia University. Dr. Blumenthal began teaching World Literature and French at Washington College in 1955 and later served as chair of the Department of Modern Languages. At the College, she earned a reputation as an excellent and inspiring teacher and received the first Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1964. She continued her teaching career as Professor of French and Comparative Literature at Catholic University before retiring in 1988. Dr. Blumenthal passed away in 2004 at the age of 80.
An expert in twentieth-century French literature, Dr. Blumenthal published several articles and three critically-acclaimed books: André Malraux: The Conquest of Dread (1960) and The Poetic Imagination of Georges Bernanos (1965) and Thresholds: A Study of Proust (1984).
