Phi Kappa Phi Installs Chapter 343 at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Phi Kappa Phi will install its 343rd chapter at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center today, March 29. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society.

The installation of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center chapter comes after a thorough chartering process and approval from the Society’s board of directors. To be eligible, an institution must be a regionally accredited four-year college or university with an established reputation of excellence and an expressed commitment to upholding the values of the Society.

“The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is pleased to welcome Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to its community of scholars,” said Society Executive Director Dr. Mary Todd. “The university’s leadership in interprofessional education is but one example of the excellence of their many programs.”

Officers elected by the chartering group to serve the newly installed chapter include President Dr. Sharon Cannon, President-elect Dr. Jannette Dufour, Secretary Jacqueline Chavez, Treasurer Dr. Alyce Ashcraft, Public Relations Officer Suzanna Cisneros, Awards & Grants Coordinator Erin Woods, and Primary Contact Dr. Rial Rolfe.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society—one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines and inducts approximately 30,000 new members each year. Membership is by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students, along with faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

The 411 on Merit

Throughout March we’ve been promoting Merit, an online platform we use to publicize the many achievements of our members. But you may be wondering how exactly does it work?

1. You accomplish something great such as being initiated into the Society, receiving a Phi Kappa Phi award or being elected as a chapter officer.
2. Society Headquarters creates a personalized story tailored specifically to you and your achievement.
3. You receive an email from news@phikappaphi.org with instructions on how to claim your very own Merit profile. See a sample profile here.
4. Your local newspapers also receive a copy of the personalized story in the form of a press release.
5. You brag about your accomplishments by sharing the posts on Twitter and Facebook.
6. You customize your Merit profile with a photo, additional achievements, activities and work experience. Consider it a virtual résumé! 
7. You continue to accomplish great things and receive additional Phi Kappa Phi-branded badges. See examples of the different badges here. 

If you haven’t claimed your Merit profile yet, do so today! To learn more about the program including how to request a Merit page, click here.

Questions? Contact Hannah Breaux.

Deadline Approaching for Phi Kappa Phi Award Programs

The deadline to apply for both the Love of Learning Awards and Literacy Grants is Saturday, April 1.
Love of Learning Awards
Awarded twice a year, Love of Learning Awards help fund post-baccalaureate professional development for active Phi Kappa Phi members including graduate and professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, career development, travel related to teaching and research, and more. Phi Kappa Phi will award grants of $500 each to 100 members during Session A of the program. To be eligible, applicants must have completed their baccalaureate studies by the April 1 deadline.

» Click here to apply.

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Literacy Grants
The Literacy Grant Program, established in 2003, was created to provide funding to Phi Kappa Phi chapters and members for literacy initiatives that reinforce part of the Society’s mission: “to engage the community of scholars in service to others.” Grants of up to $2,500 are available for new and ongoing projects ranging from traditional reading initiatives to those fostering learning in cultural, digital, financial, health, historical literacy and beyond.

» Click here to apply.

If you have questions about either program, contact Kelli Partin at kpartin@phikappaphi.org.

Attend the Student Vice President Leadership Summit

Phi Kappa Phi is currently accepting applications for its 2017 Student Vice President Leadership Summit. The Summit will be held July 13-16 in Denver, Colorado.

Now in its third year, the two-day event will bring together student vice presidents from Phi Kappa Phi chapters across the country to engage in activities aimed at bolstering leadership development skills. Participants will also have the opportunity to network with other student vice presidents and learn strategies for enhancing Phi Kappa Phi chapters.

“I cannot stress enough how beneficial this Summit was for me,” said Jaime Staengel, a previous attendee. “The ability to hear what other chapters are doing or have done to improve was valuable, and I took some ideas away that I plan to implement at Murray State University.”

Applications for the event will be accepted on a rolling basis until May 15, 2017. Nominations will be limited to one student vice president per Phi Kappa Phi chapter.

To be eligible to attend, students must be an active member of Phi Kappa Phi and currently serve as a student vice president within their chapter. Members must also be returning to campus as a full-time student during the 2017-2018 academic year.

Established in 2013 and hosted every other year, the Student Vice President Leadership Summit was developed to engage Phi Kappa Phi’s student vice presidents in personal and organizational development. Since its creation, more than 125 students have attended the event.

To learn more about the Summit and download an application, visit www.phikappaphi.org/summit. If you have additional questions, contact Kay White at kwhite@phikappaphi.org.

Podcasts Available to Phi Kappa Phi Members

Did you know that as a Phi Kappa Phi member you have access to podcasts on a range of topics including career guidance and financial planning? Downloadable and playable on your computer or portable music player any time of day or night, podcasts offer flexibility and freedom to listen anywhere.

The Princeton Review Series
Throughout this podcast series, Anthony Russomanno offers presentations on graduate school applications and testing strategies. Russomanno is a frequent national presenter at high schools, colleges and conferences as an expert in the field of admissions and test preparation and has helped thousands of students. Click here to watch the series.

Seeking Success Series
Are you a recent graduate starting a job search? Are you considering a career change? Is your career in a slump? Struggling or striving, this is the podcast for you. The Seeking Success podcast series delivers current resume, LinkedIn profile and job interviewing advice in a quick format. You’ll hear advice from the team at SeekingSuccess.com, including award-winning, nationally-recognized career expert Tamara Dowling. Click here to watch the series.

Career Guidance Series
Professional counselor Kimberly Thompson presents a series of three podcasts focused on careers. Thompson has provided career transition workshops and career counseling for more than 20 years and written widely on issues dealing with job loss for The Houston Chronicle. In this 3-part series, Thompson explores interviewing, networking and dealing with stress. Click here to watch the series.

Financial Planning Series
Investment advisor and Phi Kappa Phi member RoShawn Winburn has recorded a series of financial planning podcasts that address a variety of topics including the current state of the economy, budgeting, investing, income taxes, and retirement planning. Click here to watch the series.

Questions? Contact Jamie Chapman at jchapman@phikappaphi.org or 800.804.9880, ext. 217.

Phi Kappa Phi Announces 2017 Dissertation Fellows

Phi Kappa Phi has announced the recipients of a 2017 Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellowship. The $10,000 fellowships are designed to support active Society members currently in the dissertation writing stage of doctoral study.

This year’s class of fellows represents a group of 10 students spanning a number of disciplines from science and engineering to arts and humanities.

The 2017 Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellows are:

• Michelle Asbill, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Ananda Bandara, Kansas State University
• Matthew L. Bush, University of Kentucky
• Juan Castro, University of South Florida
• Laura Hamman, University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Bo Cheng Jin, University of Southern California
• Matthew T. Kerr, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Sarah Mayo, University of Georgia
• Will Porter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Anna Joy Rogers, University of Alabama at Birmingham

“Phi Kappa Phi has long been known for supporting graduate students at the beginning of their studies, but only recently have we introduced support at the very end,” said Society Executive Director Dr. Mary Todd. “Crossing that ABD line is critical to a successful academic or professional career, so we are delighted to offer dissertation fellowships to assist Phi Kappa Phi members in reaching the finish line of their doctoral programs.”

The recipients were selected based on a number of criteria including how the fellowship will contribute to the completion of the dissertation, the significance of original research, and endorsement by the dissertation chair. Each fellow will receive $10,000 to apply toward 12 months of dissertation writing.

Established in 2014, the Dissertation Fellowship Program allocates $100,000 annually in support of active Phi Kappa Phi members. In addition to these fellowships, the Society awards $1.4 million each biennium to qualifying students and members through study abroad grants, graduate fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.

To learn more about the Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellowship Program and this year’s recipients, click here.

Prepare for Tax Season with Phi Kappa Phi

Are you ready for tax season? Be prepared with these exclusive discounts from Phi Kappa Phi partners!

Backup with Carbonite

Make sure to back up your tax info and other important financial documents this tax season. Carbonite backs up your irreplaceable computer files securely and automatically to the cloud, and you can access them from any computer, smartphone or tablet. As a Phi Kappa Phi member, you are eligible to receive a 10 percent discount, with additional discounts available for multi-year purchase, on all business and personal plan subscriptions. Members can also try Carbonite free for 15 days! Visit Carbonite.com today and enter promotional code PKP2016 when signing up.

Get organized with Shoeboxed

Are you feeling cluttered with all of your tax paperwork, receipts and bills? Go from paperwork to paperless with Shoeboxed! Shoeboxed provides a fast, easy way to turn your important paper documents into organized digital data. Your documents will be carefully scanned into a secure online account, and all of the organized data—including an IRS-accepted image of each document—is then human-verified and categorized. As a Phi Kappa Phi member, you are eligible to receive 50 percent off your first six months when you subscribe. Click here to sign up for the discount and begin eliminating your paper clutter today!

Protect your taxes with LifeLock

Did you know that submitting fraudulent tax returns and stealing tax refunds can be an easy task for fraudsters? Beat the income tax fraudsters by taking steps to protect yourself. Click here to read more from the LifeLock blog. And remember, as a Phi Kappa Phi member you are eligible for a special 10 percent discount on LifeLock memberships and a 30-day free trial. Click here to sign up and access your 30-day free trial with promo code HSPKP.

Questions? Contact Jamie Chapman at jchapman@phikappaphi.org or 800.804.9880, ext. 217 with all of your member benefit inquiries.

Deadline Approaching for the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship Program

The deadline to apply for one of 57 Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships is April 15, 2017. The Society will award six $15,000 grants and 51 $5,000 grants to students nationwide.

Since its creation in 1932, the Fellowship Program has become one of the Society's most visible and financially well-supported endeavors, allocating $345,000 annually to deserving students for first-year graduate or professional study. The competition is open to all active Phi Kappa Phi members who meet the eligibility requirements.

“This Fellowship Program can transform your life by putting a graduate level educational experience within financial reach, and I thank my Phi Kappa Phi advisors for encouraging me to apply,” said Joseph Schartz, a 2016 Fellow. “I encourage any student who is considering graduate school to learn how Phi Kappa Phi can enable you to go above and beyond as a student scholar.”

The selection process for a Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship is based on the applicant’s evidence of graduate potential, undergraduate academic achievement, service and leadership experience, letters of recommendation, personal statement of educational perspective and career goals, and acceptance at an approved graduate or professional program.

Each active Phi Kappa Phi chapter may endorse one candidate from among its local applicants to compete Society-wide for a fellowship. The national deadline for chapters to submit an applicant is April 15, 2017. Chapter deadlines vary. If you are a student interested in applying for a fellowship, visit www.phikappaphi.org/chapterlist to contact your chapter for local deadline information.

For more information, visit www.phikappaphi.org/fellowship or contact Kelli Partin at kpartin@phikappaphi.org.

Executive Director's Blog – Digging in the Dirt

From the Executive Director
Forum, Spring 2017

I have a friend who is an inveterate gardener. It’s no surprise she grew up on a farm. She has a large garden on her property and tends it with care year round, and her household enjoys her garden’s harvest of fresh vegetables year round as well. She doesn’t only grow vegetables. She has a deep a love for flowers, and her house is surrounded by beds of annuals and perennials, including my favorite calla lilies.

Every child knows the thrill of digging in the dirt. The gardener knows that, too, and lovingly plants a seed or a seedling in the ground and tends it with water and mulch to encourage its growth. Watching a plant grow, my friend tells me, is the ultimate joy.

What I have learned from her is the great investment of time a garden requires. Over the years, I’ve done my fair share of planting shrubs and roses and even a few trees, but the daily tending of flowers and veggies is a time-intensive activity that I honor by admiring others’ gardens.

Poet and environmental activist Wendell Berry believes gardening can be transformative: “A person who undertakes to grow a garden at home, by practices that will preserve rather than exploit the economy of the soil, has his mind precisely against what is wrong with us. . . . [I]f we apply our minds directly and competently to the needs of the earth, then we will have begun to make fundamental and necessary changes in our minds. We will begin to understand and to mistrust and to change our wasteful economy, which markets not just the produce of earth, but also the earth's ability to produce.”

Imagine the transformative effect on the children from urban elementary schools who spent time working with Michelle Obama in her garden on the South Lawn of the White House. Schools across the country have followed her model in creating gardens of their own.

Might we think of Phi Kappa Phi as a garden? We have long-established chapters and newly planted chapters, and a whole lot in between, all producing our annual harvest of new members. A good chunk of my work involves visiting the colleges and universities that want to sow a ΦΚΦ chapter on their campuses — we’ve found that actually spending a day on a campus and meeting with the individuals who signed the petition to establish a chapter is the best way to determine how rich the soil might be for the growth of a healthy chapter.

Since the convention last summer, we have installed four new chapters: in Puerto Rico, Arizona, and two in Washington. By the time this issue is in your hands, three more will have been installed in California, Virginia, and North Carolina. More are in the pipeline. It’s been a busy planting season.

Of late we’ve been using a gardening word — grow — in our work with chapters. Because the organic growth of Society membership comes from the students who accept the invitation extended by chapters, we recognize the obligation to provide resources to nurture our chapters and their outreach to prospective members.

Spring is around the corner, and with it the first greening of trees here in the South that will gradually move north as the days lengthen. Gardeners, like farmers, will soon prepare the ground and start seeds and a new season of planting and reaping will begin. And Phi Kappa Phi chapters will be busy growing as they sow invitations and reap new members. Transformative work indeed.

-Mary Todd, Executive Director

Free Grad School Admissions Webinar

Getting into graduate school can be intimidating. At many top schools, the number of applicants is on the rise, and so are test scores. You’ll probably need some great advice along the way.

Join the University of Nevada, Las Vegas chapter of Phi Kappa Phi and The Princeton Review on Wednesday, March 22, at 9 p.m. Eastern time as they show you exactly what it takes to get into graduate school.

Topics will include:

• Insight into the medical, law, business and grad school admissions processes (GPA, test scores, extra-curriculars) as well as required entrance exams
• How to improve your chances of gaining admission to the school of your choice
• The timeline for when you should take your exams and apply
• Question and answer session
• …and a special offer from The Princeton Review

Click here to register now.

The webinar is available for anyone to attend. Students on the UNLV campus can attend in person in room BEH 122. Refreshments will be provided and attendees are asked to arrive 30 minutes early.

Can't attend the webinar live? Sign up to receive a free recording!

Featured Fellow: Jacob Bogart

Phi Kappa Phi’s Featured Fellow for March is Jacob Bogart, a 2015 Fellow. Jacob was awarded a Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship as an undergraduate at The Ohio State University. He is currently pursuing a J.D. in human rights law at Columbia University.

Watch below to learn more about Jacob and hear how the award has made an impact on his academic career. To apply for a Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship, click here for eligibility requirements and application instructions.

Chapter How-to: Promoting Phi Kappa Phi Awards

Chapters play a critical role in the success of Phi Kappa Phi’s award programs. Because most information is often distributed at the chapter level, we rely on you to help us effectively promote these programs.

As you know, our award season is in full swing! Here are a few tips to help your chapter continue to promote and encourage participation in the various programs.

Ways to Promote

• Place posters (pictured on right) in prominent areas throughout campus. Tip: Give a few posters to your institution’s Scholarship and Student Aid department for additional coverage.
• Run an advertisement in your campus newspaper. Tip: Society Headquarters will reimburse up to $200 per fiscal year for advertisements. 
• Host an informational meeting.
• Publicize the awards on your chapter website and social media pages.
• Conduct a workshop with interested applicants on how to apply. Tip: Consider recruiting a previous Phi Kappa Phi award winner from your chapter to speak at the meeting.
• Send an e-newsletter.
• Hand out fact sheets at a campus event.
• Ask your chapter’s public relations officer or Communications Committee to help develop additional promotional materials. Tip: Highlight testimonials from previous award winners.

Important Dates
When planning events or chapter-related communications, keep these upcoming award deadlines in mind:

• Literacy — April 1 deadline
• Love of Learning — April 1 deadline
• Fellowship — April 15 deadline (Note: Chapter applications are due at Headquarters on this date. Local deadline is determined by each chapter.)

Resources
Society Headquarters has created a variety of resources to assist chapters in promoting the application periods. Visit the Awards and Benefits section of the Chapter Toolkit to download fact sheets, posters, applications and more.

Looking for a quick snapshot of all the programs? Download this one-page fact sheet.

Questions?
If you have additional questions about the award and grant programs or application process, contact Awards Manager Kelli Partin at kpartin@phikappaphi.org or 800.804.9880, ext. 235.

Phi Kappa Phi Member Receives DCInternships Scholarship

Congratulations to Phi Kappa Phi member Sydney Stanard from the University of Mississippi for receiving one of three $2,500 scholarships from DCInternships. Sponsored by The Fund of American Studies, the Washington, D.C.-based internship programs include academic credit through George Mason University, an internship placement and furnished housing.

In addition to courses and internships, students who enroll in the DCInternships program are able to participate in a mentor program, professional development seminars, roundtable discussions, networking receptions with program alumni, as well as site briefings at some of the city’s most influential institutions and organizations.

To learn more about the internship opportunities and scholarships available to Phi Kappa Phi members through DCInternships and the Washington Internship Institute, visit PhiKappaPhi.org/Internship-Opportunities.

Don’t miss these upcoming program deadlines:

DCInternships

• Summer 2017 Undergraduate Programs (deadline March 14) – Apply Now!
• Summer 2017 Legal Studies Institute (deadline March 14) – Apply Now!
• Fall 2017 Capital Semester Priority (deadline April 13) – Apply Now!

Washington Internship Institute Deadlines

• Summer 2017 Program (deadline March 15) – Apply Now!
• Fall 2017 program (deadline June 30; April 17 for international students) – Apply Now!

Contact Jamie Chapman at jchapman@phikappaphi.org or 800.804.9880, ext. 217 with all of your internship opportunity questions.

Share Your Success with Merit

The Merit program, implemented in 2013, helps Phi Kappa Phi promote member successes such as being initiated into the Society, receiving an award, becoming a chapter officer, attending Phi Kappa Phi events and more.

With Merit, members can customize their online profile with a photo, bio, activities, affiliations and work experience. Consider it a virtual résumé! Your Merit page is also social, so sharing news with your inner circle on Facebook and Twitter is easy.

Best part? Your Merit page is created and updated automatically by Phi Kappa Phi—you don’t have to maintain it. Updates to Merit pages are shared with a network of stakeholders who are invested in your achievements: family and friends, local news outlets, employers, former teachers, colleges and universities, volunteer organizations and more. In addition to keeping your achievements and activities in one virtual place, Merit can build your online presence to help you secure jobs, get internships and collect references.

If you haven’t received a Merit profile (anyone initiated prior to March 2013) and would like to get started, email news@phikappaphi.org with your name and member ID number.

Want more information? Click here to learn more about the Merit program and visit the Phi Kappa Phi Merit Page to see the latest member achievements. Stay tuned to social media throughout March as we post tips, FAQs, stories and more during #MeritMarch.

Member Benefits Highlights – March 2017

What's better than finding a four-leaf clover? These exclusive discounts available to members throughout the entire month of March!

Avvo
As a Phi Kappa Phi member you have access to 10% off all Avvo’s fixed fee legal services. Services are available in the practice areas of Family, Immigration, Business, Estate Planning, Real Estate, Landlord & Tenant, Employment & Labor, Criminal Defense, and Bankruptcy & Debt. Use Avvo legal services to make legal easier! Click here to select the practice area you need help in, choose a service from the menu and select your lawyer. Use promo code PKP2016.

Church Hill Classics
Looking to show off your Phi Kappa Phi pride? Frame your membership certificate with a customizable frame from Church Hill Classics. Choose from a variety of frame moldings, mat colors and materials to create a frame that complements your home or office decor. In addition, you can find a frame to showcase your medallion, stole or Phi Kappa Phi photos. Click here to start designing today!

Carbonite
Make sure to back up your tax info and other important financial documents once you’re done filing this tax season. Carbonite backs up your files securely and automatically to the cloud, allowing you to access them from any computer, smartphone or tablet. Phi Kappa Phi members are eligible to receive a 10% discount, with additional discounts available for multi-year purchase, on all business and personal plan subscriptions. Members can also try Carbonite free for 15 days! Visit Carbonite.com today and enter promotional code PKPOFFER10 when signing up for your free trial or purchasing a subscription.

Franklin Planner
Phi Kappa Phi members receive a 15% discount on all online purchases from Franklin Planner. Whether you’re looking for a Franklin Planner signature planning system to organize your time or a fine leather bag to organize your professional world, you’ll find the tools you need at Franklin Planner. Visit FranklinPlanner.com and use promo code PKPMEMBER to start planning today!

Lenovo
Spring savings are blooming at Lenovo with up to 34% off great PCs. Enjoy month long instant savings on Lenovo’s most popular laptops, desktops, tablets and more. Visit Lenovo.com/PhiKappaPhi to shop online and click here to access special offers available for a limited time.

LifeLock
Beat the income tax fraudsters this tax season by taking steps to protect yourself. Click here to learn how from the LifeLock blog. And remember, as a Phi Kappa Phi member you are eligible for a special 10% discount on LifeLock memberships and a 30-day free trial. Click here to sign up and access your 30-day free trial with promo code HSPKP.

Shoeboxed
Are you feeling cluttered with all of your tax paperwork, receipts and bills? Go from paperwork to paperless with Shoeboxed! Shoeboxed provides a fast, easy way to turn your important paper documents into organized digital data. Your documents will be carefully scanned into a secure online account, and all of the organized data—including an IRS-accepted image of each document—is then human-verified and categorized. As a Phi Kappa Phi member, you are eligible to receive 50% off your first six months when you subscribe. Click here to sign up for the discount and begin eliminating your paper clutter today!

Questions? Contact Jamie Chapman at jchapman@phikappaphi.org or 800.804.9880, ext. 217 with all of your member benefit inquiries.

Marbles: The Brain Store Partnership Discontinued

As of February 10, the Marbles: The Brain Store partnership with Phi Kappa Phi has been discontinued. Marbles is in the process of closing their online store and all physical store locations across the country.

Members are encouraged to take advantage of the other partner discounts available at PhiKappaPhi.org/Benefits.

If you have questions, please contact Jamie Chapman at jchapman@phikappaphi.org or 800.804.9880, ext. 217.

Beyond Books: Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Grants

The very definition of literacy, in addition to the ability to read and write, is competence or knowledge in a specified area. Phi Kappa Phi's Literacy Grant Program recognizes the many facets of literacy and encourages applicants to go beyond books.

Grants of up to $2,500 are currently available for Phi Kappa Phi chapters and individual members to fund ongoing literacy projects or to create new initiatives. The Literacy Grant Program welcomes proposals for projects ranging from traditional reading initiatives to those fostering learning in cultural, digital, financial, health, historical literacy and beyond.

Click each icon below to see previous grant winners spanning a number of fields:

                           

                             

The deadline to apply for a Literacy Grant is April 1, 2017. To learn more and apply, click here. If you have questions, contact Kelli Partin at kpartin@phikappaphi.org.

Volunteer Spotlight – March 2017

Ron Tulley
The University of Findlay

Chapter Position: Treasurer

University Position: Dean, College of Liberal Arts; Professor of English

Years of Service to the Chapter: 8 years

Degree(s)/Discipline: Ph.D., English; M.B.A, Organizational Leadership; M.S., Curriculum and Instruction; M.A., Technical Communication

How did you become involved as a chapter officer? A colleague of mine, Dr. Marie Louden-Hanes, was a strong advocate of bringing a few select honor societies to campus. She sought out members of Phi Kappa Phi to help with the campaign to receive our charter. I didn't hesitate. I always appreciated Phi Kappa Phi's mission and have always felt that it was a well-run organization that used its resources wisely for its members.

What has your chapter done that has made you proud? Many things. Our chapter reflects our University's identity as an institution. We combine our own distinctives (e.g., a strong commitment to service, entrepreneurial approach, etc.) with academic success. I'm very proud that we've achieved either the Chapter of Merit or Chapter of Excellence award every year they were offered, and we were eligible. Looking over the list of large state and private schools that have Phi Kappa Phi chapters, I'm particularly proud that our small chapter has achieved ambitious goals.

What does Phi Kappa Phi mean to you? Another opportunity for our students to be recognized, to get involved, and to be supported both on campus and beyond their own university. I'm proud to be part of an interdisciplinary honor society that encourages diversity of thought and discipline. And I strongly believe that the "love of learning" should guide us all as academics.

What do you enjoy most about being a chapter officer? My supportive colleagues, our student leaders and the ability to say yes to the small expenditures that make our chapter run efficiently. It's not always the most exciting or high profile role (e.g., tax forms, finance reports, etc.), but it is essential to the health of our chapter.

What advice would you give to a new chapter officer? They say the worst vice is advice, but if asked, I would stick with what I know. For a mid-sized or smaller college or university, you are the agent of change and productivity. Find a role at a chapter and strive to make a difference. Smaller schools don't have the luxury of "next person up" or the accumulated resources that larger schools may have. In the eight years since we received our charter from Phi Kappa Phi, we have succeeded because our chapter is comprised of role players devoid of ego who do what they do because they see the benefit to the students. Find those people to work with and be that person who recognizes the opportunities that can provide a legacy for our students far beyond what we might be able to do alone. I would also suggest volunteering for a national-level committee and attending the Phi Kappa Phi conventions. I have been privileged to hold several volunteer roles at the national level that have allowed me to learn from my colleagues and to be inspired both by ideas from other chapters and the devoted folks at Phi Kappa Phi Headquarters.

What are your hobbies? Cycling, kayaking, disc golf, continuing education, reading, writing, traveling

Where are you from? Originally from Chicago, though Findlay, Ohio, has been my home for over 10 years.

Click here to see Ron's CV.

Mark Your Calendar! Brooks Brothers Shopping Event

Mark your calendars for the first Brooks Brothers shopping event of 2017 on Thursday, March 2. During the one-day event, Phi Kappa Phi members can receive 25 percent off full-priced merchandise in retail stores, online and by phone when using the Corporate Membership Card.

To sign up for a complimentary Brooks Brothers Corporate Membership Card, visit Membership.BrooksBrothers.com or call 1.866.515.4747 with organization ID# 11755 and pin code 61431.

To receive the discount online, members must create a separate Corporate Member profile, even if you already have an existing Brooks Brothers profile. Please allow 20 minutes after you receive your email confirmation before creating your online Corporate Member profile. Register for your separate Corporate Member profile here.

Brooks Brothers, the oldest clothing retailer in the U.S., offers classic clothing for men, women and children. Visit BrooksBrothers.com for more information.

If you have additional questions, please contact Jamie Chapman at jchapman@phikappphi.org.