Extend the Conversation: Online Classes

In the fall edition of Forum, which explores the theme of revelation, essayist and teacher Derek Furr reflects on what he's learned about the challenges and opportunities of teaching online classes during the pandemic. "I find myself in a perpetual state of uncertainty about a practice that has defined much of my life," he writes. If you missed Furr's essay, you can read it here.

Have you taken a class online this year? If so, what did you like and dislike about the experience? Was this a first-time experience for you? What did you learn about this format?

We'd love to hear from you. Extend the conversation in our online member community Link.

The community is available to active members only, and you will be required to log in with your Phi Kappa Phi credentials. For login assistance, email webmaster@phikappaphi.org.

Not active? Click here to renew your membership and gain access to this exclusive benefit.

ΦΚΦ Member Spotlight – October 2020

Hailing from the rural parish of St. John, Barbados, Tamesha Duesbury completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, in 2009 and has held the position of Probation Officer within the Barbados Probation Department since 2011.

In 2017, Tamesha was awarded a Fulbright Foreign Student scholarship and made the decision to leave her family in Barbados to pursue her dreams at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, where she was the first Barbadian student. She used the award to fund a master’s degree in criminal justice and graduated in 2019, the same year she was initiated into Phi Kappa Phi.

Since her youth, Tamesha has had a passion for working with children, especially at-risk youth. In high school, she tutored other children within her community and has served as a mentor to young adults through many organizations. She most recently served as a Co-Director of Mentorship for UAB’s BLUEPrint CONNECT program from 2018 to 2019.

Tamesha’s unwavering devotion to serve at-risk youth leads her to continue developing her skills. She is a certified Forensic Interviewer of Children through the National Children’s Advocacy Center and has trained through the National Council for Behavioral Health’s Mental Health First Aid programs for adults and youth.

Let’s get to know Tamesha!

1. Why did you accept the invitation to join Phi Kappa Phi?

   The invitation to join was an acknowledgement of the sacrifices, resilience, hard work and dedication to my studies. I earned the distinction, and the opportunity to be amongst other scholars and professionals of similar excellence is truly an honor.

2. What does Phi Kappa Phi mean to you?

   Being a part of the Phi Kappa Phi community grants me the opportunity to be supported, mentored, encouraged and surrounded by an amazing group of people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.

3. What was your first job?

   My first job was at Kentucky Fried Chicken as an Expediter. It taught me the importance of good customer service, teamwork, time management, productivityand the importance of learning how to function in all areas of the organization

4. Do you cook?

   Yes, I enjoy cooking! My sons, ages 6 and 5, always assist me so every dish is a joy to prepare. Together we prepare local Caribbean and international cuisine.

5. Why did you choose your career?

   From as early as nine years old, I recall assisting at-risk youth within my school by sharing snacks, school supplies, clothing and assisting them with their schoolwork. Since that time, I have been passionately pursuing my purpose and positively impacting the lives of the youth in Barbados and the Caribbean. My position as a Probation Officer allows me to continue my passion and observing the transformation of the children I help is truly fulfilling.

6. What’s your all-time favorite TV show?

   It’s a classic, "The Golden Girls!"

7. What did you want to be when you grew up as a child?

   I wanted to be an attorney or a forensic interviewer, and I accomplished my goal by becoming certified as a forensic interviewer of children. However, I am not finished seeking ways to assist children.

8. What is your favorite holiday?

   I love everything about the Christmas season—the joy, happiness, peace, thoughtfulness, togetherness, music, aroma from baking and cooking, ambience, decorations, etc. It is truly the most wonderful time of the year!

9. What are your hobbies?

   My hobbies are writing poetry, singing, reading, learning to swim and exercising with my gym family at Bassa Bassa Barbados.

10. What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

I don’t think of myself as being very adventurous, but I did take a train from Birmingham, Alabama, to Penn Station New York once. It was educational and loads of fun!

To learn more about Tamesha and connect, visit her profile within our online member community, here.

Is there someone you would like to see in the spotlight? Send your nomination to engagement@phikappaphi.org and be sure to include basic information for the nomination.

Member Mentions – October 2020

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi's international community is a unique blend of students, academicians, and corporate and civic leaders from all fields of endeavor. Membership in Phi Kappa Phi recognizes and rewards academic success. That recognition doesn’t end after initiation. From their time in school to their professional career, Society members’ hard work continues to pay off and be acknowledged.

Phi Kappa Phi would like to congratulate these members on their recent achievements:

Thomas E. Baker (California State University, Long Beach) has been named a Fulbright Scholar. The Indiana native will research and provide mentorship at the University of York as part of a project to study the exact properties of density functional theory.

Lesley Casarez (Angelo State University) and ASU's online Master of Science in professional school counseling degree program have been selected for a 2020 John R. Bourne Outstanding Online Program Award. The award is given to online education programs that exhibit a proven track record of excellence.

Nathan Lin (Youngstown State University), a senior majoring in chemical engineering, has received a scholarship from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ohio Space Grant Consortium for his research project, "A Numerical Study of a Cyclone Separator at Reduced Operating Pressures."

Megan Losoncy (University of Tulsa) has been named an Outstanding Senior at the University of Tulsa. Losoncy, a graphic design major, was chosen for her exceptional achievement in academics and community engagement.

Jessica Thayer (Frostburg State University) has been named a Newman Civic Fellow, which recognizes and supports community-committed students "who are changemakers and public problem-solvers." As a senior with a double major in law and society and political science, Thayer is also the Student Government Association vice president at FSU.

Chloe Todd (Texas A&M University) has been named as TAMU's Outstanding Junior for 2020. Todd, a biology major, was chosen from among all of the students named as outstanding juniors for each of the school's colleges and will receive a scholarship for the honor.

At Clemson University, two Society members began their journey as Beckman Scholars. Shaoni Dasgupta, a biological sciences major, and Nathan Matzko, a biochemistry major, join an elite group of students across 13 institutions. Each will participate in a 15-month mentored laboratory experience and present their completed work at the Beckman Symposium.

At Troy University, several Society members were honored during the 2020 Accountancy Day Awards and Scholarships. Christopher Gehman and Trista Jarvis won the Frank Sims and Sarah Smith Anderson Scholarship. Breana Johnson won the Outstanding Graduate Student Award and the Sorrell College Student Excellence Award. AnnaLee Ludlam won the South Central Chapter of ASCPAs Scholarship.

Do you have an accomplishment you’d like to share? Email your member news to news@phikappaphi.org to be considered for inclusion.

Enter Our Costume Contest for a Chance to Win!

Whether this year's garb is thrilling or chilling, we want to see your Halloween costumes! We know our members have brilliant minds. Show us how you put them to work for your annual attire, and you could win a stash of great Phi Kappa Phi gear.

Visit our member-exclusive Link community and post your photos in this conversation to enter. The deadline to submit your best look is Nov. 4. One lucky winner will receive a gift pack that includes a 16.9 oz. sport bottle, a canvas tote, and a cable knit beanie.

While you're there, check out all of the community conversations you may have been missing. From tech discussions in the STEM Lab to publishing world chats in the Writer's Block to successful job search tips in the Career Corner, there's sure to be a topic that catches your eye.

The community is available to active members only, and you will be required to log in with your Phi Kappa Phi credentials. For login assistance, email webmaster@phikappaphi.org.

Not active? Click here to renew your membership and gain access to this exclusive benefit.

Phi Kappa Phi's Forum Magazine Wins Special National Award for its Content

For the fourth time this year, Phi Kappa Phi’s Forum magazine has been recognized with a national award for its content.

During its annual meeting, which was held online this year because of pandemic restrictions, Association Media & Publishing gave Forum AM&P’s highest honor, an EXTRA! award, for a feature in its Spring 2019 issue, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Krakow,” written by Nancy Lusignan Schultz.

Based in Washington, D.C., AM&P represents print and digital publications for nonprofits across the country. Earlier this year, Forum received three AM&P EXCEL Awards, which annually recognize excellence and leadership in association media, publishing, marketing and communications.

The EXTRA award, Forum’s latest honor, is chosen from among all among all the year’s Excel award recipients to recognize any winning entries that took bold chances and successfully innovated an association media product.

It’s AM&P’s top honor, and Forum was the only magazine to secure an EXTRA award for 2020. “EXTRA award winners represent the pioneers in our field, and we applaud their leadership,” AM&P noted in announcing the prize for Forum. “There was a particularly impressive field of EXCEL award winners this year, and a committee of industry leaders agreed that 'Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Krakow' was distinguished beyond all other entries.”

Schultz is a professor of English at Salem State University, where she was inducted as a Society member. In her essay, she explores her experience teaching Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s classic 1852 novel about the dire consequences of slavery, to students at her home campus in Salem as well as in Krakow, Poland. “Teaching Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Krakow made me confront this history of American slavery in a deeper way,” Schultz wrote. Click here to read Schultz’s essay.

Schultz’s article was guided to publication by Forum’s previous editor, Beth Colvin, who also oversaw the 2019 content recognized in the magazine’s other AM&P awards this year.

“I’m delighted by this recognition of Beth’s creative leadership and Dr. Schultz’s wonderful essay,” said Danny Heitman, who succeeded Colvin as editor in January. “We look forward to extending Beth’s work in bringing quality content to the Society’s readers. This year has brought renewed debate about the implications of race in national life. Articles like Dr. Schultz’s essay can be an important part of that discussion.”

An extensive archive of Forum's content, including its latest issue, is available at this link.

Five Ways to Save on Tech This Holiday Season

When was the last time tech gadgets weren’t on your holiday shopping list? No holiday season would be complete without getting or gifting a smartphone, tablet, laptop, game console or other tech gadget.

The holiday season is the perfect time to take advantage of exclusive member-only discounts available through your Phi Kappa Phi membership. Our technology partners will be offering discounts of more than 45% all season long, and we invite you to visit the member stores below often to find the best deals of the season!

1. Save now, and year-round! Members can save 15% off their AT&T monthly wireless phone service. The discount is available to new and existing AT&T customers, and the discount applies only to the monthly service charge of qualified wireless plans and does not apply to additional monthly device access charges. Visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/ATT to learn more and don’t forget to check out the AT&T Holiday Gift Guide to find gift ideas and deals on phones, accessories and more.


2. Give the gift of security and save. If you’re treating yourself to a laptop or PC this holiday season, don’t forget to protect your irreplaceable documents, photos, music and more with a backup plan from Carbonite. Securely back up your files to the cloud and access them from any computer, smartphone or tablet. Members receive a 10% discount on any Carbonite plan subscription, with additional discounts available for multi-year purchase. Visit www.Carbonite.com and enter promo code PKPOFFER10 when signing up.  


3. Take advantage of sneak peek deals! Dell is already serving up the holiday deals with their Black Friday Sneak Peek Deals on laptops and more with Intel Core. Shop early and members can also get an extra $100 off select computers and 10% off Dell monitors and accessories throughout October! The deals are always changing, so visit www.Dell.com/PhiKappaPhi to browse and return often to access deals all holiday season!


4. Do your homework and make a list. Make a list of the items you want to watch, and visit the HP member store at www.HPDirect.com/Member/Phi_Kappa_Phi to view everyday discounts up to 45% and revolving holiday sales. Access deals up to 50% off during HP’s Pre Black Friday sale Nov. 15-21, Black Friday Sale Nov. 22-28, and Cyber Monday Sale Nov. 29-Dec. 5.


5. Plan ahead for the best savings! Lenovo has released their holiday sale schedule, so be sure to mark your calendars!

ThinkPad Anniversary Oct. 19-25
Black Friday Sneak Peek Oct. 26-Nov. 1
Days of Doorbusters Nov. 3-15
Black Friday Nov. 16-28
Cyber Monday Nov. 29-Dec. 1
Cyber Week Dec. 2-6
In time for Holidays Dec. 7-13
Winter Clearance | Boxing Day Dec. 24-31

Click here to browse the 2020 Lenovo Gift Guide, and don’t forget to shop through the member store at www.Lenovo.com/PhiKappaPhi for the best savings!

We hope our partners will help you check off every tech gadget on your list and save! Purchases made through our partners will also support the Society’s mission of recognizing and promoting academic excellence, so don’t forget to bookmark these member store websites to make it even easier to support Phi Kappa Phi every time you shop!

Questions? Email Jamie Chapman, membership director.

Up for Discussion: Solitude

Since the Up for Discussion feature began in this summer's edition of the Phi Kappa Phi Forum, we've enjoyed reading your responses and choosing a sampling to share in the print edition of the magazine.

The upcoming spring edition in 2021 will focus on the theme of solitude, and we welcome your feedback. Share your response to our questions by replying to this discussion in our online member community Link.

Most of us have spent at least some time living alone. What’s the best advice you’d give someone embarking on life in a household of one? What were the best and worst parts of the experience? What did you learn?

Responses of no more than three or four sentences are recommended, and we look forward to reading your contributions.

The community is available to active members only, and you will be required to log in with your Phi Kappa Phi credentials. For login assistance, email webmaster@phikappaphi.org.

Not active? Click here to renew your membership and gain access to this exclusive benefit.

Save the Date for Giving Tuesday

On Dec. 1, Phi Kappa Phi will celebrate Giving Tuesday – a day of philanthropy dedicated to giving back through the support of nonprofit organizations.

This year, we ask that you consider making a gift to the Phi Kappa Phi Foundation to support deserving students and help members realize their educational and career goals. All gifts, no matter the size, will open doors of opportunity to members both near and far.

With the recent addition of the Graduate Research Grant, the Society now proudly distributes $1 million each year to students, members, chapters and institutions to support their quest for lifelong learning.

Want to see exactly how your contributions can make an impact? Check out these testimonials from Phi Kappa Phi members across the country.

Ready to join the Giving Tuesday movement? Here are some ways to get involved:
1. Make sure you save the date on your calendar.
2. Follow us on social media for updates leading up to the big day.
3. Spread the word by joining and sharing our Facebook event with friends and family.

Forum Sneak Peek: Now You See It

The latest edition of the Phi Kappa Phi Forum will be arriving in your mailbox soon. Continuing with the 2020 vision-based topics, the fall edition's theme is "Now You See It." The featured stories, regular columnists, and even our custom crossword puzzle will all dive deeper into that idea.

The feature articles discuss:

• A Taste of Fear – Home for the lockdown, nationally renowned nature writer Scott Russell Sanders confronts challenges some unlucky Americans faced before the pandemic.
• Sleep Paralysis – Frozen between slumber and waking, people encounter strange experiences and report visions of unwelcome visitors.
• Slow Revelations – With advancing age, essayist and cultural critic Willard Spiegelman takes a deeper look at mortality, which can reveal what's really important.
• Second Thoughts – Essayist and teacher Derek Furr wonders how online teaching and other pandemic realities are shaping the art of reflection.

Plus, don't miss a recap of our 2020 UN-conventional convention.

As always, we welcome letters to the editor, member news, poetry submissions and story ideas for upcoming themes. Visit our Forum page to learn more.

Forum 15: Solitude

As a new feature added to the Society's Forum magazine this year, "Forum 15" highlights elements of popular culture related to each edition's theme. "We want to affirm that the ideas we discuss in Forum have a vivid presence in our daily lives – in the books we read, the shows we watch, the songs we sing, the movies we see, and the buildings we admire," said Danny Heitman, editor of Forum. 

Looking forward into 2021, the theme of the spring edition is solitude. We'd love your suggestions for items to include in "Forum 15." Is there a movie, book, painting, sculpture or piece of architecture that strikes you as a memorable exploration of solitude? Share your ideas in our members-only online community. We'll include as many ideas as we can in the spring Forum.

The community is available to active members only, and you will be required to log in with your Phi Kappa Phi credentials. For login assistance, email webmaster@phikappaphi.org.

Not active? Click here to renew your membership and gain access to this exclusive benefit.

From the Executive Director: Still Learning

There are some advantages to a long commute. While traveling from my home in the Chicago suburbs to the downtown campus where I was working on my doctorate, I listened often to NPR, and one day in 1992 heard Fresh Air’s Terry Gross interview Derrick Bell about his book Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism. Using allegories to illustrate his point, Bell shared his story, “The Space Traders.”

I was then teaching a humanities seminar on individualism and community that focused on the common good and community decision-making. I was so taken by the premise of “Space Traders” that I shared it with my students that evening:

In the near future, America is nearly bankrupt, its environment toxic, its energy resources virtually depleted. Alien ships arrive on American shores and announce they have brought enough gold and energy to solve all three critical issues, and they wish only one thing in return — all the African Americans who live in the United States. The nation has two weeks to respond. I posed Bell’s question to my students. How do you think America answered?

Bell’s parable led me to a study of critical race theory, and to add that perspective when teaching about race, a prominent theme in my American history courses. The analytical framework that race matters drove me into what has been called “white soul work,” the reading and thinking essential to acknowledging in oneself what feminist scholar Peggy McIntosh defines as “the invisible knapsack of white privilege.”

The events of recent months reveal how essential that work is. The death of George Floyd last spring sparked a national outcry about police behavior toward Blacks that generated protest marches across America, in large cities and small towns alike. In a remarkable display of solidarity, the country appeared to have turned a corner rather than a blind eye to the depth and breadth of racism in American society and institutions.

A late July poll by The Washington Post/ABC News found a majority of Americans support the Black Lives Matter movement. As the spring protests began, members wrote to ask that the Society address the protests. We did, with a statement on the website that concluded:

“As an organization grounded in the love of learning, we admit that we all have more to learn — about one another, about injustice and systemic racism, and about our nation’s history. Outstanding scholarship knows no color; rather, it affirms the dignity of every individual.”

We underscored our belief that education and dialogue remain the keys to informed citizenship. In addition to an increasing number of excellent books, in August 2019 The New York Times Magazine published “The 1619 Project,” a reframing of American history marking 400 years since the arrival of enslaved Africans to the Virginia colony. Finally, if you have the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., include a visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the newest Smithsonian. The museum does a masterful job of telling the story of those 400 years, a history not taught often enough but vital to one’s self-understanding as an American. I felt a sense of reverence when walking through the history, from enslavement to the ongoing civil rights movement. I found it hard to hold back tears, whether looking at Nat Turner’s Bible or Emmett Till’s casket, just being in a place that tells a powerful story of majesty amid unspeakable cruelty and struggle. You can also visit online.

Keep learning. Stay safe and well.

Phi Kappa Phi Announces Love of Learning Award Recipients

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi today announced the recipients of a 2020 Love of Learning Award. The $500 awards were given to 200 Phi Kappa Phi members.

Love of Learning Awards are designed to help fund post-baccalaureate professional development for active Phi Kappa Phi members including graduate or professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, travel related to teaching and research, career development and more.

“The Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award is a fitting means of bringing our motto to life — Let the love of learning rule,” said Society Executive Director Dr. Mary Todd. “We are delighted each year to support the lifelong learning activities of our members through these grants.”

Established in 2007, the Love of Learning Program gives 200 awards annually in support of post-baccalaureate professional development. The selection process for a Love of Learning Award is based on the applicant’s academic achievement, campus and community service, intended use of award funds as it relates to academic and career goals, and a personal statement.

Since 1932, Phi Kappa Phi’s awards program has recognized members and students on its chapter campuses for outstanding academic achievement. In addition to the Love of Learning Program, Phi Kappa Phi awards graduate and dissertation fellowships, study abroad grants, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives. Each year $1 million is awarded through a program that last year recognized more than 350 individuals.

For the complete list of recipients, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/LoL2020recipients. The application process for the 2021 Love of Learning Awards will open on Dec. 15, 2020.

Applications Open for Graduate Research Grants and Dissertation Fellowships

Phi Kappa Phi is now accepting applications for its Graduate Research Grant and Dissertation Fellowship Award.

Introduced in 2018 as a pilot program, the Graduate Research Grant will provide up to $1,500 to 20 eligible members who are enrolled in a graduate program. These grants provide funding for research in support of career development opportunities. For full eligibility requirements, visit www.phikappaphi.org/graduateresearch.

Ten Dissertation Fellowships of $10,000 each will be awarded to eligible members in the dissertation writing stage of their doctoral study. For full eligibility requirements, visit www.phikappaphi.org/dissertation.

Since 1932, Phi Kappa Phi's awards program has recognized members and students on its chapter campuses for outstanding academic achievement. Each year $1 million is awarded through programs that last year recognized more than 350 individuals.