Washington College: A Top-Tier Maryland Liberal Arts College

About the Society

View photos from the Spring 2008 Phi Beta Kappa induction ceremony and banquet.
View photos from a Phi Beta Kappa luncheon with Taylor Branch, Gloria Richardson, and Birch Bayh.

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. Washington College's Theta Chapter was chartered in February 2007.

The society's mission is 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 its programs are academic and literary awards, lectureships, a fellowship, a professorship, and publication of The American Scholar, an award-winning quarterly journal.

Invitations to join Phi Beta Kappa are extended each spring to Washington College students, usually seniors, of exceptional academic achievement. The Annual Induction Ceremony is held each April.

In addition to sponsoring campus events that are consistent with the overall mission of the Society, each spring, Washington College's Theta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa presents the Gerda Blumenthal Award to a first- or second-year student for special scholarly work in the Humanities.

Chapter Officers

• Andrew L. Oros, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies - President
• Ruth Shoge, Associate Professor, College Librarian - Vice President
• Sean Ross Meehan, Assistant Professor of English - Secretary
• Alvin Drischler, Adjunct Professor of Business Management and Political Science - Treasurer

For information, please contact Professor Oros.

Charter Members

View photos from the Phi Beta Kappa chapter installation.

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 Chapter of Maryland, Phi Beta Kappa Society, was extended to select members of the alumni body.

Initiated Members

The inaugural Phi Beta Kappa Class was initiated in April 2007.