Chapman University Installs Inaugural Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa

ORANGE, Calif., April 19, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On Thursday, April 18, Chapman University inducted the first 22 students into its new Phi Beta Kappa chapter, Psi of California, at a ceremony held on campus. Phi Beta Kappa, established in 1776, is the nation's oldest and most prestigious honor society. Just 10 percent of U.S. colleges and universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters, making the addition of Chapman a notable milestone for the 158-year old University.

"It is an honor for Chapman to be recognized by Phi Beta Kappa for our educational excellence," said Kyndra Rotunda, J.D., Professor of Military and International Law and the first President-Elect of Chapman's Psi of California Chapter. "Representing approximately one percent of Chapman's overall 2019 bachelor's graduates, our first Phi Beta Kappa inductees come from all over the U.S. and the United Kingdom. This first cohort includes a Rhodes Scholar. These 22 students earned degrees in areas as diverse as biological sciences, film studies and integrated education studies."

Six Foundation Members – a high honor that each Phi Beta Kappa chapter has just one opportunity to confer, at its inaugural induction ceremony -- were also selected from the Chapman faculty and administration, including current Chapman President Daniele Struppa, President Emeritus Jim Doti, and Nobel laureate Vernon Smith.

Chapman Phi Beta Kappa student inductees are:

Vidal Arroyo '19
2019 Rhodes Scholar
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology

Zoe Bonfield '19
Sacramento, CA
Integrated Education Studies, Business Administration minor

Lorianne Frelly '19
Yorba Linda, CA
Music Education, Cello Performance, Religious Studies

Ryann Garcia '19
Tustin, CA
Health Sciences

Cala Gin '20
Tustin, CA
Integrated Education Studies, Emphasis in Leadership Studies

Amanda Gregory '19
Los Angeles, CA
Business Administration, Emphasis in Entrepreneurship
Japanese minor

Jenny Gritton '19
Orem, UT
Environmental Sciences and Policy

Savanah Janssen '19
Kula, HI
English

Bailey Jones '19
Cypress, TX
Film Studies, Business Administration

Jessie Juarez '19
San Bernardino, CA
Communications Studies, Latin American Studies minor

Morgan Kindel '19
Escondido, CA
Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology

Sophie Lee '19
London, United Kingdom
English Literature, German

Mo Moffett '19
Anaheim, CA
Screenwriting, Women's Studies, French minor

Andrea Murillo '19
Garden Grove, CA
Political Science, Spanish

Michaela Perry '19
Las Vegas, NV
Integrated Education Studies, Leadership Studies, Spanish minor

Vanessa Stahel '19
Denver, CO
Integrated Education Studies, Philosophy, Germanic Studies minor

Amadea Tanner '20
Sierra Madre, CA
Screenwriting, French

Crosby Tinucci '20
Roseville, CA
Biological Sciences, Spanish

Jake Uyeda '19
Mountain View, CA
Psychology

Genevieve Vacherot '18
Camarillo, CA
French

Anneke Virk '19
Hood River, OR
Psychology, Business Administration minor

Lisa Yoshida '19
Irvine, CA
Music Performance, French minor

"This has been a year of distinction at Chapman University: we were accepted into Phi Beta Kappa, one of our graduating seniors, Vidal Arroyo, was named Chapman's first Rhodes Scholar, and we recently re-classified as a 'high research activity' institution (R-2 Carnegie Classification)," said Glenn M. Pfeiffer, Ph.D., Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Chapman. "All of these events and today, in particular, are indicative of the caliber of research, teaching and learning that occurs on this campus."

The six Foundation Members inducted into Phi Beta Kappa during the ceremony were selected for their outstanding academic achievements, dedication to the study of liberal arts and science, dedication and support in establishing Psi of California Chapter, and for embodying the standards of Phi Beta Kappa.

Foundation Members are:

James L. Doti, Ph.D.
President Emeritus of Chapman University
Donald Bren Distinguished Chair in Business and Economics, George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics

Heidi Carrillo
Services Coordinator, Institutional Research and Analytics, California State University, Long Beach

Marilyn Harran, Ph.D.
Professor of History and Religious Studies, Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Stern Chair in Holocaust Education, Director Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education

Glenn Pfeiffer, Ph.D.
Provost of Chapman University
Warren and Doris Uehlinger Endowed Professor of Business, George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics

Vernon L. Smith, Ph.D.
Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, 2002
Professor of Economics and Law, George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics, Dale E. Fowler School of Law, Smith Institute for Political Economy and Philosophy, Economic Science Institute

Daniele C. Struppa, Ph.D.
President of Chapman University
Professor of Mathematics, Schmid College of Science and Technology

Finally, in addition to students, Chapman welcomed 37 faculty and staff members as charter members of Psi Chapter of California. These charter members were previously inducted into the honor society by their respective alma maters.

About Chapman University:
Chapman University is California's third largest private university and ranks fifth in the U.S. News & World Report listing of Best Regional Universities in the West. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 "high research activity" institution and offers personalized education to more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious honor society. Founded in 1861 and based in the City of Orange, Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, 21 miles south in the Irvine Spectrum, Orange County's technology hub. In 2019, the university will open its 11th college, the Fowler School of Engineering, in its newest facility, Keck Center for Science and Engineering.

About Phi Beta Kappa:
Founded on Dec. 5, 1776, The Phi Beta Kappa Society is the nation's oldest and most prestigious academic honor society. It has chapters at 286 colleges and universities in the United States, 50 alumni associations, and more than half a million members worldwide. Noteworthy members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 40 U.S. Supreme Court Justices and more than 140 Nobel Laureates. The mission of The Phi Beta Kappa Society is to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, foster freedom of thought, and recognize academic excellence. For more information, visit http://www.pbk.org.

Contact:
Lara Wyss or Bethanie Le
Chapman University PR
PR(at)Chapman(dot)edu
714-289-3143

SOURCE Chapman University