Phi Beta Kappa

Alpha Delta of New York

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation's oldest and most prestigious academic honor society, celebrating and advocating excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. This society exists because those who founded it believed, as we believe still, that there are achievements worthy of celebration: academic work of extraordinary quality, exemplary leadership, and research that advances human knowledge.

Geneseo's chapter, Alpha Delta of New York, was established in 2004. The chapter annually invites for induction the college's most outstanding liberal arts and sciences students. We also sponsor activities on campus to increase awareness of the importance of the liberal arts and sciences.

About one college senior in 100, nationwide, is invited to join Phi Beta Kappa. Seventeen U.S. Presidents, thirty-eight U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and one hundred and thirty-six Nobel laureates can be counted among the ranks of Phi Beta Kappa members.

News and Upcoming Events

Recognition at Triennial Council

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The Phi Beta Kappa Senate formally recognized Geneseo's chapter as an "outstanding Public University Chapter" at PBK's 2024 Triennial Council meeting. Factors behind this honor include our work to make student election inclusive, and our high new member acceptance rate. Both are small but real ways PBK helps realize Geneseo's goal of being New York's public honors college. Thanks to the officers, volunteers, and college administration whose work and support makes these things happen!

Announcing the 2024-25 Phi Beta Kappa Lecture

We are pleased to announce that the 2024-25 Phi Beta Kappa Lecture will be given by Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Daniel Hungerman. Professor Hungerman is Professor of Economics at the University of Notre Dame and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. His interests include the long-term effects of the original Earth Day, religion in America, and the determinants of philanthropic activity. He will be on campus on April 7 and 8, 2025. Watch this space for more information as it becomes available.

New Members Inducted May 8, 2024

On May 8 we inducted 65 seniors, 6 juniors, and 2 alumni as new members of Phi Beta Kappa. Inductees, their guests, and chapter members gathered in the College Union Ballroom (or on our video stream) for a reception and the induction ceremony. Congratulations!

20th Anniversary Celebration

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Geneseo's Phi Beta Kappa chapter was installed 20 years ago! We marked the anniversary with a reception on April 3, 2024 in the ISC atrium. Food and drinks, remarks and reflections on PBK at Geneseo from current and founding members, and congratulatory messages from US senator Charles Schumer and New York State senator Pamela Helming.

2023-24 Phi Beta Kappa Lecture

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We were pleased to host Geneseo alumna Daina Bouquin (’11) as the 2023-24 Phi Beta Kappa lecturer on Thursday, April 4, 2024. Daina Bouquin is Data Operations and Research Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, and formerly Head Librarian for Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Her public lecture was on "Metadata, Meaning, and Erasure in Astronomy." From the abstract: "Through a blend of historical and contemporary case studies, this lecture will highlight the use of metadata to elevate the work of 19th and early 20th-century women astronomers and the development of citation practices for research software in modern astronomy. These examples demonstrate how robust, intentional metadata practices can reveal hidden narratives and ensure that credit is given where credit is due."

“Keys to Action” Week Award

We are very pleased that the slideshow we created to mark the 240th anniversary of the founding of Phi Beta Kappa and the 12th year of Phi Beta Kappa at Geneseo was recognized by Phi Beta Kappa as the most creative chapter contribution to “Keys to Action” Week 2016.