Phi Kappa Phi Installs Chapter 356 at Florida Gulf Coast University

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi installed its 356th chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida, on November 8, 2021, according to a recent press release. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society recognizing academic excellence.

The installation of the Florida Gulf Coast chapter comes after a thorough petitioning process, site visit 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 Florida Gulf Coast University to its community of scholars. The academic leadership at FGCU is enthusiastic about the value a chapter will bring to its campus and is committed to its success. We look forward to initiating their first round of students this spring,” said acting Society Executive Director Traci Navarre.

Officers elected by the chartering group to serve the newly installed chapter include President Dr. Minh Nguyen, President-Elect Dr. Senthil Balaji Girimurugan, Treasurer Dr. Jan-Martijn Meij, Secretary Dr. Linda Colding, Awards and Grants Officer Dr. Terumi Rafferty-Osaki and Public Relations and Marketing Officer Jen Jordan.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 when Marcus L. Urann 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 325 select campuses in the United States, its territories and the Philippines and inducts approximately 25,000 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.