Sixth President of Morehouse College, Baptist minister, and mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., Mays is remembered for laying the intellectual foundations for the civil rights movement in America.
Since 1956, the Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Program has been offering undergraduates the opportunity to spend time with some of America’s most distinguished scholars. Meet our visiting scholars for the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year.
Phi Beta Kappa’s mission—to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, foster freedom of thought, and recognize academic excellence—has called for us to engage with a wide range of public issues. Our mission, not politics, will continue to drive our nonpartisan advocacy actions.
Times are turbulent for the arts and sciences as policymakers propose cuts to critical funding for higher education accessibility, scientific research, and the nation’s cultural endowments. Amid uncertainty, here are some productive ways to champion the arts and sciences.
Established in memory of distinguished American philosopher and ΦBK member Sidney Hook, the award recognizes national distinction of an individual demonstrating excellence in each of three endeavors—scholarship, undergraduate teaching, and leadership in the cause of liberal arts education.
Mark Warren (ΦBK, University of Georgia) is the director of the nationally renowned Medicine Bow Wilderness School located in Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Forest.
The chapter’s Book Awards program celebrates the accomplishments of high-achieving sophomores who have attained 4.0 GPA and cultivates a greater awareness of ΦBK on campus.
The Norman G. Pauling Research Fellowship, established in 2023 through the generosity of Edith Pauling in honor of her late husband, is designed to nurture the next generation of leaders in the liberal arts and sciences.
The Society’s Writing Internship Program serves new ΦBK members who are looking for an opportunity to gain professional experience and support ΦBK’s mission to advance excellence in the liberal arts and sciences in higher education
Whether through his business ventures, his philanthropy, or his advocacy for lifelong learning, Michael McCarthy’s journey demonstrates the profound impact one person can have when they dedicate themselves to growth and service.
In her new book, Deondra Rose (ΦBK, University of Georgia) draws on archival analysis, empirical analysis of survey data, and more than 100 interviews with HBCU alumni to explore the powerful impact that HBCUs have had on American political development.
The three-day conference features guest speakers in topics ranging from academic freedom to astrophysics, from computational linguistics to canine longevity, from the early British novel to ecocentric perspectives on the Anthropocene, and more!
