Autumn is deeply associated with the cherished rituals of “back to school,” from the primary grades through the precious years of higher education that are the focus of the work of Phi Beta Kappa. Even as higher education confronts profound and complex challenges, the beginning of the academic year brings a renewed sense of purpose. The energy that gathers on campuses across the country is more than seasonal—it is a reaffirmation of the value of the academic community.
At Phi Beta Kappa, this fall carries a heightened sense of possibility as we look ahead to a defining chapter in our history: the launch of our semi-quincentennial celebration. As we approach the 250th anniversary of our founding on December 5, 1776, I invite you to take part in a multi-year, nationwide commemoration that will honor our past and also chart our course for the future. Through a dynamic slate of programs, we will explore how the liberal arts and sciences shape democracy and culture—and how our shared values can guide the next generation. We’re pleased to share the early contours of this evolving anniversary schedule and look forward to the many ways our community will help bring it to life.
Our commemorative programming kicks off on December 5, 2025, in Williamsburg, Virginia, where Phi Beta Kappa began. The series of programs and events will culminate in August 2027, at the 48th Triennial Council in Portland, Oregon. Along the way, the national office of ΦBK will host five major regional events across the country. Please note the locations and timing, with more specifics coming soon.
• Spring 2026 – San Diego
• Fall 2026 – Chicago
• December 5, 2026 – Washington, D.C. – a gala evening celebrating 250 years of Phi Beta Kappa and the formal launch of the 250th anniversary Capital Campaign
• Early Spring 2027 – Atlanta
• Late Spring 2027 – Houston
Phi Beta Kappa’s 250th anniversary will also come to life through the work of our chapters and associations nationwide. Local groups will be encouraged and supported in hosting their own celebratory events, creating opportunities for members in every region to gather and connect around our shared mission. These local celebrations will expand the reach of this milestone, ensuring that members across the country can engage meaningfully with this historic moment.
The history and mission of Phi Beta Kappa are steeped in the history and mission of our nation. As George Washington exhorted us in his farewell address in 1796, “In proportion as the structure of a government give force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.” What Washington understood and what we experience every day is the inextricable connection between education and democracy.
During the 250th anniversary of the founding of Phi Beta Kappa, we are proud to play a significant role in the mission to strengthen this fundamental American commitment. President Lyndon Johnson echoed Washington’s credo in 1965 when he signed the Higher Education Act on the campus of his own alma mater, Texas State University, which received a ΦBK chapter just this past spring:
Education in no longer a luxury. Education in this day and age is a necessity. . . . Education is the path to achievement and fulfillment; for the Nation it is a path to a society that is not only free but civilized; and for the world, it is the path to peace—for it is education that places reason over force.
Join us as we celebrate and demonstrate the values that launched our Society and founded our nation.
Frederick M. Lawrence
Secretary and CEO
Secretary Lawrence has spoken nationally and internationally on free expression, academic freedom, and the importance of liberal arts and sciences education. This fall he delivered a keynote address on the challenges facing higher education at the annual meeting of Universities UK, the institution representing all British universities. Over the past months, he spoke at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, the Hertie School in Berlin, and Universitá Cá Foscari Venezia in Venice. He has addressed the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the American Council on Education, and the annual Higher Education Law & Policy conference. He has appeared on PBS NewsHour, CNN, and CBC. In addition to his role at the Society, Secretary Lawrence is a distinguished lecturer at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches “Free Speech on Campus” and “Higher Education and the Law.” He is the author of numerous articles on the topics of free expression, free inquiry, and academic freedom, and he is a co-author of the forthcoming 3rd edition of Higher Education and the Law, the leading casebook in the field.