Over the years, all those involved with Phi Beta Delta understood the need for, and the importance of, a national honor society which recognized outstanding scholarship and achievement in the international arena. They realized that it was an idea well worth the time and effort that it would take to make it a reality. As the notion of Phi Beta Delta swept across the nation, faculty, staff and students responded with much interest and enthusiasm. During our first decade, the number of chapters and members grew steadily, and the national conferences attracted scholars and educators from all over the country.

The Phi Beta Delta International Review established itself as a respected scholarly journal, and "The Medallion" reported on the success and accomplishments of our chapters and outstanding members. Our national awards and scholarships have recognized the best and the brightest who have an international focus in their particular discipline. We succeeded in creating campus networks which value and encourage an international perspective in all fields of study. And we have created a national, and just recently, an international, network of scholars who acknowledge the importance of the international dimension in their work.

Ten years is not a long time; but it was long enough for Phi Beta Delta to take root and grow to 90+ chapters and 3,500+ active members. It was ample time for us to recognize how vitally important Phi Beta Delta is to advancing international education and cross-cultural understanding. It has been long enough for us to know that all that has been accomplished in the past ten years to ensure its success was time and effort well spent. And it has been long enough to ensure that ten-year anniversaries will be celebrated by members of Phi Beta Delta well into the next century.

John Greisberger
Executive Director
February 27, 1996

Founding of Alpha Chapter

February 27, 1986

In 1985, the Center for International Education (CIE) at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) wanted to recognize formally the academic achievement of international students, U.S. students returning from study overseas, international scholars, staff involved in international education, and faculty engaged in scholarly international endeavors. The CIE staff examined the described activities of existing national honor societies and found none which appropriately addressed these populations, or specifically focused on the international experience. Therefore, a campus committee was formed, headed by Edward S. Blankenship, Director of CIE, and Karl W.E. Anatol, Dean of Humanities, to develop an honor society which would focus on international education and exchange, and also serve as a catalyst for international programming.

On February 27, 1986, Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars was founded on the campus of California State University-Long Beach. As a result of the enthusiasm of the new members of this honor society and of the University administration, several other universities heard of the forming of Phi Beta Delta and became interested in forming chapters on their campuses. Although it was not in the original plan to consider the development of a national honor society, Drs. Blankenship and Anatol realized from the requests and interest of individuals at other institutions that this organization would be a valuable asset to other campuses. Therefore, the Organizing Committee at CSULB went back to work and investigated methods for forming a national honor society.

After much research and discussion, it was decided that the chapter at Long Beach would be designated as the Alpha Chapter. The Alpha Chapter then invited a number of institutions throughout the U.S. to consider forming chapters. The end result was that 38 institutions were authorized by the Alpha Chapter to form charter chapters.

"Our enduring idea is to build a Society in which we, as international scholars, will maintain fellowship, and in which sound scholarship will be recognized. The goal is not merely to honor international scholarship, but to excite and expedite it."

Karl W.E. Anatol (CSU-Long Beach, Founding of National Organization)

May 22, 1987

The chapter coordinators from these 38 charter institutions met in Long Beach, California to establish Phi Beta Delta as a national honor society. At this first historic meeting of the founders of Phi Beta Delta, Edward Blankenship and Karl Anatol of the Alpha Chapter presented an overview of the Society and its founding at CSU-Long Beach, discussed its present status, and outlined future directions for the national organization. The first Society Medallion was presented to Richard Downie, founding member of the Pi Chapter at the University of Florida and President of NAFSA: Association for International Educators. Dr. Downie was later elected as the first president of Phi Beta Delta.

In order to recognize scholarly achievement and leadership in international education and exchange, delegates at the first meeting decided that this new Society would publish a refereed journal, organize annual national conferences, and recognize outstanding individuals through scholarships and awards. Other key decisions and actions taken at the Society's first national conference included:

• the establishment of the Society's National Office at CSULB;
• the adoption of national by-laws;
• the development of a chapter manual;
• the assessment of $ 1.00 per member to provide funds to establish the national office;
• the empowerment of the Board to proceed with the incorporation of the Society;
• the selection of Washington, D.C. as the site of the Second Annual National Conference; and
• the election and appointment of the following individuals to serve as the first Board of Directors:

President: Richard Downie, University of Florida
President-Elect: John Greisberger, Ohio State University
National Vice President and Regent: Edward Blankenship, California State Univ.-Long Beach
National Vice President-Elect: Richard Reiff, University of Georgia
Regional Vice President-Northeast: Patricia Roberts, Boston University
Regional Vice President-Southeast: Marian Beane, University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Regional Vice President-Midwest: Florence Funk, University of Minnesota
Regional Vice President-Southwest: Judy Young, University of Texas-Arlington
Regional Vice President-West: Robert Ericksen, California State University-Fullerton
Director of Membership: Thomas Hoemeke, University of North Texas
Director of Scholarships and Fellowships: Margaret Bannister, Butler University
Director of Development: Martha Morgan, University of California-Irvine
Editor: Monika Counts, University of Texas-Arlington
Archivist/Historian: Harry Jeffrey, California State University-Fullerton
Executive Director: Karl Anatol, California State University-Long Beach

Subsequent meetings of the Board of Directors (two per year) assured continued growth and development of the Society.

Copyright © 2003 by Phi Beta Delta Honor Society
Phi Beta Delta is the first honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education.