Department of Humanities

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff, and alums annually. Once inducted, Phi Kappa Phi members gain a lifelong passport to a global network of academic and professional opportunities. Since its founding in 1897, more than 1 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization's more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, writer John Grisham, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, and Netscape founder James Barksdale.

Mission Statement

"To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

About Phi Kappa Phi

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest, largest, and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines. Its chapters are on nearly 300 United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines campuses. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff, and alums who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify.

Since its founding, Phi Kappa Phi has initiated more than 1 million members into its ranks; these members have received emblems and certificates of membership. However, Phi Kappa Phi is much more than an emblem and a line on a résumé. It is a global network comprised of the best and brightest from all academic disciplines—a community of scholars and professionals building an enduring legacy for future generations.

This information and more may be found at the national website for PKP: http://www.phikappaphi.org

Charter News and Updates

Texas A&M International University
Chapter 296
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

TAMIU Charter Members at Chapter Installation on November 6, 2005

Officers (2023 - 2025)

• Dr. Ruby A. Ynalvez, President
• Dr. Tariq H. Tashtoush, President-Elect and Immediate Past President
• Dr. James A. Norris, Secretary
• Ms. Laura Elizondo, Treasurer
• Ms. Priscilla Y. Munoz, Scholarship Coordinator
• Dr. Peter F. Haruna, Student Vice-Presidents Liaison
• Mr. Steve K. Harmon, Public Relations Officer
• Alicia Garcia, Student Vice-President
• Victoria Perez, Student Vice-President

By-Laws of Chapter 296

• By-Laws (Last Revised: B Fall 2018) (PDF)

Past Presidents of Chapter 296

• Dr. Thomas Mitchell (2005 - 2007)
• Dr. Kathleen Pletsch de García (2007)
• Dr. Deborah Blackwell (2007 - 2009)
• Dr. John C. Kilburn (2009 - 2011)
• Dr. Lola Orellano Norris (2011 - 2013)
• Dr. James A. Norris (2013-2015)
• Dr. Peter F. Haruna (2015-2017)
• Dr. James A. Norris (2017-2019)
• Dr. Lola Orellano Norris (2019-2021)
• Dr. Tariq Tashtoush (2021-2023)

Charter Members

• Dr. Deborah Blackwell, First Chapter Secretary and Associate Professor of History
• Mr. Clayton Baum, Laredo Businessman
• Dr. Barbara Greybeck, Associate Professor of Education
• Mr. Steve Harmon, First Chapter Public Relations Officer and Director of Public Relations and Marketing
• Dr. Juan Homero Hinojosa, Professor of Physics
• Dr. J. Charles Jennett, President Emeritus
• Dr. Dan Jones, First Chapter Treasurer, and Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
• Mrs. Patricia Keck, Coordinator of Health Services for Laredo I.S.D.
• Dr. Ray Keck III, Professor of Spanish and President
• Dr. Archibald Laud-Hammond, Assistant Professor of Philosophy
• Mr. John Maxstadt, Associate Librarian and Head of Public Services at Killam Library
• Dr. Thomas R. Mitchell, First Chapter President and Professor of English
• Dr. James Norris, Assistant Professor of Political Science
• Dr. Kathleen Pletsch de García, First Chapter President-Elect and Associate Professor of English & Spanish
• Dr. Doris Rosenow, Associate Professor of Nursing
• Dr. Judith Warner, Professor of Sociology
• Dr. Judith Zaffirini, Texas State Senator