Chapter History
Soon after East Carolina University achieved university status in 1967, its chief administrative officers, Leo W. Jenkins (President) and Robert L. Holt (Vice President and Dean of the University), set out to establish on campus a prestigious honor society to recognize and encourage the achievement of academic excellence. In discussions with Robert W. Williams, Provost, and John M. Howell, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, it was decided that Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest honor society recognizing excellence in all fields of study, was the appropriate choice.
With the support and assistance of the university administration, Herbert Rothfeder, Professor of History, made the preliminary contacts with national Phi Kappa Phi officials, organized the East Carolina faculty who were members of Phi Kappa Phi into an alumni group, and prepared the necessary documents for East Carolina University to petition for a Phi Kappa Phi chapter. On November 1, 1969, after much diligent work, the petition for a Phi Kappa Phi chapter was sent to the national office. This petition was supported by the résumés of the group that became the originating members of Phi Kappa Phi at East Carolina University.
In a matter of weeks, the executive Council of Phi Kappa Phi approved East Carolina’s petition and so notified the University on December 4, 1969. Professor Rothfeder, as first president of the newly established chapter, together with the Phi Kappa Phi alumni group he had organized, began preparations for the formal installation of the East Carolina University Phi Kappa Phi chapter. This chapter, the one hundred fourteenth approved by the national organization, was formally installed on April 17, 1970. The 25 charter members were University President, Leo W. Jenkins; Provost, Robert W. Williams; newly appointed Dean of the Graduate School, John M. Howell; newly appointed Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Richard L. Capwell; first Chapter President, Herbert P. Rothfeder; and faculty members Douglas J. McMillan, Mary Jo Bratton, Kenneth J. Davis, Manolita Fernandez, Warren B. Bezanson, Patricia N. Daniel, Blondy E. Scott, Robert L. Dough, A. Ray Jennings, Caroline L. Ayers, P. Wayne Ayers, James T. Barrs, Frederick L. Broadhurst, Richard A. McCorkle, Florence S. Weaver, Frederick Sorenson, Ione J. Ryan, Karen W. James, Ann L. Bellis, and Robert Woodside. The chapter installation also marked the first initiation of student members, as 37 juniors and seniors were inducted.
Presidents
- 2023-present Todd Fraley
- 2021-2023 Robert Orlikoff
- 2019-2021 J. Christopher Buddo
- 2018-2019 William Downs
- 2016-2018 Marianna Walker
- 2014-2016 David White
- 2012-2014 Ron Mitchelson
- 2010-2012 Glen Gilbert
- 2007-2009 Michael Bassman
- 2005-2007 Ron Newton
- 2003-2005 Ronald Nowaczyk
- 2001-2003 Scott Snyder
- 1999-2001 Thomas Feldbush
- 1997-1999 Henry Peel
- 1995-1997 Keats Sparrow
- 1993-1995 James Lanier
- 1992-1993 Trenton Davis
- 1990-1992 George Broussard
- 1989-1990 William Bloodworth
- 1988-1989 James Leroy Smith
- 1987-1988 Mary Ann Rose
- 1986-1987 Douglas McMillan
- 1985-1986 Frederick Broadhurs
- 1984-1985 Trenton Davis
- 1983-1984 Irwin Hester
- 1981-1983 Jerry Tester
- 1980-1981 William Byrd
- 1979-1980 Richard Capwell
- 1978-1979 George Broussard
- 1977-1978 Mary Jo Bratton
- 1976-1977 Frederick Broadhurst
- 1975-1976 Ione Ryan
- 1974-1975 Oscar Moore
- 1973-1974 Mary Jo Bratton
- 1971-1973 Blondy Scott
- 1969-1971 Herbert Rothfeder