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- 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